Gaelic and Traditional Music BA (Hons)
Course code QW53
What is special about this course?
Immerse yourself in a vibrant musical environment as a traditional singer or instrumentalist, and prepare yourself for a dynamic career as a Gaelic musician, with opportunities across a variety of sectors.
Benefit from the strong practical elements of this BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course, learning from leading musicians, with frequent opportunities to perform and record both on campus and further afield. Base yourself in the heart of a Gaelic-speaking community, at our Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus on the beautiful Isle of Skye, as you gain an outstanding education in Gaelic musical heritage within the broader context of Gaelic and related studies.
Develop a range of practical skills for solo and group performances, make important professional contacts, experience hands-on learning in our outstanding dedicated recording studio, and enjoy the incredible opportunity of studying abroad for a semester, in Canada or Ireland, in your final year.
Special features
- Study and practice traditional music in the heart of a Gaelic community on the beautiful Isle of Skye
- Improve Gaelic language skills
- Develop a range of practical skills for solo and group performances, learning from leading practitioners
- Deepen your understanding of music within the wider contexts of history and cultural studies with leading specialists
- Make important professional contacts through a variety of learning opportunities
- Learn 'hands-on' in an outstanding dedicated recording studio
- Study for a semester in Ireland or Canada in year 4
- Learn vital professional skills for a successful and wide-ranging career in the music industry
- Be part of the wider Gaelic-speaking higher education community and participate in a range of social activities
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation on campus ideally suited to students on this course.
Entry requirements
- 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above, preferably including Gaelic (learners) or Gàidhlig (fluent speakers) at grade B or above OR
- 2 A levels at grade BC or above
- You will be required to attend an interview to assess your Gaelic language skills and an audition to determine your level of musical ability
- Please contact Admissions at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI for specific information regarding the musical audition requirements for this programme. Please phone 01471 888304 or email iarrtas@smo.uhi.ac.uk
- Please note: this course does not accept applications for deferred entry; if you wish to take a year out, for example, you must apply next year
Advanced entry
Entry to year 2 may be possible with:
- CertHE An Cùrsa Adhartais (CertHE An Cùrsa Adhartais (English))
- CertHE An Cùrsa Comais (CertHE An Cùrsa Comais (English))
- CertHE Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh (CertHE Gaelic and Communication)
Entry to year 3 may be possible with:
- DipHE Gaelic and Related Studies
Access routes
Year 1 - CertHE
Subjects include:
- Music performance 1 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Theory, composing and arranging 1
- See An Cùrsa Comais (English) (An Cùrsa Comais) or Gaelic and Communication (Gàidhlig agus Conaltradh) for other modules
Year 2 - DipHE
Subjects include:
- Music performance 2 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Theory, composing and arranging 2
- History of Gaelic music 2
Year 3 - BA
Subjects include:
- Music performance 3 (1:1 lessons and ensemble classes)
- Gaelic song 3 (group singing)
- Recording and producing
- Professional, presentational and organisational skills
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Subjects include:
- Music performance 4 (1:1 lessons, group singing and ensemble classes)
- Themed production
- Composing and arranging portfolio
- Recording and producing
You must also complete a dissertation.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- You will learn via face-to-face and online lectures and tutorials, plus practical musical work at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI on the Isle of Skye and off-campus
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Start date
- September
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.
| Degrees | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
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:
| Full-time | Level | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
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) - £1,542.
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 confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th 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.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | With scholarship | 2025-26 Full-time |
With scholarship |
| Year 1 | CertHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 4 | Honours | £14,988 | Free | £15,870 | Free |
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:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £14,988 | £15,870 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £7,494 | £7,935 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £2,498 | £2,645 |
Part-time study is not open to international students 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
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.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed your BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course you might like to consider a career in:
- The music profession
- Gaelic cultural sector
- Gaelic media
- Education
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I considered the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh but as soon as I got the offer to study at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig I just accepted it! We get so much support, the lecturers are always there whenever we need them if we have any questions, lecturers are often an email away, or we can go and see them when we are on campus. They’ll be here anytime. We get a lot of one-to-one tuition here, you do feel like you get a lot support.
There’s always a lot happening on campus, there’s always events we go to. We’ve got conversation classes, quiz nights and ceilidhs. You are never sitting bored, there’s so much on and everything is so close. The student accommodation was so amazing, the views you get every morning waking up to the sea. Everyone in my flat at the moment is all on a music course as well, which has been great as I am always surrounded by music.
I would recommend this course 100%, I think it is a great place to study. Especially here in Skye, it is a great community, you know everybody on campus, and it feels like you are part of a family. It’s a really lovely place to study.
Amber is studying on the BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a partner of UHI.
Apply for Gaelic and Traditional Music BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.