What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Gaelic and Education is a four-year, Gaelic medium, undergraduate teacher education programme.

The programme is designed for either secondary teaching (Gaelic as a subject) or Gaelic medium primary teaching and includes 18 weeks of school experience: 9 weeks in year three of the programme and 9 weeks in year four.

Successful completion of this award will give you a direct route to Gaelic and Gaelic medium teacher education, a field where there is an identified shortage of skilled professionals.

Special features

• The programme is delivered and assessed mainly through the medium of Scottish Gaelic
• You will have an opportunity to gain an honours award and teaching qualification in four years
• You will gain fluency in Gaelic by the end of the first year, with continuing language enhancement throughout the programme and the opportunity to study a module specifically for bilingual teaching
• The programme will prepare you for life as a reflective professional, supporting high-quality learning for the children you teach

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• For primary and secondary teaching, Higher or A level English at grade C or above, Maths at National 5, Standard Grade Credit, Intermediate 2 or GCSE at grade C or above are required
• You will also need a satisfactory interview in accordance with standard procedures for admission to the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education and a satisfactory completion of Disclosure Scotland procedures

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:

• CertHE Cùrsa Comais: an intensive and interactive Gaelic language course for intermediate-level learners aiming for fluency in the language. The major focus is on language skills, both speaking and writing, but other subjects are introduced as the course progresses.
• CertHE Gaelic and Communication: for advanced-level learners and fluent speakers of Gaelic who wish to improve their level of accuracy in the language. You will also be introduced to traditional culture, history, literature and media as part of the course.

You will get the opportunity to take a three-week work placement in a Gaelic environment and apply your newly-acquired theory skills.

There is also a distance learning equivalent of An Cùrsa Comais offered part-time over two years:

• An Cùrsa Adhartais

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules include:

• Gaelic language 2
• Language, culture and ethnicity

You will also choose four options from a range of Gaelic and related studies modules including Gaelic education.

Year 3 - BA

Core modules include:

• Gaelic language 3
• Research skills
• Plus an option from a range of Gaelic and related studies modules

Over the third and fourth years you will also study education modules, see content under Year 4 for details.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules include:

• Completion of a dissertation
• Option from a range of Gaelic and related studies modules

Core education modules studied across years 3 and 4:

• Children, young people and the curriculum
• Children, young people and their learning 
• The critical and enquiring professional
• Professional practice: includes 8 weeks of school experience in year three and 10 weeks in year four

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland or the European Union/EEA (outside of the UK) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

*4th year free only for students studying full-time who have paid for the previous 3 years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) -  £1,340 (2017-18) and £1,500 (2018-19).

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.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

**There is no part-time study option for Tier 4 sponsored international students.

Further information on international course fees.

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

Funding

External scholarships and financial support may be available. Contact your enrolling college for more information.