MA Mediaeval History
About this course
Medieval history is the study of the roughly thousand years between the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the early modern period, a span that saw the rise and fall of empires, the formation of the institutions and cultures that would become modern Europe and the Middle East, the spread of Christianity and Islam, the Black Death, the Crusades, and the beginnings of the Renaissance. Far from being a period of darkness, the medieval centuries produced extraordinary achievements in philosophy, theology, literature, art, and architecture, and understanding them is essential to understanding the modern world they gave rise to. At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme is taught by scholars working at the frontiers of medieval research. You will engage with sophisticated modes of thought and expression across medieval Europe and the Middle East, grappling with primary sources in their original languages where possible and developing the historical skills to interpret them within their cultural and intellectual contexts. The programme includes a year abroad, which may be spent at a partner institution with its own strengths in medieval research, giving you a broader scholarly perspective. The typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the intellectual rigour expected. Graduates of medieval history programmes develop exceptional skills in the analysis of complex textual and material evidence, the construction of carefully argued historical accounts, and the contextual understanding of periods very different from our own. These skills are valued in archives, museums, heritage organisations, publishing, education, the civil service, and a wide range of other professional contexts. Many graduates go on to postgraduate research in medieval studies, history, or related humanities disciplines, and the degree is an excellent preparation for doctoral study in medieval and early modern history.
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