Medieval Studies, MA

image of a castle

Course Overview

Our MA Medieval Studies is an interesting interdisciplinary master’s degree that allows you to roam across history, archaeology, literature and languages from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance, and across countries from the British Isles and France to northeast Europe and the Holy Land.

Teaching is empowered by Swansea University’s specialist expertise in areas including gender, identities, aristocratic culture, and frontiers and borderlands. Throughout the programme, you also have the chance to develop your knowledge of the medieval heritage of South Wales and the surrounding region.

If you are looking to further develop your research, analytical and presentation skills, ready for a career in the public or private sector, or are preparing for higher level study or research, then this could be the perfect choice for you.

Why Medieval Studies at Swansea?

Your study will be enhanced by the influential connections that we have at Swansea University. These include organisations responsible for preserving Welsh historical sites, such as Cadw and the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, as well as the West Glamorgan Record Office and the Library of Hereford Cathedral.

You will study on our stunning Singleton Park Campus, overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.

You’ll be joining a leading department, renowned for its research expertise:

  • 100% of our Research Impact is Rated as World-leading or Internationally Excellent (REF 2021)

Your Medieval Studies Experience

You will benefit from having access to expert-led teaching; learning from leading scholars who are actively engaged with our research centres, and often welcome student involvement in current projects. Your studies will be flexible and truly interdisciplinary, enabling you to build skills and knowledge across a range of themes and subjects, with the ability to select modules from our other specialist MAs, (such as the MA History or other MAs taught in the School of Culture and Communication), also choosing your own assessments to suit your interests and aspirations.

To begin the programme, you will study three 20-credit modules (one compulsory, two optional), specifically designed to develop your understanding of medieval studies as a discipline. You will then study a further three 20-credit modules (two compulsory, one optional), before undertaking a 60-credit dissertation project in the second part of the course. This directed independent learning component allows you to conduct in-depth research, while guided by expert faculty, culminating in a dissertation showcasing your findings and insights, enabling you to build advanced research skills.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake a History and Heritage study trip, experiencing the past in its place, and adding valuable contextual experience to your studies.

At Swansea, you will benefit from being surrounded by a high concentration of historians, as well as the wider presence of the School Research Centres, the Callaghan Centre for the Study of Conflict, Power and Empires, and the Richard Burton Centre.

You will find a rich array of research resources for postgraduate study at the School. As well as the general holdings in the University library, the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth is within travelling distance, and we work closely with the National Galleries and Museums of Wales. There is also a dedicated postgraduate common room and an electronic resources room available in the James Callaghan Building.

Medieval Studies Employment Opportunities

As a graduate of our MA Medieval Studies, you can develop impressive transferable skills including those centred around independent critical thinking, analytical skills, the ability to process and synthesise vast amounts of information, and to engage in subject-specific debate.

You will also gain strong verbal and written communication skills, learning to analyse key events that have passed, but also building the ability to use this information as the basis for learning and development for the future of society. These problem-solving skills are transferable across several industries that focus on current societies, especially in business, politics and academia.

You will have the opportunity to build experience in the workplace throughout the programme, readying you for your future career, with a variety of workplace opportunities available. These include taking a designated module that guarantees you a work placement, either internally or with an external provider. This option enables you to gain 100 hours of practical experience working with a heritage organisation or project in a graduate-level role. Placements may involve the acquisition of skills in museum work, community projects, heritage interpretation or policy. Your learning from this work will be contextualised with two hour-long group seminars, and up to two hours in total of individual tutorials with a member of academic staff, leading to you preparing an extended essay reflecting on your experience in the context of literature on heritage and public history.

This MA equips graduates with the skills to move into a range of careers, including:

  • Graduate entry roles in a range of professions, including but not limited to, the Civil Service, Government, Education, Heritage Organisations, Marketing, Advertising, Policy Roles in the broad area of Culture and Leisure, and roles drawing on advanced critical thinking skills combined with workplace experience, such as Events Management. Graduates can also look to undertake further research degrees to pursue a career in academia.

Support is available from the University Careers and Employability Service. The service can help you with your journey into graduate work through events, workshops and 1-to-1 careers advice and guidance.

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical Offer

2.2