Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
Teaching and research in the history, languages, and literature of early medieval Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
Study with Us
The Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic is a world-renowned centre in the University of Cambridge devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the history, languages, and literatures of early medieval Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
The ASNC Tripos
Study original medieval history and literature in Old English, Old Norse, Medieval Welsh, and Medieval Irish from beginner level to mastery.
MPhil & PhD Degrees
Join our international postgraduate community undertaking high-level research under the supervision of leading world authorities.
Faculty & People
Meet our academic staff, research fellows, directors of studies, and doctoral candidates spanning all medieval Insular languages.
Our Languages & Fields of Study
Students in ASNC can combine any combination of early languages, literatures, and historical periods to tailor their academic path.
Old English
From the heroic epic of Beowulf to Anglo-Saxon elegies, riddles, homilies, and chronicles.
Old Norse-Icelandic
Eddic and skaldic poetry, sagas of Icelanders, mythologies of Odin and Thor, and kings' sagas.
Medieval Welsh & Brittonic
The Mabinogi, Arthurian tales, early Welsh court poetry (Taliesin, Aneirin), and Cornish/Breton texts.
Medieval Irish & Gaelic
Táin Bó Cúailnge, the Ulster cycle, early lyrics, and the rich narrative traditions of early Ireland and Scotland.
Insular Latin
Bede, Aldhelm, Columbanus, and the Latin learning of the Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and Hiberno-Latin worlds.
Palaeography & Codicology
Direct hands-on study of medieval manuscripts, insular scripts, scribal practices, and book production.
Research Projects & Digital Editions
ASNC leads digital humanities innovation with primary source repositories, linguistic tools, and open-access research databases.
Early Irish Glossaries Database (EIGD)
A comprehensive, searchable online edition and analysis of Sanas Cormaic (Cormac's Glossary), O'Mulconry's Glossary, Dúil Dromma Cetta, and related medieval Irish lexicographical texts.
ASNC Spoken Word Project
Listen to authentic audio recordings of medieval literature read aloud by departmental scholars in reconstructed Old English, Old Norse, Medieval Welsh, and Old Irish pronunciations.
Latest Department News
Postdoctoral Fellowship Vacancy with Fryske Akademy
Postdoctoral fellowship vacancy with the Fryske Akademy and the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Ben Guy Awarded AHRC Standard Grant
Congratulations to Dr Ben Guy, who has been awarded an AHRC Standard Grant for a major project editing early Welsh charters.
Latest E.C. Quiggin Pamphlet Available
The latest publication in the E.C. Quiggin Memorial Lecture pamphlet series is now published and available to purchase through the department.
The Viking Age Web Site for Schools
Resources for teachers and students of the Viking Age, including OCR A-Level teaching materials, covering the history, society, and cultures of Scandinavian engagement with Britain and Ireland.