MA Celtic
About this course
MA (Hons) in Celtic, a Celtic degree centred on the languages, literatures, histories and cultures of the Celtic world. Core topics include Communication & Writing, and Critical & Analytical Thinking. Students can select between a Scottish Gaelic language pathway and a Celtic civilisation pathway, and study for four years with optional language learning spanning both beginner and advanced levels. The first year introduces foundational subjects through Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars and Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance alongside a wide selection of external subject areas. The second year progresses to medieval and modern material through modules such as Heroes, Wonders, Saints and Sagas - covers medieval Welsh and Irish material and Songs, Swords, Rebels and Revivals - looks at texts from Gaelic Scotland and Early Modern and Modern Ireland. The final fourth year involves close engagement with texts, critical evaluation of source material, independent reading, and clearly structured academic writing.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 341 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 87%
- Learning opportunities: 72%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 71%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 540 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 94%
- Left higher education: 4%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
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 555 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 83%
- Baccalaureate: 7%
- Access course: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- Scottish Gaelic language pathway
- Celtic civilisation pathway
- Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars
- Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance
- Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and language sciences
- 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
- close engagement with texts
- critical evaluation of source material
- independent reading
- clearly structured academic writing
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Celtic 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 Celtic studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Celtic at University of Edinburgh?
87% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Celtic at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 176 UCAS points.
Does MA Celtic 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 at University of Edinburgh?
94% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.