The Masters in Celtic Studies is an interdisciplinary programme specialising in the medieval Celtic languages, literature, history and archaeology covering the whole span of the Middle Ages from the 6th to the 16th centuries.

• You can tailor the core teaching and specialist study pathways to your own undergraduate experience. This means the programme is suitable whether you have a Celtic Studies degree or you come from a related subject such as history, literature, or archaeology.
• You will enjoy ready access to The Baillie Collection, our prized collection of printed medieval and modern sources in Scottish and Irish history. The collection also offers printed state papers, Historical Manuscript Commission publications and a select collection of modern monographs.
• This programme will provide you with a highly stimulating environment, learning from internationally-renowned scholars.
• You will enjoy easy access to our research archive, the MacLean Room, which houses our range of books, periodicals and other printed material relating to Celtic and Gaelic.
  
• In the most recent independent review of research quality (RAE 2008), Celtic Studies at Glasgow was rated top in Scotland.
  

Programme overview

• MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time

You will take two core courses, choose two optional courses and study a Celtic Language. You will also produce a dissertation on a specialist topic agreed with your supervisor.

Core courses

• Approaching the past: critical evaluations of sources and methods in Celtic and Scottish Medieval Studies
• Themes and debates in Celtic studies.

Plus introductory courses in one of the medieval Celtic languages. If appropriate, you may do advanced study in one of these languages. You may, if appropriate, take a course in Scottish Gaelic instead.

• Introduction to Early Gaelic (Old and Middle Irish)
• Introduction to Middle Welsh.

Optional courses from a wide range of specialist courses including

• Medieval Irish and Welsh literature
• Christianity in early medieval Scotland
• Pictish monuments and culture
• Legal traditions of medieval Ireland and Wales
• Arthur in medieval Welsh literature
• Kingship in early medieval Ireland and Scotland.

You may alternatively, with the approval of the programme organiser, take a taught course from a related Master’s programme or take another language course.

Normally the optional courses consist of either small group or one-to-one tutorial work on particular research topics with specialists in that field.

Career prospects

The programme provides an excellent platform for you to move onto PhD studies and an academic career.

Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.

Note: a short (one paragraph) statement of interest is also required.

English language

If your first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. See English Language Requirements.

The online application is the quickest and easiest way of applying to the University of Glasgow. The system allows you to fill out the standard application form online and submit this to the University immediately. You can also attach supporting documents including references, certificates and a transcript of previous studies. You will find instructions throughout the online form to help you complete your application. You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish before submitting it.

See: How to apply for a taught degree