MA Celtic and Scottish Literature
About this course
MA (Hons) in Celtic and Scottish Literature, an English Literature and Celtic degree focusing on the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Celtic world and Scotland. The four-year programme includes options to study Scottish Gaelic and take courses in other areas of the humanities and social sciences. The first year covers poetry, drama, prose, and Scottish ethnology alongside introductory courses such as Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars and Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance, with choices between a Scottish Gaelic language pathway and a Celtic civilisation pathway. The second year builds on this with modules including Heroes, Wonders, Saints and Sagas and Songs, Swords, Rebels and Revivals, examining medieval Welsh and Irish material alongside texts from Gaelic Scotland and Ireland. Later years offer specialised modules such as Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural, Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry, Celtic Revivals: Writing on the Periphery, 1890-1939, Joyce and style, and Poetry and Northern Ireland.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: English Literature or combined English at B) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 98 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 70%
- Assessment and feedback: 70%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 190 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 91%
- Gained a higher qualification: 1%
- Left higher education: 7%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 2%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 435 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 38%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 32%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 215 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 86%
- Baccalaureate: 7%
- Access course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 3%
Modules
- Scottish Gaelic language pathway
- Celtic civilisation pathway
- Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars
- Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance
- poetry
- drama
- prose
- Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and English language
- European languages and cultures
- Asian studies
- Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Heroes, Wonders, Saints and Sagas - covers medieval Welsh and Irish material
- Songs, Swords, Rebels and Revivals - looks at texts from Gaelic Scotland and Early Modern and Modern Ireland
- Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural
- Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry
- Celtic Revivals: Writing on the Periphery, 1890-1939
- Joyce and style
- Poetry and Northern Ireland
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Celtic and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £44,000. The £33,000 median after five years is £5,000 more than the UK median for Literature in English.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Celtic and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Celtic and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 181 UCAS points.
Does MA Celtic and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Celtic and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.