Celtic Studies Degree

A Celtic Studies degree is very useful for students that are looking for an insight into British culture and how the UK came to be. English culture is very important, but the Gaelic culture and Celtic culture have had just as important a role to play as well.

Celtic Studies is sometimes studied as part of a joint honours degree with a History degree, so as to maximise the learning potential of the students.

What is a Celtic Studies degree?

A Celtic Studies degree is a degree that focuses on the history and the culture of Britain. Britain is a melting pot of different cultures, languages, nationalities, races, religions and ethnicities and Celtic culture is a huge part of all of that.

Though Celtic language has become slightly less common in the UK, even in countries like Wales, where their language is an essential part of their heritage, Celtic Studies is still a very important degree to study, as it covers a wide range of topics and opens students up for careers in various sectors later in life.

Most university’s Celtic Studies degrees look at the language of Celtic culture, the difference between Galeic and Celtic cultures, how the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have a long and varied background in this culture and how it impacts today’s events.

What can I do with a Celtic Studies degree?

Given it’s niche nature, people tend to write-off Celtic Studies as being a useless degree for finding a job, but they couldn't be further from the truth, even if they tried!

The most common job for people with a Celtic Studies degree is to become a Historian. Historians are people who research the past and become so knowledgeable on a certain subject that they become considered an expert on it. Historians try to paint a picture of famous events (and lesser-known ones too) and see how the triumphs and the mistakes of the past all inform the decisions that we make today.

Another common job for a student with a Celtic Studies degree, is to become a Translator, although you do also need an LNAT qualification as well. There are many different vernaculars in the British Isles and with different interpretations of the language and a Translator is required to translate the language of one party into the language of another party. In terms of Celtic Studies, a Translator will translate Welsh and the different forms of Gaelic.

It is quite common to become a Tour Guide, which is sometimes done courtesy of a fellow joint honours degree in Travel and Tourism. A Tour Guide is someone who will take paying clients around historical areas and inform them of the history of the place as well as the current history as well. A Tour Guide is someone who needs to have a very detailed knowledge of the area they are walking in and without it, you may find yourself really struggling.

It is also possible to become a Diplomat or an Envoy for the government. Though the British Isles are all united (under the United Kingdom), except for the Republic of Ireland, the relations between the nations are not necessarily at an all-time high, therefore, being an envoy or an agent for the government in an attempt to cool relations between the nations is a very important job. As an Envoy, you would be expected to lead negotiations with governments and interest groups, indulge in the local culture and more.

How will I be assessed?

A Celtic Studies degree is pretty much entirely a theoretical-based degree. That’s not to say that there’s no field-based work on a Celtic Studies degree, but most of the learning you do will be in the sanctity of the classroom.

You will be expected to complete work assignments, essays and examinations. You will be required to do research and present your findings, either in presentations or in regular one-on-one meetings with your tutors.

You will also have a dissertation to write as well, the length of which will depend on the university that you study at.

What skills will I learn?

All degrees give students a wide variety of skills to learn and improve an awful lot on various existing skills as well.

Your research skills will likely see a huge improvement. You need to research the topics you're talking about, especially if you plan on doing a good job. Research is important because you're talking about a culture here and mistaking one place for another or one tradition for another etc, is just going to land you in a whole heap of trouble and embarrassment.

Your communication skills are vital in a Celtic Studies degree. You need to be able to argue your topic fairly and coherently, you need to be able to make your points well and without offending anyone and you also need to be able to listen to what other people are saying and communicate these things for an audience of some kind.

Listening is a key skill in all walks of life, but with a Celtic Studies degree, listening is extremely important too, so make sure your ears are open and you're listening to what is being said. If you can listen, then it will inform your communication skills all the better too.

Will a Celtic Studies degree get me a job?

No degree guarantees a job, but a Celtic Studies degree will certainly give you a very good chance of finding a job at the end of it.

Most degrees require students to have to look into the slightly unpleasant prospect of work experience or an unpaid internship. This is not necessarily the case for all students, but it is a possibility that you need to be aware of. In fact, many students also look into the world of a placement year and will therefore have a number of contacts already available.