Celtic Studies
Our Celtic Studies courses are open to you whether or not you have a background or knowledge of the Welsh language or Celtic Studies. Indeed, many of our students come from other disciplines and backgrounds.
What is Celtic Studies?
This fascinating discipline studies the history, literature, religion, and cultural heritage of the Celtic regions. Subjects explored as part of Welsh and Celtic Studies include, for example, those that relate to Celtic peoples, Arthurian literature, folklore, druids and Celtic saints.
Why is Celtic Studies important?
A study of the culture of the Celtic regions includes questioning the various versions of the past that have been put forward by historians, linguists, folklorists, and archaeologists.
It also includes exploring and uncovering important sources on the Celtic peoples, literature, religion and iconography; sources that have formed part of our past and that continue to impact on our present and shape our future.
© University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, photo Martin Crampin
Our Modules
The modules you’ll take will of course depend on your programme of study.
For the MA in Celtic Studies, you’ll be able to choose from subjects such as
- Folklore
- Gender Studies
- The Sociology of Language
- Arthurian Literature
- Early and Late Medieval Literature
- Religion, and spirituality.
Modules include
- Conceptualizing the Celts
- Women in the Middle Ages
- Celtic Arthur and the Mabinogion Tales
- Celtic Sanctity, Spirituality and Hagiography
- Celtic Revivals: 1700 to the Present.
Hear what our students have to say about the MA Celtic Studies:
For the BA in Celtic Studies, you’ll study equally intriguing and exciting modules, including, for example, modules on Celtic sanctity and spirituality, Medieval prose and poetry in Wales, saints and cults, Welsh language skills, the early Celts, and Celtic literatures.
Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS)
Our dedicated research centre for Welsh and Celtic Studies, located in Aberystwyth, undertakes research in a range of specialisms, including Early Celtic Languages, Welsh and British Name Studies, Literary translation, and Medieval Welsh Literature.
We welcome enquiries about PhD topics and offer unique opportunities to work alongside experts in your area of study.
For more information on our research areas and on postgraduate research with us, see https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/cawcs/
The Celtic Languages
No previous knowledge of the Celtic languages is required in order for you to take one of our Celtic Studies programmes, as literature and texts are studied in translation and the programme is taught through the medium of English.
However, if you were interested in studying Welsh, then you would be able to do this as part of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, even if you have no previous knowledge of Welsh.
However, if you are fluent in Welsh then you are free to study our modules through the medium of Welsh.
Getting started
Our Celtic Studies courses are open to you whether or not you have a background or knowledge of the Welsh language or Celtic Studies. Indeed, many of our students come from other disciplines and backgrounds.
We have a wealth of experience providing University accredited Celtic Studies qualifications from the online classroom, straight to your door, whether in the UK or across the globe.
A flourishing postgraduate community
Our students are located all over the globe, and we have a range of research and course-related activities that encourage a sense of community amongst our students; you’ll be part of this supportive and vibrant community, where you can chat to one another via online Forums and webinars.
Want to find out more?
For further information, why not apply today and speak to our staff.