Medieval History with Year Abroad

In Britain, we love our crumbling castles, noble cathedrals and bloody representations of the medieval age in popular culture. If you have a passion for history with a special interest in the Middle Ages, then this course is perfect for you.

On our Medieval History programme, you study the great sweep of history in Britain and around the world, from the transformation of the Roman Empire to Renaissance court politics.

Studying how people lived in the medieval world is highly instructive. The word medieval has become synonymous with lawlessness and brutality, but this was not always the case. Some populations had the vote, trade happened over long distances, and witch hunts were restricted to certain periods. Learning more about the medieval world and why it exerts such a strong hold over our imaginations can help you to better understand the contemporary world.

In Year 1, you take core modules that explore the nature of history as a discipline. You look at the changing assumptions, methods and definitions of history and explore the current concerns of historians. You also select from a range of possible optional modules, including Early Medieval Britain 400-1066 and Europe 1300-1500.

Having acquired research skills and knowledge in Year 1, your studies in Years 2 and 4 are more specialised. You take core modules that deepen your understanding of the study of history, including Past Historians and Current Practice, and optional modules focused primarily on the Medieval World. You either concentrate on how to use original documents (in translated ad printed form where appropriate) or explore, through thematic approaches, social continuity and change over long periods.

In Year 3, you spend a year studying at one of our partner universities in Europe or USA, gaining a valuable experience, broadening your horizons by learning about another culture first-hand, and boosting your CV.

In Year 4, you produce your dissertation and take core modules in Writing History, and History and the Public Sphere. Optional modules take the form of Depth Studies, using primary and secondary sources as evidence, and Comparative Studies, where more than one country and culture is examined. Depth Studies options may include The Hundred Years' War 1337-1453, Alfred the Great, and The Pax Romana. The Possible Comparative Studies options include Gender and Authority in Early Medieval Europe, Greek and Roman Comedy Theatre, and The Black Death in Europe.

By studying Medieval History you develop transferable skills in written and oral communication, both as part of a group and individually, and critical analysis of evidence and large bodies of material.