Celtic & Anglo-Saxon Studies and Philosophy adds to your exploration of the lives and legacy of the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian peoples with an examination of life's ‘big questions’ – how we apply reasoning and argument to questions of fundamental importance to us humans past and present. The intellectual skills you will develop and their transferability will make you a very attractive graduate with very wide career options, including in business.
Aberdeen has been a centre for Celtic studies for more than a century and is now a leading research centre in all aspects of the northern polar regions including its peoples and their societies. You will study languages, literature, culture and history, inspired by leading specialists in the history and literature of Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia in the middle ages, in medieval Celtic and Scandinavian literature and the cultural history of Ireland and Anglo-Saxon England.
What makes Philosophy at Aberdeen especially attractive is the breadth of courses, the user-friendly materials you will use and the experts who will teach you. In your first year alone you will study topics such as How Should One Live? Controversial Questions, and Experience, Knowledge and Reality.
The knowledge and skills you will develop in critical thinking, analysis and research from this subject combination will make you very attractive to employers across a range of sectors from arts, history and heritage to industry and the public sector, with particular application in media, advertising and marketing, information and communication technology, publishing, language teaching and health-related professions such as speech and language therapy.
Modules
View all modules on the programme page to find out more about what you will be studying and when. University of Aberdeen modules are designed to give you breadth and depth to your degree. The range of modules you study will allow you to become proficient in all subjects which are directly relevant to your degree giving you greater career options.
Assessment method
The use of various forms of assessment and learning environments facilitates the development of generic transferable skills enhancing student employability.
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods: coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
Main Site
Study options
MA (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years
Start dates
14/09/2026
Apply by 14 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
Course code:
7V52
Institution code:
A20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1
How to apply
Apply by 14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Course code:
7V52
Institution code:
A20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
International applicants
In addition to tuition fees, students will require money to cover their living costs including accommodation, food, books, entertainment, clothing, phone bills, local travel, and laundry. These expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and spending habits. In keeping with UKVI rules, we recommend that student’s budget at least the minimum maintenance amount as stated by the UKVI per month, to cover their living costs and you have to evidence 9 months’ worth of maintenance when applying for your visa. You also have to pay the NHS health surcharge per each year of study, when applying for a visa.
When you apply for your Student Visa, you will be required to evidence these funds in your personal bank account (or a parent’s personal bank account (NOT a Business Account). Therefore, you will have to evidence your 1st years tuition fees (minus the International Scholarship for self-paying students) and the maintenance amount. These funds have to have been in your account for a minimum of 28-consecutive days immediately prior to applying for your visa. If the amount in your account drops below the required amount, the 28-day period starts over.
International students who will be studying for more than 6 months are permitted to work for 20 hours per week during term-time, though this may be increased during the holiday periods. Please note this must not be relied upon as a means to fund your studies, as you have to evidence your funding when applying for your Student Visa.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BBC
For First Year Entry a minimum of 3 A Levels at BBC.
For Second Year Entry a minimum of an A in the subject selected for Single Honours plus BB, or AB in the subjects selected for Joint Honours plus a further B.
GCSE in English or English Language is also required.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Minimum entry requirement: DMM in related subjects. GCSE in English or English Language is also required.
Scottish Higher - BBBB
Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers / Advanced Highers may be required. National 5 English at minimum grade C.
Note: we do not double count a Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject, but we do consider that a B at Adv Higher is equivalent to an A grade at Higher.
Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB
Second year entry may be possible in most school based subjects. A minimum of ABB overall in Adv Higher is required. Adv Higher at A in the subject selected for Single Honours or AB in the subject selected for Joint Honours.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points
For entry into First Year, a minimum of 32 points required, including at least 5,5,5 at HL.
For entry into Second Year, a minimum of 36 points, including at 6, 6, 6 at Higher level in subject(s) selected.
English at a minimum of Standard level required.
Overall - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 5.5 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above.
IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)
78
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition (online) - DI code is 0818: Overall 78 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 18 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above.
PTE Academic
59
Overall - 59 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above.
Online Test is not accepted.
Trinity ISE
Pass
Pass overall at ISE II with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills.
Institution's Own Test
Academic English Pre-sessional Programmes - Pass (valid for one year) OR Academic English Preparation Programme - Pass at Level Four (valid for one year)
To study for an undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations.
We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, or through a recognised English language test. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
We are keen to encourage students from the widest possible range of backgrounds to participate in University studies, and we appreciate that not all students have the same opportunity to meet our advertised entry requirements.
For this reason we take contextualised information into account when making decisions on the applications we have received. Decisions are made in line with the University's Contexualised Admissions Policy.
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Data from:
This course and 26 other language and area studies courses
Date range:
2022-2024
Grades held by accepted students
For University of Aberdeen, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these
calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data.
Learn more here
.
BBC
Most common
BBC Most common
AAA
Highest grades
CCD
Lowest grades
Offer rate for UK school & college leavers
93%
93% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.
How do you compare?
See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.
N/A
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
45%
45 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
75%
75 Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Location
Fee
Year
Republic of Ireland
£9790
Year 1
EU
£20800
Year 1
Scotland
£1820
Year 1
England
£9790
Year 1
Northern Ireland
£9790
Year 1
Wales
£9790
Year 1
Channel Islands
£9790
Year 1
International
£20800
Year 1
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
EU/International Applicants: When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country, and arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.
Sponsorship information
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.
International Students: The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme. This scholarship is in the form of a tuition fee waiver. To be eligible students must be registering for a full-time, on-campus programme and cannot be in receipt of external scholarships or other University of Aberdeen scholarships, except for awards granted by the University of Aberdeen Development Trust. Please note that the scholarship does not apply to the DPLP or Medicine.
View the University of Aberdeen Online Prospectus programme page to find out about any scholarships and funding you may be eligible to apply for.
University of Aberdeen
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