Celtic Studies

The Department of Welsh at Aberystwyth is one of the leading university centres in the British Isles for the study of Celtic languages, literatures and cultures. We offer an ambitious single honours degree scheme in Celtic Studies under the direction of Professor Patrick Sims-Williams, FBA. This scheme offers students the opportunity to study Irish as well as Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic and Breton may also be selected as options.

The Celtic Studies degree course extends over four years. Students will usually study Irish or Breton abroad at one of the universities in Ireland and Brittany which are linked with Aberystwyth in the SOCRATES programme funded by the European Community. Although study abroad is the norm, an exemption can be allowed in certain cases (e.g. to students who come from Ireland or Brittany), although this will not necessarily reduce the length of the course. Students' period of study abroad is normally planned at the end of their first year.

The Celtic Studies modules taught through the medium of English are listed below.

Level 1

IR10620 Introduction to Modern Irish I
IR10710 Introduction to Modern Irish II
IR11410 Introduction to Modern Irish III
IR10810 Celtic Culture I
IR10910 Celtic Culture II
IR11010 Imagining Irishness: History, Society & Literature from the Gaelic Revival to the Present
IR11120 Traditional Music of the Celtic Countries
IR11220 Modern Irish Language and Literature for Non-Beginners
IR11510 Introduction to Old Irish Language & Literature I
IR11610 Introduction to Old Irish Language & Literature II

Level 2

IR21920 Old Irish (Language & Literature) I&II
IR22010 Middle and Early Modern Irish (Language & Literature) I & II
IR22120 Modern Irish (Language & Literature) I & II
IR22305 Extended Essay (Intended for use in future years)

Level 3

IR32320 Old Irish and Middle Irish (Language & Literature)
IR32410 Early Modern Irish (Language & Literature) III & IV
IR32520 Modern Irish (Language & Literature) III & IV
IR32610 Comparative Celtic Philology
IR32720 Scottish Gaelic
IR32910 Extended Essay
IR33010 Comparative Celtic Literature (Intended for use in future years)