Archaeology with Gaelic Studies BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Most of our humanities subjects can be studied as joint honours as well as single honours. Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects, which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally. It can be possible to transfer between single and joint honours options, usually during your first or second year, and advice will be available from your personal academic tutor.

This joint degree covers:    

• Archaeology: exploration of a range of archaeological skills such as fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation, mapped to the current occupational standards for archaeology    
• Gaelic: Gaelic language learning as well as modules relating to the culture,  history and literature of the Gaelic Highlands and Islands. 

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Opportunity to gain ‘on-the-job’ skills such as surveying, fieldwork and post excavation
• Our studies are linked to the distinctive cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands region in a global context
• You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
• Opportunity to learn Gaelic
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social Science (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit will be considered for direct entry to year two

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

Core module is:

• Archaeological theory and method

You will also choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

• Historic landscapes
• World archaeology
• European prehistories
• Science and archaeology

Gaelic modules available are:

• Gaelic story and song
• The Gaelic world 1
• Gaelic for learners 1A
• Gaelic for learners 1B

Year 2 - DipHE

Core module is:

• Excavation skills (compulsory): taken during Summer vacation at a site location off-campus. You will be responsible for covering the costs of any travel and subsistence associated with your participation in this two-week module.

You will choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:    

• Scottish archaeology
• Digital heritage
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society
• Wetland archaeology

Gaelic modules may include:

• Gaelic for learners 2A
• Gaelic for learners 2B
• The Gaelic world 2
• Folklore
• Introduction to Gaelic poetry

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Archaeology and interpretation
• Archaeological sciences

You will choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

• Pre-history of the Highlands and Islands
• Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands
• Archaeology project
• Archaeology placement
• Practical environmental archaeology

Gaelic modules may include:

• Traditional culture
• Nationalism and national identity
• Language awareness

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in archaeology or Gaelic.

You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject.

• Archaeology option modules may include:
• Sustainability past and present
• Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
• Funerary and burial archaeology
• Maritime archaeology and heritage of Northern Scotland
• Landscape archaeology
• Neolithic Orkney
• The Iron Age of Scotland c800BC-800AD
• Peoples, plants and animals
• Biomolecular archaeology

Gaelic optional modules may include:  

• Traditional Gaelic culture in the 21st century
• Language policy in the workplace

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

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.

Additional costs

• Excavation Skills is a Core module in the summer between first and second year and you would be expected to travel to a fieldschool to complete the module. Therefore, there will be associated costs for travel and accommodation.
• Practical Environmental Archaeology is an optional module in the summer between second and third year and you would be expected to travel to Orkney to complete the module. Therefore, there will be associated costs for travel and accommodation.