Archaeology/Gaelic - MA (Hons)

University of Glasgow

Archaeology is the study of how people in the past interacted with their world, through a detailed study of their objects, sites, monuments and landscapes. Explore Scottish Gaelic language and culture through the centuries to the present day, and develop your Gaelic language skills for the contemporary job market. Ionnsaich mu chultar na Gàidhlig tro na linntean, agus leasaich do sgilean cànain airson chothroman cosnaidh nas pailte.

You will have the opportunity to gain practical fieldwork skills in the UK and abroad. Recent students have worked on excavation projects across Europe and the Near East, including the Baltic states, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and on high-profile projects within Scotland. Throughout the programme we emphasise that you should gain practical heritage work experience including archaeological fieldwork techniques and developing the social benefits of archaeology. We provide day and residential fieldtrips for our students to archaeological sites, landscapes, museums and other heritage venues. You will also be able to take part in current staff research projects including survey and excavation, as well as working in archaeological archives and collection-based projects. You can gain work experience in various heritage and museum organisations through our network of placement providers. We can also help students get onto excavation teams across Europe. You can study Gaelic folklore, song, modern poetry, autobiography, contemporary fiction and drama all through Gaelic, while the University’s Gaelic initiative and the city’s vibrant Gaelic community also provide opportunities to use Gaelic outside the classroom.

Employers, from banking and law to business and tourism, value the transferable skills that an archaeology degree offers such as teamworking, practical problem-solving, working with the public and critical analysis. Many graduates are employed in vocational archaeological and heritage roles working for government agencies, the charitable sector and other heritage organisations in Scotland and beyond. These include the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland, the British Museum, National Museums of Scotland and Glasgow Life, as well as various companies offering commercial archaeological services in the UK and abroad. Recent developments in support of Gaelic mean that the language offers expanding career opportunities. Our graduates have gone on to a wide range of careers in the media, publishing, the arts, teaching, academia, librarianship and law. Others find careers in the Civil Service, language planning/development with local authorities and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.