14May
PostgraduateCourse summary
A collaboration between the Departments of English and History and the Department of History at Royal Holloway, the MA in Medieval Studies has an excellent reputation, having been running for almost thirty years. That reputation comes from the variety of teaching on our course: we draw on medievalists teaching across Royal Holloway in disciplines as diverse as history, English, French, theatre studies, music and archaeology. We introduce you to many aspects of medieval society and culture, while giving you the opportunity to concentrate on the areas that interest you most. As a historian and student of literature you will look at the medieval world from both literary and historical perspectives, working with source material including artefacts and manuscripts as well as archives and printed sources. The course emphasises the skills that are required for postgraduate research, irrespective of the area you choose to specialise in. You may choose to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Medieval Studies, taking on the taught part of the course without completing the dissertation. This is designed for those who want advanced instruction in Medieval Studies, but cannot commit to undertaking an independent research project. The MA and Postgraduate Diploma are designed to be flexible, so you can study either of them full time or part time.
- As part of the University of London, you will have the opportunity to participate fully in the variety of events taking place in the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of English Studies. Staff from the English Department also run the London Old and Middle English Research Seminar (LOMERS).
- You may pursue a wide range of disciplines in small groups, as well as come together weekly to form a close-knit cohort, providing the foundations for a supportive research environment.
Modules
Research Development; Medieval London; Medieval Narratives; Dissertation. A range of optional modules are also available.
Assessment method
Assessment methods include: coursework, essays, oral presentations, and formal examinations.
Entry requirements
2:1 A successful applicant will usually have the following qualities: good writing skills and analytical abilities broad knowledge of the medieval period openness to multi-disciplinary approaches. Normally we require a UK 2:1 (Honours) or equivalent in relevant subjects but we will consider a high 2:2 or relevant work experience. Candidates with professional qualifications in an associated area may be considered. Where a ‘high 2:2’ is considered, we would normally define this as reflecting a profile of 57% or above. Applicants may be asked to submit a sample of recent written work, such as two short essays or an extract from a dissertation.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £14400 | Year 1 |
| EU | £23700 | Year 1 |
| England | £14400 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £14400 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £14400 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £14400 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £14400 | Year 1 |
| International | £23700 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually, based on the UK’s Retail Price Index (RPI). Please therefore be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year.
This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. For further information, please visit: https://royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/postgraduate/tuition-fees/
These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Sponsorship information
Various full and partial awards may be sought, including Arts and Humanities Research Board studentships and College scholarships.
Provider information
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX