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 Gaelic medium primary teaching or secondary teaching (Gaelic as a subject) and includes 18 weeks of school experience: 8 weeks in year three of the programme and 10 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 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
• The programme will give you specialist skills and bilingual teaching and learning methods
• 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, 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

Please note:

• There are subject specific entry guidelines for secondary teaching stipulated by GTC Scotland. These are available from the GTC Scotland website: Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland, 2013

• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

For primary and secondary teaching, by the end of year 2 of your studies, you are required to have:

• Higher (or A level) English at grade C or above
• Mathematics at National 5, Standard Grade Credit, Intermediate 2 or GCSE at grade C
• You will also need a satisfactory interview in accordance with guidelines for admission to Initial Teacher Education in Scotland and a satisfactory completion of Disclosure Scotland procedures

Access routes

To gain entry to years 3 and 4 of the course, students are required to have completed year 2 of the course, with a DipHE in Gaelic and Related Subjects, and undertaken a satisfactory interview in accordance with guidelines for admission to Initial Teach Education courses in Scotland.

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 An Cùrsa Comais (Gaelic learners)
• CertHE An Cùrsa Adhartais (Gaelic learners: distance learning)
• CertHE Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh (Fluent speakers)

You will get the opportunity to take a three-week work placement in a Gaelic environment.

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 literature, oral tradition and social history.

Year 3 - BA

Core modules include:

• Children and their learning
• Professional practice 1 (8 weeks)
• Gaelic language 3
• Research skills
• Plus an option from a range of Gaelic and related studies modules

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules include:

• The critical and enquiring professional
• Professional practice (10 weeks)
• Undergraduate dissertation
• Plus an option from a range of Gaelic and related studies modules

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Note: The Scottish Government set this fee which has not yet been confirmed for 2021-22 so may be subject to change.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) 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, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,500.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government has confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals starting their study in Scotland from academic year 2021-22, who do not have settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. For 2021-22, students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

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:

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous 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.

Additional costs

The cost of travel to placement in years 3 and 4 will depend on transport and location. These cost are reimbursed.