University of the Highlands and Islands
BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music (Gàidhlig agus Ceòl Traidiseanta)
Aird of Sleat, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 15,870 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
What is special about this course?
Immerse yourself in a vibrant musical environment as a traditional singer or instrumentalist, and prepare yourself for a dynamic career as a Gaelic musician, with opportunities across a variety of sectors.
Benefit from the strong practical elements of this BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course, learning from leading musicians, with frequent opportunities to perform and record both on campus and further afield. Base yourself in the heart of a Gaelic-speaking community, at our Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus on the beautiful Isle of Skye, as you gain an outstanding education in Gaelic musical heritage within the broader context of Gaelic and related studies.
Develop a range of practical skills for solo and group performances, make important professional contacts, experience hands-on learning in our outstanding dedicated recording studio, and enjoy the incredible opportunity of studying abroad for a semester, in Canada or Ireland, in your final year.
Special features
- Study and practice traditional music in the heart of a Gaelic community on the beautiful Isle of Skye
- Improve Gaelic language skills
- Develop a range of practical skills for solo and group performances, learning from leading practitioners
- Deepen your understanding of music within the wider contexts of history and cultural studies with leading specialists
- Make important professional contacts through a variety of learning opportunities
- Learn 'hands-on' in an outstanding dedicated recording studio
- Study for a semester in Ireland or Canada in year 4
- Learn vital professional skills for a successful and wide-ranging career in the music industry
- Be part of the wider Gaelic-speaking higher education community and participate in a range of social activities
Year 1 - CertHE
Subjects include:
- Music performance 1 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Theory, composing and arranging 1
- See An Cùrsa Comais (English) (An Cùrsa Comais) or Gaelic and Communication (Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh) for other modules
Year 2 - DipHE
Subjects include:
- Music performance 2 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Theory, composing and arranging 2
- History of Gaelic music 2
Year 3 - BA
Subjects include:
- Music performance 3 (1:1 lessons and ensemble classes)
- Gaelic song 3 (group singing)
- Recording and producing
- Professional, presentational and organisational skills
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Subjects include:
- Music performance 4 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Themed production
- Composing and arranging portfolio
- Recording and producing
You must also complete a dissertation.
Start date
- August/September
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- You will learn via face-to-face and online lectures and tutorials, plus practical musical work at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI on the Isle of Skye and off-campus
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
EU scholarship
EEA/EU/Swiss nationals living in this region for the past 3 years will receive an automatic scholarship of £4,000 - with the fourth year of study free!
United States - Federal Aid (FAFSA)
Federal Aid can be used to cover tuition fees for American students studying on-campus in Scotland.
Canada - Federal Aid
Federal Aid can be used to cover tuition fees for Canadian students studying on-campus in Scotland, as well as the majority of the Canadian provinces' student aid programmes.
On-campus study - live and learn in Scotland
Courses in health, sustainability, engineering, history, outdoors and more with the University of the Highlands and Islands:
- #3 in the UK and #1 in Scotland for postgraduate student satisfaction
- Top 10 most affordable UK universities
- Specialist subjects with links to industry
Browse all of the on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that we offer for international students.
Online study - achieve a UK degree without moving abroad
Courses in health, sustainability, engineering, history, outdoors and more with the University of the Highlands and Islands:
- Flexible study options to fit with your life
- Top 10 most affordable UK universities
- Decades of online teaching experience
Browse all of the online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that we offer for international students.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed your BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course you might like to consider a career in:
- The music profession
- Gaelic cultural sector
- Gaelic media
- Education