Medieval Studies

The Faculty of History, English Faculty, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Theology and Religion and the Faculty of Oriental Studies all support the course, though it is housed in the Faculty of History for administrative purposes.

This degree equips you to draw on a variety of disciplinary approaches to the study of the Middle Ages. It places emphasis on language training as well as on the development of skills in palaeography and codicology. It also offers the opportunity to undertake the acquisition of a medieval language not previously studied. You will follow a core course in research methods and choose from a range of taught option papers. You can also expect to spend at least a third of your time doing independent research with supervisors from at least two disciplines. You will also participate in a variety of workshops and exchanges.

Teaching and examination comprise:

• compulsory language classes, chosen from a variety of possibilities which normally include (medieval) Latin, Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Old Occitan, Old High German, Middle High German, and Greek. Depending on availability, it may also be possible to arrange tuition in Medieval Welsh, Medieval Irish, Hebrew or Arabic. The language selected should normally be closely related to your work;
• palaeography/codicology classes in one of the participating departments, ie English, history (Medieval Latin), medieval and modern languages, Byzantine Greek;
• option papers, which are courses on short periods or specific themes. You can choose from a range of subjects on offer drawn from the participating faculties and you will submit essays based on the work for the option papers and developed in consultation with the convenor(s) of the option;
• attendance at various seminars, including interdisciplinary seminars which underline the different but complementary approaches to medieval sources offered by different disciplines. In Trinity term, you will present work in progress on your dissertation at the interdisciplinary Medieval Church and Culture seminar;
• attendance at a research methods workshop designed to address issues encountered by researchers in medieval studies and intended to be responsive to and shaped by your concerns; and
• a dissertation of no more than 12,000 words on your own research topic, to be submitted by the end of Trinity term. You will normally have two supervisors from different subject areas.

Please note that not every optional subject or language listed may be on offer every year, depending in part on levels of student demand. Full details of core and optional papers available are available on the course webpage.

In connection with the interdisciplinary seminar, a special week of additional research activities takes place each year. A particular expert in interdisciplinary medieval studies is invited to give a plenary lecture and seminar and to conduct a workshop for graduate students. This is an exciting opportunity for current students to discuss their work with a distinguished visiting scholar. Recent guest lecturers have included Caroline Walker-Bynum, Barbara Newman, Christopher Page, Jeffrey Hamburger, David D'Avray, Rita Copeland, William Miller and Miri Rubin.

If you wish to apply for the DPhil you will be encouraged to develop your master’s dissertation and doctoral proposals in tandem during the first few months, so that you will be well placed to make a doctoral application.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of History and other participating faculties, and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

An Oxford academic’s pre-application indication of willingness to supervise an enquiring applicant is not a guarantee that the applicant will be offered a place, or that the supervisor in question has capacity in that particular year.

About a quarter of master’s students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate humanities career destinations: teaching, museum curation, archiving, publishing, as well as law, finance, management consultancy, civil service etc.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Interdisciplinary courses offered by the Humanities Division

Comparative Literature and Critical Translation MSt

Film Aesthetics MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil

Medieval Studies MSt

Women's Studies MSt

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Entry requirements