Gaelic Education MEd

Course code Q539

What is special about this course?

This MEd Gaelic Education is delivered entirely through the medium of Gaelic, allowing you to develop your literacy skills in Gaelic while at the same time progressing your professional knowledge, understanding and skills relating to Gaelic education. 

You will focus on the following areas in your studies: 

  • Immersion pedagogy and best practice in international immersion education 
  • Research, policy and practice in Gaelic medium education   
  • Developing pupils’ Gaelic language proficiency  
  • Developing participants’ own confidence and competence in Gaelic, including understanding and use of Gaelic grammar 
  • Building an awareness of Gaelic culture and identity into the curriculum 
  • Supporting diverse learners in Gaelic education 
  • Leading learning in Gaelic education 
  • Practitioner enquiry to inform and improve practice 


The programme is comprised of progressive modules that allow you to continually build upon prior learning. This culminates in a final practitioner enquiry study, designed to enable you to utilise the knowledge, skills and professional understanding that you have developed throughout the programme to support improvement in your own setting. 

Special features

  • Progressive structure that allows you to continually build upon prior learning
  • Delivered by fluent Gaelic speakers with years of experience in education
  • Carry out educational enquiries and research in your workplace
  • Reflective learning is at the heart of this course, allowing you to use your learning to enhance your professional practice

Entry requirements

  • You must be a Gaelic speaker and registered as a teacher with the GTCS

Advanced entry:

  • Successful completion of the PgCert Gaelic Medium Education (Streap), run in partnership between Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the University of Aberdeen, may allow advanced entry to year two. You will be interviewed on entry and must have completed the full 60 credits of this programme within the last five years

PgCert

Core modules include:

  • Immersion education and language acquisition in a minority language context
  • Immersion pedagogies and practices within a Gaelic-rich environment

 
You will also study one of the following optional modules:

  • Gaelic for educators 1
  • Gaelic for educators 2 

PgDip

Core modules include:

  • Culture, identity and language ideology in Gaelic education
  • Supporting diverse learners  

 
You will also study one of the following optional modules:

  • Leading learning in Gaelic 
  • Gaelic for educators 2

MEd

Core modules include:

  • Practitioner enquiry proposal
  • Practitioner enquiry in Gaelic education 

How will I study my course?

  • Part-time (structured)
  • The programme is mainly delivered online and has been designed to work alongside your other professional commitments
  • There is a mandatory, one-day annual face-to-face event at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig at the start of each academic year, to allow participants and programme tutors to meet
  • You will engage with online activities fortnightly; online tutorials will also be held to ensure regular contact and allow for collaborative interaction between participants and tutors

How long will my course last?

  • Part-time (structured): 3 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?

  • Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Start date

  • September

Fees

The MEd Gaelic Education is funded by the Scottish Government therefore no tuition fees will be payable by students. Eligibility for this course is dependent on being registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).

Funding

This course is fully funded by the Scottish Government.

Additional costs

You will be required to attend a mandatory, one-day face to face event at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in September at the start of each academic year. Any travel costs incurred will be at your own expense.

What can I do on completion of my course?

This programme will contribute positively towards your professional learning as a teacher.

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to progress from MEd Gaelic Education to a PhD in Education.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Gaelic Education MEd

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.