Medieval Studies

Course Overview

Trinity’s interdisciplinary Medieval Studies programme equips students with the critical skills needed for in-depth research on medieval texts, sources, and artefacts while allowing students to specialise in an approach aligned with their interests. The teaching takes full advantage of Trinity’s world-leading holdings of medieval manuscripts and other artefacts, as well as those of other Dublin institutions and opportunities available for students to explore the built remains of medieval Ireland. The course offers students the choice of three strands: History, Language and Literature, and Culture and Civilisation.



Is This Course For Me?

This course is aimed at students interested in learning about the history, culture, and literature of the Middle Ages. This includes people who are interested in the art, architecture, philosophy, religion, literature, history, and other aspects of the medieval period. People who are interested in the history of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa will find Medieval Studies an interesting field to study.



Course Structure

Taken as a full-time course, the M.Phil. programme lasts for 12 months. Teaching will be spread over two terms beginning in September and concluding the following April. EU/ UK/EEA students can also take the course on a part-time basis over two years.

• The course offers students the choice of three core modules: History; Language and Literature; and Culture and Civilisation. All students take three core modules: Sources for Medieval Studies I and II: and introduction to Medieval Books and Documents.



• Further requirements depend on the choice of strand:



• History students take a further core module in Palaeography and study Latin at an appropriate level, then choose optional study of Latin at an appropriate level, then choose optional modules, including, if they wish, another, more advanced, Latin module.



• Language and Literature students take a further core module in Reading Medieval Books and Documents, study a medieval language, then choose optional modules, including, if they wish, a second medieval language.



• Culture and Civilisation students take a further core module in Reading Medieval Books and Documents, then choose optional modules, including, if they wish, a medieval language.



• The final requirement for all students is the dissertation of 15,000 words, supervised by a member of staff.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should normally have at least an upper second class (2.1) Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent (for example, GPA of 3.3) in a relevant area. Since places on the course are limited, applicants may be interviewed or asked to submit a writing sample for assessment.



All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Closing Date: 30th June 2025

1 year full-time (EU and non-EU students)

2 years part-time (EU/UK/EEA students only)

Next Intake September 2025

Career Opportunities

The MPhil helps prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers including in the museum and heritage sectors, libraries and archives, publishing, law, public policy and administration, archaeology, teaching, media. It also provides invaluable training in research for those planning to pursue a doctorate and/or career in research.