History of the Book School of Advanced Study, University of London

Overview

The subject extends to include newspapers, magazines, chapbooks, ephemera, digital text and all kinds of printed or written media. It also includes the manuscript book in all its forms from the pre-classical, classical and medieval periods.

The  History of the Book programme at  School of Advanced Study, University of London  is the oldest postgraduate programme in this growing area in the humanities. You'll study six taught modules and complete a dissertation of 15,000 words.

If you're interested in undertaking a larger independent research project, you can consider the MRes, which leads to an equivalent master’s qualification. You'll study three taught modules and complete a 30,000-word dissertation. 

In this History of the Book programme at School of Advanced Study, University of London we explore the different material forms the book has taken over time, from clay tablets to computer screens. A research methodologies module introduces you to different approaches to the subject and the range of resources in the field.

Core modules provide a comprehensive overview of the book from the medieval period to the present day. Optional modules studied during the course of the year, or on the London Rare Books School, allow for in-depth analysis of the history of specific components of the book, such as bindings and book illustration, as well as focused modules on key topics, including textual editing, provenance in books and the history of reading.

Career

Many of our alumni go on to establish successful careers in related fields, including academic librarianship, museum curatorship, publishing, art, and the print and antiquarian book trade. Some students aim to progress to study at PhD level for a career in academia. Our programmes provide outstanding training in research skills and equip you with the intellectual framework and language proficiency to undertake independent research with confidence and success. Former students have progressed to PhD study at the Institute and elsewhere.