find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

The University of Edinburgh: Celtic Studies

Institution The University of Edinburgh View institution profile
Department School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Web https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying
Study type Research

Summary

A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. The programme is a good stepping-stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

As a Masters by Research student, you’ll be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what interests you most for the duration of the programme (its key difference to a taught Masters [MSc]).

We specialise in the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Celtic - and in particular the Gaelic-speaking peoples, from Iron Age Europe to the present.

Based in Scotland’s capital and festival city, our research community is at the forefront of policy development and cultural innovation, and of linguistic, cultural, literary, and sociolinguistic research in the Celtic languages, with a particular focus on Scottish Gaelic. We play a leading role in relation to language planning and maintenance, particularly for Scottish Gaelic.

Research excellence

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research in Celtic Studies was submitted in Modern Languages and Linguistics (Panel D - Arts and Humanities; Unit of Assessment 26).

The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK.

As published in Times Higher Education's REF power ratings, this result is based on the quality and breadth of our research in the unit of assessment.

Join our community and undertake a 20,000-word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor. Our Celtic Studies expertise covers:

  • Celtic sociolinguistics and language policy

  • Gaelic folklore

  • Gaelic language and culture in the diaspora

  • Gaelic linguistics, dialectology, and language technology

  • Medieval Gaelic religious culture

  • Old Irish and Middle Welsh language, literature and culture

  • Scottish Gaelic and Modern Irish language, literature, and culture

  • The 'Celtic Revival' in Scotland

We are happy to discuss your proposed topic with you prior to application.

Go beyond the books

Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research. In the first episode of Series 2, host Emma Aviet talks to Wilson McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Gaelic, about diversity, technology and more.

MSc (Res)

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 27th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.

Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Our …

View Profile

Not what you are looking for?

Browse other courses in Area studies, European studies, Celtic studies, Irish studies, Scottish studies or Welsh studies, or search our comprehensive database of postgrad programs.

Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.

Click here