Program Overview

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MSt in Medieval Studies

The MSt in Medieval Studies is a taught, interdisciplinary course combining language training, palaeography, codicology, and research methods. It includes option papers, seminars, and a dissertation based on independent research.

About the Course

The Faculty of History, English Faculty, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Theology and Religion, and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies all support the course, and it is administered by the Humanities Division. This degree equips you to draw on a variety of disciplinary approaches to the study of the Middle Ages.

Course Structure

Teaching comprises:

• Compulsory language classes
• Palaeography/codicology classes in one of the participating departments
• Two option papers, one option in Michaelmas term and one option in Hilary term
• Seminars, including interdisciplinary seminars
• A research methods workshop
• A dissertation of no more than 12,000 words on your own research topic

Attendance

The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to Support Your Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services.

Supervision

You will normally have two supervisors from different subject areas. The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Steering Committee for the MSt in Medieval Studies.

Assessment

You will be assessed on essays based on the work for the option papers and developed in consultation with the convenor(s) of the option. You will be required to submit two essays, one for each option. You will also submit a dissertation at the end of Trinity Term.

Graduate Destinations

About a quarter of masters students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate humanities career destinations.

Entry Requirements

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant discipline in the humanities
• English language proficiency at the University's higher level
• No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought
• In the case of mature students/intended career changes, professional experience in cognate areas may compensate for shortcomings in the formal academic record

Degree-Level Qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant discipline in the humanities
• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6

English Language Proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.

• Home: ｣19,900
• Overseas: ｣43,730

Additional Costs

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, as part of the course requirements, students may need to choose a dissertation, a project, or a thesis topic, which may incur additional expenses.

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Medieval Studies:

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Exeter College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• Merton College
• Oriel College
• The Queen's College
• Regent's Park College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.

Referees

Three overall, generally academic, referees are required.

Official Transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.

Statement of Purpose and Research Proposal

You should combine your research proposal with your statement of purpose to upload it as a single document. The statement should convince the admissions committee that you have the right intellectual qualities, academic knowledge, and skills to undertake the course.

Written Work

Two essays of a maximum of 2,000 words each or one essay of a maximum of 4,000 words are required. Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification are required.

After You've Submitted Your Application

Your application will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. You can find out more about the shortlisting and selection process in the detailed guide to what happens next.