University of the Highlands and Islands
BA (Hons) Gaelic with Development (Gàidhlig le Leasachadh)
- Stornoway, United Kingdom
- Aird of Sleat, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
8 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 14,988 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, 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?
Do you want to play a part in securing the future of Gaelic language and culture in our society? Could you put your enthusiasm and skills to use, ensuring Gaelic is included and celebrated in our country and communities for generations to come?
Gaelic, like a huge proportion of the world's languages, faces an uncertain future. The importance of planning and development to maintain languages and culture within successful, sustainable communities, often rural and peripheral, is increasingly recognized. Join our BA (Hons) Gaelic with Development, developed with an awareness of these challenges and designed to equip you with the skills needed to address them.
Learn about linguistic, economic, social, rural, community, and sustainable development, and their importance in determining the future of languages and cultures. Public bodies such as Bòrd na Gàidhlig and local authorities are legally required to develop language plans in collaboration with Gaelic advocates: learn to apply current theories of language decline and revitalization to Gaelic in Scotland, and compare local situations with those in Europe and around the world, so that you can contribute to the discussion and become a fundamental part of the solution.
Special features
- Excellent library resources
- Teaching team with research specialisms in language maintenance and rural development
- This is a specialist strand within the context of a Gaelic degree:
- in years one and two, you will study general Gaelic topics (on the BA (Hons) Gaelic))
- for the final two years of the program, those who choose at least four specialist modules relating to development issues will pursue the Gaelic with Development pathway and qualify with a BA (Hons) Gaelic with Development
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- This course can be studied either on-site or online
- On-campus students will learn via face-to-face tuition plus online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- Online students will learn via a combination of video-conference lectures and tutorials, as well as online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors.
- Level 7 is an intensive language year with a choice of intermediate or advanced pathways:
- On-campus intermediate learners will follow CertHE An Cùrsa Comais
- Online students will follow CertHE An Cùrsa Adhartais over two years
- Fluent and advanced speakers will follow CertHE Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh on-site
- For level 8 onwards, you will take part in smaller classes that combine online students (joining by videoconference) and on-campus students, enabling both groups to meet and share. For larger classes, on-site and off-site groups are held separately
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 35 hours per week
- Part-time (structured): up to 8 years @ 17 hours per week
- Part-time (unstructured): There is no time limit for completion - students whose time commitments do not allow them to study more than say, one module per semester, will not be disadvantaged
Several 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.
Where can I study my course?
- North, West and Hebrides - Stornoway campus
- Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
- This course can be studied online from anywhere in the world. If you are studying fully online, you should apply to, and will be enrolled and supported by, staff at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Year 3 - BA
You will study the following core modules:
- Gàidhlig 3
- Poileasaidh agus planadh cànain
- Sgilean rannsachaidh
You will also study 3 of the following optional modules:
- Dùbhlain sna sgìrean dùthchail
- A' leasachadh choimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig: sgilean pragtaigeach
- Bàrdachd 1600-1900
- Dualchas Gàidhlig
- Eachdraidh a' chànain sgrìobhte
- Gàidhlig na h-Èireann
- Feallsnachd Eòrpach
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
You will study the following core modules:
- Coimhearsnachdan soirbheachail seasmhach
- Poileasaidh cànain san àite-obrach
- Sgilean radar-theangachaidh
- Tràchdas Ceuma (double module)
You will also study 1 of the following optional modules:
- A t-Aos Dàna
- Na dualchainntean Gàidhlig
- Sgrùdadh spèisealta
- Tuigse nan Ceilteach
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.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:
- Public bodies, local and national organizations with responsibility for Gaelic language plans, etc, and economic development
- Academia
- Community organisations with a Gaelic focus
- Community development
Can I progress into further study?
You may wish to progress from BA (Hons) Gaelic with Development to the following courses: