Culture, Heritage with Gaelic Studies BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage with Gaelic Studies will appeal to anyone with a broad interest in the Highlands and Islands region and Scotland in general. On this course, you will have the opportunity to learn the Gaelic language from native speakers or enhance any language skills you may already have, and can choose to study in English or Gaelic in a number of modules. You willl also have the choice of writing your end of year projects in English or Gaelic in your third and fourth years.  

You will study a wide range of subjects, allowing you to explore the key cultural, historical, literary, language, musical and philosophical issues of the region at both national and regional levels, as well as placing them within a global context.  The programme covers everything from art, film and literature, to museums, Vikings and plants.  

The programme is aimed at anyone who wishes to study in the distinctive fields of culture, heritage and Gaelic language studies. You can set your own research agendas, choosing your own topics for study at all levels and bringing together the multi-disciplinary teaching and learning you will experience throughout your studies.

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Gain and enhance your Gaelic language skills
• Study Highlands and Islands culture and heritage in a global context
• Choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own interests and career path
• Study to suit your personal circumstances, full-time or part-time
• Individual modules can be studied for personal or professional development

Entry requirements

Entry to year one:

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social Sciences (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit will be considered for direct entry to year two

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

Culture and Heritage
You will study three  of the following modules:

• Scotland: the brand (S1)
• What is culture? (S1)
• Culture. Heritage. What? (S2)
• Scotland's music (S2)

Gaelic
You will study two of the following modules:

• Gaelic for learners 1A
• The Gaelic world 1
• Gaelic story and song
• Gaelic for learners 1B
• Introduction to Gaelic prose

You will also choose one option module from across the university's humanities subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following modules.

Culture and Heritage
You will choose three modules, which may include:

• Tradition, custom and belief (S1)
• Folklore (S1)
• Golden mead and burning hearts (S2)
• Languages on the edge (S2)
• Displaying the past: museum studies (S2)

Gaelic Studies
You will choose two from the following:

• Gaelic for learners 2A
• Introduction to Gaelic poetry
• The Gaelic world 2
• Gaelic for learners 2B
• Folklore

Plus one option module from across the humanities subjects.

Year 3 - BA

You will study one core module:

• Interdisciplinary project (S1)

Culture and Heritage

Plus two options, which may include:

• Perceptions of heritage (S2)
• Celtic and Celtic Revival art 600-2000
• Scotland in film (S2)
• The Scottish Enlightenment and Highland society (S2)

Gaelic Studies
You will choose two  modules from:

• Traditional Gaelic culture
• Gaoir nam ban: Gaelic women's poetry 1644 – 1746
• Language policy and planning 1
• Nationalism and national identity

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation, plus four option modules.

Culture and Heritage
You will choose two modules, which may include:

• Scottish tradition in philosophy (S1)
• Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature (S1)
• Highland journeys (S2)
• Vikings and Valkyries (S2)

Gaelic Studies
You will choose two  modules from:

• Traditional Gaelic culture in the 21st Century
• Language policy and planning 2
• Iarshader to Iraq
• Language policy in the workplace
• Poileasaidh is planadh canain 2 (Language policy & planning 2)

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.