MRes Medieval Languages and Literatures

This MRes combines specialist taught modules with the opportunity to complete a substantial research project of your choice. You will be guided by our research active staff, who are specialists in the areas of:

There are opportunities for original archival research through our collections, which include important medieval manuscripts and archives, including the:

You are also welcome to join the activities and events of our research centres, which include the Centre for the Study of the Viking Age, the Centre for Regional Literature and Culture and Institute for Name-Studies, and the Institute for Medieval Research.

View recent examples of our student research.

"My MRes course in Medieval Languages and Literatures was hugely valuable, providing the best of both worlds (taught support in Old English, Old Norse and academic skills) as well as the freedom and opportunity to pursue a significant piece of research of my own design. I found this programme rigorous, exciting and highly adaptable to my areas of personal interest. An ideal foundation from which to pursue PhD research." - Heather Murray

This course is made up of 180 credits.

Full time students complete 180 credits in a year and will complete a 120-credit, 25,000-word dissertation during the summer. For the dissertation, you will be supervised by two academic members of staff with expertise in your chosen field.

Part time students complete 180 credits over two years. You will complete the taught component of the programme in the first year of study. Part-time students are expected to complete the 25,000-word dissertation during the second year of study.

This course offers two pathways. This allows you to tailor your studies, depending on whether you are most interested in the early or late medieval topics. Both pathways end with a 120-credit dissertation.

This module introduces working with early medieval English texts in their original language.

We explore a wide variety of texts, both poetry and prose, literary and non-literary. This includes everything from the lives of virgin saints, to literary heroic reworkings of Bible stories.

Starting with the basics, you will study a different aspect of language each week. After learning the grammar, you will then work with texts through translation, linguistic analysis, and discussing the literary and historical contexts in which they were produced, preserved and reproduced.

By the end of the module, you will understand Old English grammar and syntax, and will be familiar with texts from a number of genres.

This module is worth 20 credits.

This module offers an introduction to the Old Norse language (no previous knowledge is necessary).

You will read selected texts in prose and verse, with an emphasis on the Old Icelandic sagas which describe Viking Age exploits and settlement from Norway to Newfoundland.

Each week you will study a different aspect of language and grammar through tailored exercises and focussed work on extracts from the set texts. You will also practise translating these extracts and discuss their literary and historical contexts.

By the end of the module, you will have an understanding of Old Norse vocabulary, grammar and syntax and you will be familiar with several key works of Old Icelandic literature.

This module is worth 20 credits.

Discover the research resources and methods needed for interdisciplinary Viking and Early Medieval English Studies.

All teaching takes place through a series of workshops and when possible an intensive extended field-trip, which:

The field-trip is an opportunity to:

Please note that the timing and location of the field-trip are to be decided.

You will produce a portfolio of assessed work on your learning. You are also welcome to share your skills and take part in our well-established 'Vikings for Schools' project.

This module is worth 20 credits.

This module introduces you to the wide range of interdisciplinary research happening in the Faculty of Arts. We invite you to ‘think outside the box’ in relation to your own research, while learning key research techniques and methods. The module aims to:

You will build on your existing research skills gained from your university career to date. Furthermore, you will develop a more nuanced understanding of your own research practice, inspiring you to explore different approaches questions. In addition, you will develop an understanding of professional practice in areas such as:

This module is worth 20 credits.

Every published document that we read, be it a novel, poetry anthology, or magazine article, has been through a complex process of evolution and editing. This module introduces you to how texts are transmitted from ‘author’ to audience.

We will consider:

You are encouraged to apply questions of editing to your own areas of interest, and work through the practicalities of producing an edition yourselves.

This module is worth 20 credits.

You’ll discover how an arts and humanities masters degree can be used to:

You’ll explore the skills particular to your own discipline and how they can impact on wider issues. This will help your understanding of the function of arts and humanities, and how they can be applied, in wider society. In particular you’ll get greater understanding of what is meant by knowledge exchange and public engagement.

With an emphasis on ‘learning through doing' you’ll collaborate with other masters’ students on consultancy projects, working to solve real-life briefs from a range of cultural industries and schools.

By the end of the module you’ll have:

This module is worth 20 credits.

The book, handwritten or printed, was as innovative and pervasive a technology in the Middle Ages as electronic technologies are in our own time.

This module introduces the study of the book as physical ‘artefact’ and world-changing technology.

We will cover:

You will also be introduced to the benefits and applications, as well as the problems, of applying an understanding of the artefact to the texts contained within.

This module is worth 20 credits.

This module considers a major English literary genre and its critical heritage. It also demonstrates that medieval English romance narratives can be set in complex and profound critical relationship to each other and to other artistic media.

You are encouraged to explore how reading Middle English romance texts can:

These are all issues that now define the Middle Ages for modern scholars.

This module is worth 20 credits.

This is a major piece of independent research, and you will be allocated a supervisor who is a specialist in your chosen area.

Your dissertation supervisor will provide advice and guidance to help you select your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research.

This module is worth 120 credits.

As teaching is largely undertaken through individual tutorials or small groups, there is a great deal of flexibility to organise your time around existing commitments.

Every week you will participate in tutorials and classes. You will be able to attend reading groups, lectures and research talks. During the year you will also have regular meetings (at least 10 recorded ones) with your supervisors to discuss your dissertation.