Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies

The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS) was established by the University of Wales in 1985 as a dedicated research centre conducting team-based projects on the languages, literatures, culture and history of Wales and the other Celtic countries.

It is located in Aberystwyth, adjacent to the National Library of Wales, which is an internationally-renowned copyright library with excellent research facilities.

Research at CAWCS

Our work is currently focused on the following areas of specialism:

• Early Celtic Languages
• Enlightenment and Romanticism in Wales and Europe
• Medieval Welsh Literature
• Welsh and British Name Studies
• Welsh Lexicography
• Contemporary Sociolinguistics and Language Policy and Planning in Minoritized Languages
• Literary Translation
• We also have staff members working in the Visual Arts, Archaeology, Hagiography, Breton
• Literature, Women’s Writing and Travel Writing - we welcome applications for postgraduate research and visiting scholars from all over the world

Find out more about our work or contact Angharad Elias for more information.

Alan R. King Fellowship with the Etxepare Basque Institute

Alan R. King Chair in Sociolinguistics in partnership with the Etxepare Basque Institute

Following an agreement between UWN and the Etxepare Basque Institute, the Alan R. King Fellowship is hosted annually at CAWCS since 2022 The Fellowship is awarded by open call to a scholar or a practitioner working on aspects of sociolinguistics or language policy and planning in the Basque Country. The first person to be appointed to the Chair was Dr Imanol Larrea. The call for 2023 is now open with a closing date of 3 February 2023.

Postgraduate Opportunities

CAWCS offers unique opportunities for postgraduate students to work alongside specialists in a dynamic and supportive environment. We welcome enquiries about MPhil/PhD topics in any of our research areas.

Details of work by current and former research students

For more information about research opportunities, or for an informal chat about possible topics, contact our Head of Graduate Studies, Elizabeth Edwards.