Students who earn a degree in medieval studies have the opportunity to travel back in time and study the Middle Ages' history, culture, and art. The development of Christianity, the dissolution of the Roman Empire, and the Crusades are all part of this era in European history, which runs from the fifth to the fifteenth century.

Students who receive a degree in medieval studies may anticipate learning about a wide range of subjects, such as medieval literature, history, art, philosophy, and religion. Numerous schools also provide courses on contemporary subjects including the portrayal of the medieval era in popular culture and movies.

A degree in medieval studies can open up a variety of employment options, including those in education, law, museum curation, and historical preservation. Humanities-inclined graduates may also find employment in publishing, marketing, and public relations.

How to get Master’s or PhD degrees in Medieval Studies

A standalone, one-year terminal degree, the master’s in Medieval Studies is available. Some colleges even offer a Master’s program for less than one year. For instance, Oxford University has a nine-month interdisciplinary program that is designed for students who are eager to expand their skill set and take courses in more than one field of medieval studies. The degree is sponsored by a number of departments in the Humanities Division, showcasing the University's enormous amount of historical study.

Students must successfully complete six or seven graduate-level courses, with the possibility of completing a directed research project. Typically, six years are needed to get a PhD in medieval studies. Along with the dissertation itself, which should be a monograph-length work of original study, it also calls for two years of coursework, a qualifying test, and a dissertation prospectus. You can get support from the university if the degree program is part of their financial package. Usually, after getting a PhD or Master’s degree with a scholarship, graduates are requested to teach for at least two years.

What courses are taught in Medieval Studies

Greek, Old High German, Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Old Occitan, and Latin are among the required languages that must be studied in order to graduate. It’s recommended that the chosen language of study should be close to your academic interest and help you in writing your scientific papers.

You’ll have an in-depth study of palaeography and codicology. There are also optional courses that you can choose from. They differ depending on the program and the university, but may include:

• The Twelfth Century Renaissance; 

• The Global Middle Ages; 

• Saints and Sanctity in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages;

• Writing by women in medieval Germany;

• Dante Interpretation;

• Myths and the construction of identity;

• Old English Poetry; 

• Old Norse Literature;

• The Body and Dress in Medieval Times.

You might want to take into account the institutions listed below if you're thinking about applying to this program.