Gaelic teacher training degree ranked 3rd in the UK
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Gaelic teacher training degree has secured third place in the Guardian’s University Guide 2026 ranking for teacher education courses.
The Guardian’s University league table ranks institutions by subject, looking at student satisfaction, staff numbers, spending, and career prospects. Across 100 institutions and 835 education courses, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s BA (Hons) Gaelic and Education, which can be studied at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig or UHI North, West and Hebrides, was third ranking alongside three other UHI courses. These courses were only exceeded by education courses at Cambridge and Bath Universities.
Gwen MacQuarrie, Head of Teacher Education at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, said:
“Our BA (Hons) in Gaelic Education plays a crucial role in training the next generation of Gaelic teachers in Scotland, so it’s brilliant to see the course recognised nationally as one of the best in education.
“Our mission is to provide world class teaching through the medium of Gaelic, and we pride ourselves on our inclusive environment and supporting our students reach their career goals in Gaelic teaching after they have graduated. Recognition of our BA in Gaelic & Education being ranked 3rd in the UK reflects not only the high-quality of teaching we provide, but the success of our graduates once they have completed the course.”
Dr Marsaili MacLeod, Director of Studies at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, said:
“The Guardian’s ranking highlights our education department’s hard work in crafting and delivering a BA course that is one of the best in the UK. This undergraduate course is Scotland’s only Teacher Education degree delivered through Gaelic and is instrumental in creating Gaelic primary and secondary teachers – a job for which there is a high demand in Scotland. The fact that a Gaelic-medium teaching degree is holding its own against some of the top universities in the UK speaks volumes as to how far Gaelic – and Gaelic education – has come in the past 50 years.”
The Guardian’s full University Guide can be found here: The Guardian University Guide 2026 – the rankings | University guide | The Guardian
