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CONTENTS

1. What’s Celtic Studies?

2. What Celtic Studies degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Celtic Studies degree?

4. What topics does a Celtic Studies degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Celtic Studies?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Celtic Studies degree?

8. What do Celtic Studies graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Celtic Studies graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Celtic Studies

12. Have any questions?

What’s Celtic Studies?

A degree in Celtic Studies can vary depending on the university, but there will be a focus on the historical culture that formed the foundations of the British Isles.

Perhaps the most significant area of this degree is Celtic languages. Although for many they aren’t a primary form of communication, languages such as Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic have been the subject of revival efforts in recent years.

Other areas include Celtic literature, art and culture, including a focus on the religious and spiritual habits of Celtic people.

What Celtic Studies degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Celtic Studies may be combined with humanities subjects or another language, for example:

• Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic BA
• Celtic Studies BA/MA
• Cymraeg (Welsh) BA
• Scottish Historical Studies MA

What do you need to get onto a Celtic Studies degree?

Must have

Most undergraduate Celtic Studies courses ask for 80–165 UCAS points. Not every university will base their offer on UCAS points and some courses may have lower or higher requirements.

• A Levels: A*AA–CCC
• BTECs: DDD–DMM
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–BBBB (Advanced Highers: BBB)
• International Baccalaureate: 42–24
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: history or a humanities subject at A Level (or equivalent)
• Interview and entry assessments may be required by some universities

Good to have

• A Level or a Higher in Welsh, Irish or Gaelic, unless the degree you’ve chosen specifies it’s at beginners’ level
• Furthering your knowledge of Celtic history and culture by checking course modules and reading more from the literature or periods referred to – check uni department websites for useful resources
• Practice a second language online or at an evening class, as some courses may require texts to be studied in a historic language, or in Welsh, Irish or Gaelic
• Become a member of a language club or cultural society

What topics does a Celtic Studies degree cover?

Language course modules focus primarily on learning the language itself. Other modules focus on Celtic history and culture, such as:

• Celtic civilisation
• Early Gaelic literature in translation
• Gaelic history
• History of Gaelic in Scotland, c. 1400–1914
• Ireland: political, social and cultural geographies
• Irish literature 1914–2014: from James Joyce to Eimear McBride
• Language policy and planning for European minority languages
• Medieval Welsh literature in translation
• The voice of the emigrants: Gaelic literature in the new world
• Warriors, witches and legends: the origins of Ireland

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

• Coursework
• Essays
• Exams
• Presentations
• A dissertation is usually a final year option

Why study Celtic Studies?

Career-specific skills:

• In-depth knowledge of Celtic culture, history and literature, ancient and modern

Transferable skills:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical thinking and analysis
• IT skills
• Organisation
• Problem solving
• Research
• Synthesising information
• Time management

What do Celtic Studies graduates earn?

Celtic Studies graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £26,100.

If your course teaches you a language, you could become a teacher in that medium. In Scotland, a newly qualified teacher is paid around £31,500, while the income of principal teacher in Gaelic ranges from £52,000–£67,000.

Your skills could also suit work in the heritage sector, where salaries range from £18,500–£70,000. A heritage collections manager might be offered a salary of £27,000 while the policy director of Historic England could earn £70,000.

What jobs can you get as a Celtic Studies graduate?

Professions entered by Celtic Studies graduates include teaching; working in museums and government heritage bodies; writing, editing and publishing; and research and academic work. Roles could include:

• Archivist
• Author
• Book marketing manager
• Broadcasting presenter
• Curator
• Editorial assistant
• Heritage manager
• Journalist
• Lecturer
• Museum development officer
• Museum education officer
• Teacher
• Translation

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate courses are available if you have a first degree in Celtic Studies or a subject like history, linguistics, literature or languages. Graduates with a relevant first degree and a qualification in the language can also take a PGCE to become a teacher in Gaelic, Irish or Welsh medium education. Examples of postgraduate courses include:

• Cornish Studies MPhil/PhD
• Irish Studies PhD
• Scottish Historical Studies MLitt

Similar subjects to Celtic Studies

If you’re interested in other cultures or languages, you could also consider these subjects:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Creative Writing
• English
• History
• Linguistics
• Sociology

Have any questions?

If you have questions about studying Celtic Studies, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!