Gaelic and Related Studies DipHE

Course code Q506

What is special about this course?

This Diploma of Higher Education in Gaelic and Related Studies provides an excellent platform for progression into our Gaelic degree programmes:

You will study modules from the Gaelic degree programmes and improve your Gaelic language ability, which will enable you to exit with a DipHE award or to progress to further study within the Gaelic and Related Studies Scheme.

You will be supported and guided by the course team to ensure your choices enable smooth progression to the next stage of the course, should you wish to progress further.

Special features

  • Gaelic immersion experience
  • Pathway to Gaelic Degree Programmes
  • Face-to-face classes available at stunning island locations 
  • Other part-time flexible online delivery options available
  • Learn from tutors who are experts in their subject areas

Entry requirements

  • 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above, preferably including Higher Gàidhlig (fluent speakers) or Gaelic (learners) at grade B or above OR
  • 2 A levels at grade BC or above
  • Applicants with other qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
  • You will be required to attend an interview to assess your Gaelic language skills, in order to place on the appropriate first year course
  • This is a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
  • Please note: this course does not accept applications for deferred entry; if you wish to take a year out, for example, you must apply next year

Year 1 - CertHE

The first year of the programme is primarily a language foundation year and, depending on your linguistic ability on entry, you can study either:

You will get the opportunity to take a three-week work placement in a Gaelic environment if studying An Cùrsa Comais or Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh.

Year 2 - DipHE

Subjects may include:

  • Folklore
  • Gaelic language 2
  • Language, culture and ethnicity
  • Modern short story
  • Poetry since 1900
  • Scottish onomastics

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)
  • You will learn through a combination of face-to-face classes, video-conference lectures and tutorials, plus online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 2 years @ 40 hours per week
  • Part-time (structured): 4 years @ 20 hours per week
  • Part-time (unstructured): up to 5 years

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.

Where can I study my course?

  • North, West and Hebrides - Stornoway campus
  • Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Start date

  • September
  • January

Fees

For information on costs of this course please contact the campus where you wish to study.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:

  • Teaching
  • Music
  • Gaelic media
  • Gaelic language development

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to progress from DipHE Gaelic and Related Studies to the following courses:

Is there more information available online?

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We get so much support, the lecturers are always there whenever we need them if we have any questions, lecturers are often an email away, or we can go and see them when we are on campus. They’ll be here anytime. We get a lot of one-to-one tuition here, you do feel like you get a lot of support.   

There’s always a lot happening on campus, there’s always events we go to. We’ve got conversation classes, quiz nights and Ceilidhs. You are never sitting bored, there’s so much on and everything is so close. The student accommodation was so amazing, the views you get every morning waking up to the sea. I think it is a great place to study, it is a great community, you know everybody on campus, and it feels like you are part of a family. It’s a really lovely place to study.   

Amber is studying Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a partner of UHI.