Celtic and Scandinavian Studies MA (Hons)

There has long been a strong Scandinavian influence on the Celtic world. This programme gives you the opportunity to study the languages, literatures and cultures of the Celtic and Scandinavian countries, side-by-side. **Celtic** In Celtic, we work with the medieval literary tradition in Early Irish and Medieval Welsh (the most extensive in the whole of Europe), as well as Scottish Gaelic and Irish from the late Middle Ages to the present. We also explore the rich oral tradition recorded from the eighteenth-century to the present day, and with poetry from the eighteenth-century golden age of Gaelic literature. You'll study nineteenth- and twentieth-century responses to the rapid social, cultural, and linguistic changes in countries where the Celtic languages are spoken, and the writing, song, and media production emerging from the lively and varied contemporary cultural scene in Gaelic Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Our expertise spans theoretical and practical issues of current sociolinguistics, language policy and language revitalisation. **Scottish Gaelic** Scottish Gaelic is at the heart of our Celtic programme and, at honours level, it is also possible to study modern Irish and the medieval Celtic languages. At all levels, we offer courses in language, literature, history, and culture, enabling you to build your programme by developing your own interests in particular areas, periods, and disciplines of Celtic studies. **Scandinavian Studies** The languages, history, politics and culture of the Scandinavian countries have had a considerable impact beyond the Nordic region, including in Scotland. In this part of your programme, you'll learn a Scandinavian language while exploring Scandinavian culture, past and present. Over four years, you'll specialise in the modern language of either Denmark, Norway or Sweden but, whichever you choose, you'll also gain an understanding of the other two. You do not need a previous knowledge of any of the languages, as courses are available for beginners, and you'll spend your third year abroad gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture.