Medieval History, MA

Course content

Core modules throughout the degree will allow you to develop important research skills, equipping you to work with primary sources. You'll gain a working knowledge of medieval Latin, look at research methods in historical study and learn to read and transcribe medieval manuscripts by studying palaeography.

Then you'll build on this foundation with your choice of optional modules. You'll choose at least one module offered by the School of History, but you could also choose from the range of interdisciplinary modules offered by IMS. You'll also specialise further when you complete your dissertation, allowing you to conduct independent research on a specific topic of your choice to showcase the skills you've acquired.

If you choose to study this programme part-time, you'll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.

Details of compulsory modules can be found in the table below; for details of optional modules please see the online module catalogue.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation (Medieval History) 30 credits
• Introduction to Medieval Latin 30 credits
• Intermediate Medieval Latin 30 credits
• Research Methods and Bibliography 15 credits
• Palaeography: Reading Medieval Manuscripts 15 credits

Optional modules

• Making History: Archive Collaborations 30 credits
• Bede's Northumbria 30 credits
• Gender, Sex, and Love: Byzantium and the West, 900-1200 30 credits
• Christian Society and the Crusades, 1185-1230 30 credits
• Lifecycles: Birth, Death and Illness in the Middle Ages 30 credits
• Warfare in the Age of the Crusades (1095-1204) 30 credits
• How to be a Saint in the Middle Ages: Saints' Cults and their impact on culture and society (500-1500) 30 credits
• Religious Communities and the Individual Experience of Religion, 1200-1500 30 credits
• The Medieval Tournament: Combat and Spectacle in Western Europe, 1100-1600 30 credits
• The Holy Land under the Franks: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and its Enemies, 1099-1187 30 credits
• Medieval Bodies 30 credits
• Preaching History: Understanding Sermons as Literary Genre and Historical Source 30 credits
• Show more

For more information on typical modules, read Medieval History MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Medieval History MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

IMS tutors are experts in their fields, and their cutting-edge research will inform your teaching. To help you make the most of their expertise, all IMS modules are taught in small groups.

You may study skills in seminar groups of 12 or more students, but languages and other interdisciplinary options are usually taught in tutorials of up to eight students. You'll also have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor during your dissertation.

Assessment

Depending on the modules you choose, you'll be assessed by a range of methods to develop skills that are useful across the field of medieval studies. These will include transcriptions, bibliographies, essays, reports, translations and occasionally exams.

Applying, fees and funding

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) or higher in History or a related subject.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact the Institute of Medieval Studies admissions team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

If English is not your first language, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course before you begin your studies. This can help if you:

• don't meet the English language requirements for your course or
• want to improve your understanding of academic language and practices in your area of study.

Our pre-sessional courses are designed with a progression route to the degree programme and are tailored to the subject area. For information and entry requirements, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

How to apply

Deadlines

The deadline for applications is 31st August. However, you should also leave time for any arrangements you will need to make, such as visa applications or moving to Leeds, and many scholarship applications will close much earlier.

You may be invited for interview as part of the application process

• Apply (Full time)
• Apply (Part time)

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
 
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you need

• A copy of your BA degree transcript listing courses and marks achieved, or a partial transcript if you're still studying, and if necessary, please provide an explanation of the marking scheme.
• Two academic references
• An IMS postgraduate application form
• An example of your written work (approximately 3,000 words), such as an undergraduate assessed essay, preferably on a medieval topic; please supply the module name and level of the work.

You may be invited for an interview as part of the application process.

Please contact the Institute for Medieval Studies at ims@leeds.ac.uk for a full information pack of further course details.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Postgraduate Admissions Policy

Fees

UK/EU: £7,250 (total)

International: £17,500 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

This degree is excellent preparation for further study in related fields. It will also equip you with advanced research, communication and analytical skills that are valuable to employers in a wide range of careers such as in museums and business.

We offer a range of paid opportunities for you to gain experience that can really help with your career plans. You'll be able to provide a mock tutorial for first-year undergraduates during their induction week, or become an academic mentor for final-year students as they complete their dissertations to gain experience of teaching, one-to-one communication and people management.

We also run several paid one-year internships throughout the year on projects such as the International Medieval Bibliography, IMS website and the International Medieval Congress to gain practical experience.

Read more about Employment in IMS.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

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