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This MA equips students with the skills necessary for advanced medieval and renaissance scholarship. A wide range of historical, literary, palaeographical, art historical and archaeological modules enables students to explore the aspects of medieval and renaissance culture in which they are interested.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Entry requirements
A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
This MA provides exceptional opportunities to master medieval and renaissance languages and to acquire manuscript expertise working with original manuscripts – key skills for those who want to go on to original research. It also provides a wide-ranging introduction for those keen to deepen their knowledge of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Students with primary interests in many different areas ‒ linguistic, historical, literary or archaeological ‒ will be able to build on and extend their expertise and skills.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of 30 credits of core language modules, optional modules (90 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
- Language-based module (e.g. Latin, Old/Middle English, medieval European languages, Old Norse, modern European languages).
- Dissertation
Optional modules
Up to 90 credits of options drawn from the following:
- Anglo-Saxon Court Culture
- Cervantes and his World: Fiction, Empire and Subject, 1547-1616
- Dante: Divina Commedia
- Modern Medieval: Reception, Revival, Replication
- A Global History of the Middle Ages
- Ink: Material Encounters with Medieval Texts
- The Invention of the Question: A History of European Thinking, 1100-1400
- Legendary Histories (Medieval French Literature)
- Magic in the Middle Ages
- The Making of the Christian Empire, AD 284-425
- Medieval Manuscripts and Documents
- Unstitching the Early Modern: Archival and Book Skills
- Metamorphosis: The Limits of the Human
- Russian Monarchy: Court Ritual and Political Ideas, 1498-1917
- Political Thought in Renaissance Europe
- Reframing the Renaissance
- Sex and the Body in Early Modern Europe
- Themes and Debates in Islamic Archaeology and Heritage
- Web 0.1: Early Modern Information Culture, c.1450-c.1750
- Shakespeare in His Time
This list is indicative only; the modules available are subject to change each year.
Dissertation/research project
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of up to 12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and classes. Several modules include site visits to institutions, notably the British Library, the Warburg Institute, the National Archives and the Institute of Historical Research. Assessment is through unseen examination, long essays, coursework and the dissertation.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
Baxendale scholarships
The Alan Stanley Baxendale Charitable Trust offers a number of scholarships each year with a value of £7,000, redeemable against the cost of tuition. These are available to incoming UK or EU students on any of our MA courses and will be awarded on the basis of academic merit. Details about applications and deadlines can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/prospective-students/graduate-taught/funding-ma-study
Carol Chattaway scholarship
One scholarship is awarded each year to a postgraduate student (taught or research) who is working in the field of medieval history. Particular consideration will be given to mature students and female students. The award has a value of £2,500, redeemable against the cost of tuition. Details about applications and deadlines can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/prospective-students/graduate-taught/funding-ma-study
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
Baxendale Scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline: 30 June 2021
- Value:
- £7,000 towards tuition fees (1 year (full-time) or 2 years (Part-time))
- Eligibility:
- UK
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
Jean Orr Scholarship
- Value:
- £7,000 (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- UK, Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
Carol Chattaway Scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline: 15 May 2021
- Value:
- £2,500 towards tuition fees (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- UK, EU, Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Recent destinations of recent graduates of this programme include: funded PhDs at UCL, Universities of Oxford, St Andrews, Cambridge, Durham, Cardiff, Lancaster, and UEA; the British Library: Cataloguer; Reuters: News Assistant; Ministry of Trade Industry and Tourism: Government Advisor.
Employability
The MARS degree allows students to develop an enviable range of skills. This programme not only provides an outstanding foundation for those hoping to undertake PhD research and pursue an academic career but is also popular with students wishing to go into journalism, the civil service, business, museum and heritage and the education sector. Debates, small group seminars and tutorials help students to acquire strong presentation and negotiation skills for their future career. Likewise the analytical and research skills gained by students on this programme are highly valued by employers from a range of industries.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The departments contributing to this degree - History; English; the School of European Languages, Culture and Society; Institute of Archaeology; History of Art - enjoy outstanding international reputations for research and teaching.
We are strongly committed to the intellectual development of all our students; if you come to UCL, you will receive individual supervision from leading researchers in their fields.
Located in Bloomsbury, we are just a few minutes' walk away from the exceptional resources of the British Library, the British Museum and the research institutes of the University of London, including the Warburg and the Institute of Historical Research.
Department: History
What our students and staff say
"The UCL History of Art Department appealed to me because of its long-standing commitment to critical theory, a willingness to embrace interdisciplinary approaches and a research culture in which period isn’t the chief organising factor."
Dr Robert Mills
History of Art MA, History of Art PhD, Medieval and Renaissance Studies MA
Reader in Medieval Art
"My research focuses on two main areas: relations between England and Spain in the early modern period (1500–1700), and secondly the Spanish Empire. I aim to change conventional understanding of the Tudor period by demonstrating how Mary Tudor's reign was far from being an anomaly, but in fact saw many developments, cultural, economic and political that laid the foundations for her sister Elizabeth I's celebrated reign. In relation to the Spanish Empire, I hope to offer an account that unites both the Atlantic world and the Americas with colonial adventures in Europe from Holland to Naples, as well as the Far East, from Goa to the Phillippines. I most enjoy the variety of activities that I am involved in, from spending time in the archives bringing to light documents and letters that have lain there for over four centuries to communicating about my research to new audiences whether at Shakespeare's Globe or doing stand up comedy for UCL's Public Engagement Bright Club."
Dr Alexander Samson
Early Modern Studies MA, Comparative Literature MA, Medieval and Renaissance Studies MA, Hispanic Studies MA
Lecturer in Golden Age Literature
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Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
The programme will be particularly attractive to students with research ambitions who have strong undergraduate qualifications and who are thinking about doctoral research. The intensive linguistic and manuscript training is intended to increase students' chances of acceptance on to and excelling in good doctoral programmes. This MA is also particularly suited to students wishing to extend their knowledge of a wide range of medieval and renaissance topics and approaches.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 31 May 2021
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Medieval and Renaissance Studies at graduate level
- why you want to study Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- how your academic background meets the demands of this challenging programme
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to show how your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme delivers.
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Page last modified on 28 August 2021
