Course summary

A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. The programme is a good stepping-stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification. As a Masters by Research student, you’ll be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what interests you most for the duration of the programme (its key difference to a taught Masters [MSc]). We specialise in the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Celtic - and in particular the Gaelic-speaking peoples, from Iron Age Europe to the present. Based in Scotland’s capital and festival city, our research community is at the forefront of policy development and cultural innovation, and of linguistic, cultural, literary, and sociolinguistic research in the Celtic languages, with a particular focus on Scottish Gaelic. We play a leading role in relation to language planning and maintenance, particularly for Scottish Gaelic. Research excellence In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research in Celtic Studies was submitted in Modern Languages and Linguistics (Panel D - Arts and Humanities; Unit of Assessment 26). The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK. As published in Times Higher Education's REF power ratings, this result is based on the quality and breadth of our research in the unit of assessment. Join our community and undertake a 20,000-word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor. Our Celtic Studies expertise covers:

• Celtic sociolinguistics and language policy

• Gaelic folklore

• Gaelic language and culture in the diaspora

• Gaelic linguistics, dialectology, and language technology

• Medieval Gaelic religious culture

• Old Irish and Middle Welsh language, literature and culture

• Scottish Gaelic and Modern Irish language, literature, and culture

• The 'Celtic Revival' in Scotland