BA (Hons) Gaelic and Development

Award: BA, BA (Hons)
Study Mode: Full-time, On Campus
Duration: 3 Years for BA, 4 years for BA Hons
Code: Q505
Course Contact: Eilidh Grant .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Description

This Gaelic-medium degree aims to provide students with an education and training in Gaelic language and community development. This is a growing area of the Gaelic jobs market, with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 placing statutory requirements on agencies to produce Gaelic plans by skilled language officers.

You will compare Gaelic and its communities with minority languages and cultures elsewhere, in Ireland, Wales, mainland Europe, Scandinavia and North America. In the final Honours year an exchange programme with Irish and Canadian universities allows you to explore the wider international context to which Gaelic Scotland belongs.

Course Content

You will be expected to have a basic knowledge of Gaelic when joining the course and, depending on your ability, will either study on the intensive Gaelic course, An Cùrsa Comais, or Gàidhlig is Conaltradh in your first year.

The second year covers Gaelic Past and Present; The Gaelic World 2; The Contemporary North Atlantic Rim; Development in the Highlands and Islands; Social History of the Highlands and Islands.

In third year you will study language planning; Language Policy and Planning 1; Language Awareness; Developing Gaelic Communities: Practical Skills; Communities and Development in the 21st Century; Nationalism and National Identity.

To complete year four, you will write a Dissertation and choose modules from Language Policy and Planning 2; Language Policy in the Workplace; Sustainable Development; Migration.

Entry Requirements

For direct entry to the degree course:

 SQA passes in five different subjects of which three must be at Higher grade, preferably including Gàidhlig or Gaelic

For entry to Cert HE (year one) only:

SQA passes in five different subjects including two Highers

Other equivalent qualifications may be acceptable subject to the discretion of the programme leader

Students without an SQA pass in Gaelic must satisfy the college of their ability in Gaelic

For applicants with little or no previous knowledge of Gaelic, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig offers An Cùrsa Inntrigidh, a distance learning course which aims to prepare students for entry to year one of the degree programme.

Fees and Funding

The amount of money you have to pay for your course depends on a number of factors. These include where you come from, where you live and which course you want to study.
 

For students living in Scotland or the European Union

Studying an undergraduate course (degree or Cert HE) the following fees apply for the academic year 2012-13:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living whilst studying.
 

Rest of UK (RUK) students

For students living in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) studying a full-time degree the following fees apply for academic year 2012-13:

£7,500 per annum for maximum of three consecutive years (fourth year free)

All CertHE courses will be charged at £6,000 per annum for full-time study, including as part of a degree course.

The maximum total fee for a four year full-time degree (fourth year free) is £22,500.

Courses which comprise an HN award as their first and/or second year will be charged at £6,000 for the first and/or second year and £7,500 for the second and/or third year (fourth year free).
 

International students

(students not living in the UK or European Union) pay the following fees in academic year 2012-13:
 

The CertHE is one year (two semesters) full time and is equivalent to the first year of a degree course.

As an international student you have a variety of funding opportunities available to you. You can contact the International Centre at UHI for advice on what funding you can apply for.

Progression Routes

There are a growing number of jobs in Scotland where Gaelic is necessary or an advantage, both in the public and private sector. The skills you'€™ll learn while you'€™re at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig mean you'€™ll be ideally placed to take advantage of the many new job opportunities appearing in the Gaelic world today - in the media, education, public services, culture and heritage, the arts, translation, Gaelic development and community groups.

As a student of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig you will get the chance to go on work placement during your first year of study which will greatly help your all-round language skills as well as develop your practical and work skills.

We aim to match students to relevant, suitable placement, in rural areas where the language is strong, as well as in more urban settings where Gaelic has a major presence such as Glasgow, the base for organisations such as the BBC, and Edinburgh, home of the Scottish Parliament.

Information on current vacancies and further career opportunities and placement schemes for Gaelic students can be found on the Comann na Gàidhlig website

How to Apply

If you are a school leaver or are applying to multiple universities, then you must apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is the central admissions service for all universities and colleges of higher education in the UK.

If you are not a school leaver and are only applying to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, you can contact the Registry & Admissions Office or download, complete and return the UHI application form.

For those applying from overseas, UCAS forms will be available from the British Council. All prospective international students can also downlaod, complete and return the UHI application form.

Contact details:

Registry & Admissions Office
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sleat
Isle of Skye
IV44 8RQ

Tel: 01471 888304

Email: iarrtas@smo.uhi.ac.uk
 

Useful information for applying through UCAS:

Institution Name: HIP
Code: H49
Campus: K