About

Through small, seminar-based classes, and specialised training in the Medieval History programme offered by The University of Edinburgh you will develop knowledge of the principal categories of surviving evidence and the technical skills needed to understand them. You will also learn the value of an interdisciplinary approach to medieval research with opportunities to enrol for relevant courses in other parts of the University.

With more than 90 members of academic staff attached to our cross-disciplinary Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS), Edinburgh is a wonderful environment for medieval scholarship. World-class resources will be on hand to aid your studies, most notably the impressive combined collections of the National Library of Scotland and the University’s Main Library.

You will complete a compulsory course on primary sources and five other courses, including at least two language options or skills-based options (which include Latin) and at least two academic options (which cover Europe and the Mediterranean). You will then complete an independent research dissertation and will be assigned a supervisor from the outset.

Career opportunities

Our students view the programme and a graduate degree from Edinburgh as an advanced qualification valued and respected by many employers, others are interested in pursuing long-term academic careers and therefore consider the MSc as preparation for a PhD. The combination of specialised skills training courses and research seminars, as well as independent research provides you with transferable skills that will be beneficial whatever path you choose.

Graduates pursue work in related areas such as museums, policy think tanks, national and international civil services, non-governmental organisations, galleries, libraries and historic trusts whilst others build on the transferable skills gained and enter areas as diverse as business, media, public administration and marketing.