MA Medieval Studies

  • MA
  • PG Certificate (Postgraduate Certificate)

Overview

This programme will not be running for the upcoming year of entry. Please check our programme finder for similar programmes.

This programme offers an innovative way of studying medieval culture and society by exploring the inherent interdisciplinarity of medieval culture.

As a student, you will benefit from research-led teaching and skills-based training across a wide variety of disciplines, including history, literature, languages, manuscript studies, music, religion and classics. You will be introduced to the rich dynamics of cultural exchange and multilingualism that define medieval culture, by drawing on the potential that medieval studies have to help us look beyond the limitations of national histories and traditions.

You will have access to one of the most active and innovative centres for medieval studies in the UK, comprising more than 40 staff members and approximately 30 postgraduate research students (MPhil/PhD) each year, who together form a lively and dynamic interdisciplinary community.

Every year, the Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS) hosts a large number of research seminars, lectures and public talks. Staff who teach on the programme are members of the Centre, and many have an international reputation in their respective fields. In addition, this programme will give you opportunities for involvement in the yearly CMS Postgraduate Conference, enabling you to further develop your academic skills and network with an international pool of peers and scholars.

Beyond the University, you can draw on the important archival, architectural and heritage resources of the city of Bristol – the medieval gateway to Europe – and the south-west region more widely. Through our placement- and practice-led project options you have the unique opportunity to gain practical work experience with one of the University's partners in the cultural and heritage industries, which helps train you as a professional medievalist with transferable skills for careers in heritage, archives, museums, academia and beyond.

Programme structure

In the first term you are required to take two core units and one optional unit that reflects your particular disciplinary or subject-specific interests. Optional units are chosen from a list of specialist units available during that year across the Faculty, covering topics that range from religion to art history and music.

In the second term you are required to take one core unit and two optional units. For one of the optional units, you may choose to undertake a work placement. This will give you the opportunity to work on a project with a partner organisation from the cultural and heritage industries.

Finally, you will complete either a dissertation or a practice-led project. The practice-led project will be in the form of, or accompanied by, a critical reflective commentary, which could stem from and further develop your work placement.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MA in Medieval Studies.

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences.

If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

  • evidence of significant, relevant work experience in one of the following sectors: Work experience duration: Any Paid/unpaid: Both Acceptable sectors: - Cultural Heritage Industries - English Heritage - National Trust - Teaching - Academic Support - Freelance Writing - Journalism - Creative Industries - Curating - Museums.
  • a relevant postgraduate qualification

Applicants to the PGCert must be currently employed in a cultural heritage organisation. This might include Museums, Archives, Libraries, Churches, Cathedrals, Historical Monuments, Curating, Conservation, English Heritage, National Trust, Creative Industries, etc.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

Home: full-time
£14,600 per year
Home: part-time (two years)
£7,300 per year
Overseas: full-time
£29,300 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and scholarships

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Students who complete this programme are competitively placed to go into a career in either the academic sector or the cultural and heritage industries.

The programme's focus is on the acquisition of practical and transferable skills for professional medievalists, including research skills, languages, manuscript skills (palaeography and codicology), archival study skills and heritage preservation. Together, these equip our graduates for research degrees and/or employment in culturally-oriented industries outside academia.