Are you ready to catch the Basque wave?

Would you like to engage with one of the oldest and most unique European languages alive?

Students across the University may have the option to study a variety of languages with us on a credit-bearing basis. Basque is just one of the many languages we offer. Following our taster sessions in Catalan and Portuguese, we're delighted to bring you a further taster session in Basque.

Are you tempted?

Euskara (Basque) is a pre-Indo-European language which does not belong to any other language family, nor are its origins very clear. However, the biggest mystery surrounding the language is not its origins, but its survival. It is spoken by over a million people worldwide, mainly on both sides of the western Pyrenees in Spain and France. Basque is also a modern language, and it is used in a very wide range of social and cultural contexts, styles, and registers.

No need to book for this taster; just drop in.

If you like this taster, you can think about taking our Level 8, 20-credit course on the Basque Language for Beginners next year. It's available to all students - from second year undergraduate upwards - in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Consult your Degree Programme Table (DPT) and/or your Personal Tutor for details.

I was very lucky to be able to take Basque this year as a supplement to my master’s degree. My favourite part was the integration of cultural study with our language classes, connecting what we were learning to the history and traditions of the Basque people.

Hannah Swan, Book History and Material Culture MSc

It’s refreshing having such a small-sized class, as it allows for a sense of community which is often lacking in larger courses. It’s probably the only chance most people will ever get of learning Basque, and it shouldn’t be missed out on!

Chris Dobson, German and English Literature MA (Hons)

European Languages and Cultures at Edinburgh

Edinburgh is ranked fourth in the UK, and 19th in the world, for modern languages in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018. We teach nine European languages to degree level, and courses in Nynorsk, Old Norse, Basque, Catalan and Icelandic. We also offer a range of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led.

Find out more about studying with us