Celtic Studies (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSt in Celtic Studies is a taught course exploring the languages, literature, and culture of Celtic-speaking peoples. It includes core language study, optional papers, a dissertation, and a modern Celtic language component.

This is a nine-month course designed to help those who already possess a good knowledge of Welsh, Irish or another Celtic language to acquire a grounding in areas of Celtic studies which were not part of their first degree course. Alternatively, it can be a path for those who wish to deepen their knowledge in a particular area of Celtic studies.

The MSt in Celtic Studies provides an appropriate introduction for you if you are contemplating higher research in a DPhil or PhD programme in this area.

Generally, student numbers in the MSt are relatively small and this allows the teaching to be tailored to the particular choice you may make.

Teaching for the course is shared among three faculties, English, History and Linguistics. Faculty members who have previously taught on the course and have particular expertise in Celtic topics include Prof David Willis (course director; Celtic linguistics, Welsh language and culture); Prof Mark Williams (medieval Irish and Welsh literature; modern reception of Celtic literature); Jenyth Evans (medieval Irish literature); Prof Gillian Ramchand (Scottish Gaelic syntax); Dr Nora Baker (Irish language instructor); and Dr Hanna Hopwood Griffiths (Welsh language instructor).

Opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange are provided by the communities fostered within individual colleges, which also offer you dedicated support by means of personal advisors. The Oxford Centre for Research in the Humanities (TORCH) offers a stimulating range of interdisciplinary activities.

Course structure
Teaching is provided through a mixture of classes and tutorials.

You will take one core course, two options courses, and you will write a dissertation.

The core course will provide an introduction to the medieval Celtic languages through the close study of texts in class. Other areas are taught through tutorials which may be supplemented by lecture series.

You will write a dissertation on an approved topic normally arising from one of the options studied, and you will also be required to develop a reading knowledge of a modern Celtic language which you have not previously studied at degree level.

A weekly Celtic research seminar brings all students together with talks by invited, mainly external speakers, run jointly in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth.