Module information for our postgraduate degree programme Medieval History MRes.
The degree consists of three parts:
Historical Methods
This module is in two parts, dividing at Christmas. You will take the first part together with students on most of the other taught MRes programmes in the Department of History. It focuses on historiography and involves studying the most important schools of historical writing since 1945, and on reading and discussing some of the major works by historians linked to these schools. It aims to make you aware of the wide and challenging variety of approaches to historical research and understanding that exist.
The second part focuses on some of the most important recent debates in medieval history, such as the relationship between history and literature, the nature of state-building and nationhood, and the notion of ‘crisis’ in society in the latest part of the middle ages.
Classes consist of two-hour weekly seminars. As your assessment you will be asked to write two assessed essays of 4000 words; one per term.
Research Skills Training
You will have the opportunity of taking one or more modules that reflect your own specific research needs, such as starting or improving a language (whether Latin or a modern language), getting to grips with palaeography, and widening and deepening your IT skills. You will also receive the bibliographical and specialised ICT training which is offered by the University’s Information Services. However, if you have already had all such necessary training, you may substitute for these courses a historiographical essay relating to your own field of research. As part of the research training you will also attend the weekly Medieval History Research Seminar.
Dissertation
Forming the major part of your degree programme, this will be researched throughout the academic year (or, for part-time students, from the Summer term of Year 1 to the end of Year 2). Your thesis must be no longer than 20,000 words, and it must be submitted by the end of the academic year. If you are interested in studying for this degree, you should contact the Department of History with a proposed topic of research so that a suitable supervisor can be found. We strongly encourage you to do this in advance of making your formal application, if at all possible: the sooner you have a clear idea of your basic research field, the better!
The modules are assessed in various ways - by examination, coursework, attendance etc.