MA Medieval Studies

Summary

This programme offers an excellent chance to study the Middle Ages at an advanced level and you have a choice of four pathways; Medieval History; Medieval Literature; Byzantine Studies and Medieval Archaeology. It offers you the chance to study a discipline-specific pathway whilst gaining interdisciplinary skills, providing you with a solid grounding for your further studies or future career.

Our collective expertise is very wide, covering the whole medieval period from c.300 to c.1500, and all the countries of western Europe and Scandinavia and beyond. This means that we can supervise a wide range of dissertation topics so you’ll be learning from experts and benefit from their knowledge and expertise.

You can study the programme as a standalone Masters degree or use it as a pathway to doctoral research.

Key facts

Type of Course: Taught

Duration: You can study one year full time or two years part-time.

Entry requirements

An honours degree in a related subject to the chosen pathway, such as History, English, Archaeology or Theology, is required, normally upper second class level (2.1) or its equivalent for overseas applicants. Graduates without these qualifications (for example with a lower second class degree, or a degree in a different subject) are very welcome to apply and their application will be considered on its merits. Applicants may be asked to submit written work and/or attend an interview. For some pathways evidence of relevant linguistic ability may be required.

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply.
Learn more about international entry requirements.

Contact details

If you would like further information about the course, please contact:

Dr Miriam Muller
Email: m.muller@bham.ac.uk

How to apply

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

Fees and funding

Scholarships 

Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs are available. For further information please email the College of Arts and Law Graduate School (artsandlawgraduateschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk). 

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

For further information contact the School directly or email financialsupport@bham.ac.uk

Find out more about Scholarships for the College of Arts and Law at www.alpg.bham.ac.uk

Programme overview

This programme offers an excellent chance to study the Middle Ages at an advanced level. It offers you the chance to study a discipline-specific pathway whilst gaining interdisciplinary skills, providing you with a solid grounding for your further studies or future career.

You’ll study these core modules:

  • Approaches to Medieval Studies
  • Research Skills

You’ll also study one of the following modules, according to the pathway chosen:

  • Medieval History: Approaches to Medieval History
  • Medieval Literature: Resources and Methods for Medieval Literary Studies
  • Medieval Archaeology: Creating Europe: Complex Societies 1000 BC–AD 1000
  • Byzantine Studies: Methodologies in Byzantine Studies

You’ll then choose three optional modules. Choice may be limited by disciplinary requirements on some of the pathways, but the list of options will usually include at least three of the following:

  • Crusade, Jihad, and Cross-Cultural Encounters on the Medieval Iberian Frontier, c.1031–c.1212
  • Medieval Toleration? Attitudes to Diversity in Medieval Europe
  • Popular Unrest and Society in Later Medieval Europe
  • Aspects of Byzantine History
  • Late Roman and Byzantine Archaeology and Material Culture
  • Women, Men, and Eunuchs: Gender in Byzantium
  • Topics in Medieval Texts, Cultures, and Societies
  • Languages, such as Latin, Old English or Old Norse, at an appropriate level

You’ll also complete a 12,000-word dissertation, supervised by a specialist in your chosen field.

Learning and teaching 

Birmingham has an outstanding reputation for research and teaching in medieval studies, which it has maintained for well over fifty years. We have been rated highly in all three of the UK’s Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) and our library is one of the leading research libraries in the country, with exceptionally good medieval holdings. 

To support your studies we have regular research seminars where visiting and Birmingham speakers present their research. The university’s Centre for the Study of the Middle Ages (CeSMA) acts as a focus for interdisciplinary research projects and events which feed into our teaching. In addition to this we have a large number of postgraduate students in medieval studies so you’ll have a supportive and sociable environment for your studies.

Related links

Back to top

Apply now