English and Gaelic Studies

English and Gaelic Studies at Aberdeen combines two language and literature traditions that are both deeply connected to Scotland and to the wider world. English, in its literary and linguistic dimensions, is one of the richest and most contested fields of study in the humanities, with a reach that extends across centuries and continents. Scottish Gaelic, Scotland's oldest living language, carries a distinctive cultural heritage, a rich oral tradition, and a literature that connects the Highlands and Islands to the broader Celtic world.

Studying both together at Aberdeen places you at the second top research hub in the UK for English literature, language, and creative writing, combined with in-depth engagement with Gaelic language and culture.

This four-year programme develops your abilities in both English and Gaelic, with deep engagement with their literatures, histories, and intellectual traditions. You will develop strong skills in literary analysis, linguistic study, and critical thinking across both language traditions, building the kind of bilingual and bicultural perspective that enriches understanding in both directions. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in a different cultural and linguistic environment that broadens your horizons beyond the Scottish context.

Graduates with expertise in English and Gaelic studies are well placed for careers in education, heritage, cultural organisations, broadcasting, journalism, publishing, the civil service, community and Gaelic language development, and research. The language skills and Scottish perspective the degree develops are particularly valuable in contexts with a Scottish or international dimension. Further study at postgraduate level in literature, linguistics, Gaelic studies, Celtic languages, or education provides a natural next step for those wishing to specialise or develop their expertise further.