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MPhil in Medieval History

Different course options

Study mode

Full time

Duration

9 months

Start date

08-OCT-24

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

MPhil - Master of Philosophy

Subject areas

Late Medieval History Early Medieval History

Course type

Research

Course Summary

The University, in existence for 800 years, has a wealth of medieval buildings and traditions, and a wide range of medieval manuscripts and printed books are held by the University’s many libraries. This rich history makes Cambridge an ideal place to study medieval history.

The MPhil in Medieval History forms an integral part of the teaching and research in the Cambridge History Faculty, which is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. The course offers students intensive training in medieval concepts and methods and helps students to develop skills in Latin and palaeography which they will use to research a key theme in medieval history.

The MPhil in Medieval History combines taught and research elements over a nine-month full-time programme. The taught elements include taught modules on research topics and skills training, training workshops and seminars, and all students will also complete a long piece of independent research (15,000–20,000 words).

Throughout the course the student will be supervised by a dedicated member of staff, who will guide research on the subject that he or she has chosen, leading to the completion of an original piece of historical research in the form of a dissertation. In addition, students will benefit from Cambridge’s vibrant research environment by participating in classes, workshops and other events, and by attending seminars given by guest speakers.

The course is designed for those who have completed degrees in which History is the main or at least a substantial component and who want to consolidate their knowledge of medieval history. It is particularly appropriate for those who may wish to continue on to a PhD, at Cambridge or elsewhere. It is also well-suited to those who seek simply to explore medieval history at a deeper level. It is expected that this will be the normal means by which those without an appropriate master’s degree from elsewhere will prepare for the PhD degree in medieval history at Cambridge.

By the end of the course, students will have:

  • developed a deeper understanding of their chosen area of medieval history and the critical debates within it;
  • a conceptual and technical understanding that enables the evaluation of current research and methodologies; and
  • the ability to situate their own research within current and past methodological and interpretative developments in the field.

Modules

The dissertation is Part II of the MPhil in Medieval History. All students will submit a dissertation of 15,000?20,000 words, worth 70 per cent of the overall mark. At the discretion of the examiners the examination may include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£12,903

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£30,339

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High 2.1 Honours Degree. Applicants should normally hold at least a high upper second-class degree from a UK University (usually 67 per cent) or international equivalent as set by the University Graduate Admissions Office. Candidates will normally be expected to have taken a substantial number of History courses at a university level and to have a sound background in the period covered by the course. Most applicants are completing or have completed degrees in History or a cognate discipline.