StudyQA — Master: Medieval and Renaissance Studies

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

This MA equips students with the skills necessary for advanced medieval and renaissance scholarship. A wide range of historical, literary, palaeographical, art historical and archaeological courses enables students to explore the aspects of medieval and renaissance culture in which they are interested.

This MA provides exceptional opportunities to master medieval and renaissance languages and to acquire manuscript expertise working with original manuscripts; key skills for those who want to go on to original research. Students with primary interests in many different areas ‒ linguistic, historical, literary or archaeological ‒ will be able to build on and extend their expertise and skills.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of core language modules (30 credits), optional modules (90 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules

Old and Middle English
Medieval Latin (Beginners)
Medieval Latin (Intermediate)
Medieval French
Old and Middle French
Medieval Italian
Medieval German
Classical Hebrew
Rabbinic Hebrew
Introduction to Old Norse

Optional modules

Up to 90 credits of options drawn from any of:

The Medieval Papacy
Manuscripts and Documents
Renaissance Texts: Resources and Research Techniques
The Medieval English Book
Anglo-Saxon Court Culture
Animals and the Medieval Imagination
Comparative History of Medieval Literature
Dante: Divina Commedia
Travel and Writing in the Middle Ages
Europe's Long 13th Century: Governments, Conflicts and the Cultivation of Christendom
From Renaissance to Republic: The Netherlands c. 1555‒1609
Giordano Bruno
Identity and Power in Medieval Europe, 500‒1300 AD
The Italian Book, 1465‒1600
The Italian Dialogue of Giordano Bruno
Magic in the Middle Ages
Medieval Archaeology: Selected Topics and Current Problems
Medieval Manuscripts and Documents: Research Techniques

Dissertation/research project

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of up to 12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and classes. Several modules include site visits to institutions, notably the British Library, the Warburg Institute, the National Archives and the Institute of Historical Research. Assessment is through unseen examination, long essays, coursework and the dissertation.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Medieval and Renaissance Studies at graduate level
why you want to study Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UCL
what particularly attracts you to this programme
how your academic background meets the demands of this challenging programme
where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to show how your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme delivers.