Contents

The course covers three terms, Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity and in each term students are required to attend regularly in the following elements:

A.

(i) Medieval Latin (Ms. Angela Malthouse)

(ii) Palaeography and Diplomatic (Dr Thomas McCarthy)

(iii) A special course chosen from one of the following areas:

• Brehon Law
• From Golden Age to Viking Trade? (S. Harrison)
• Medieval Ulster: History, Culture and Society (M. K. Simms)
• The Archaeology of Medieval Castles and Military Fortifications, 1000-1350 (T. B. Barry)
• The Age of Dante and Petrarch (C. E. Meek)
• Empire and Papacy in the eleventh century (I. S. Robinson)
• The Carolingian Empire (I.S. Robinson)
• Early Christian Ireland (M.K. Simms)
• Ireland , Scotland and Wales in the Middle Ages (S. Duffy)
• Medieval Dublin (S. Duffy)

B.

A weekly two-hour post-graduate research seminar, including the presentation and defence of one research paper each term.

A.

(i) Medieval Latin is taught at different levels, according to whether students already have some knowledge of Latin or are complete beginners. They should consult with the Course Coordinator and the lecturers (Ms. Malthouse) about the appropriate level.

Students are expected to attend regularly and do the necessary preparation and exercises. The course will concentrate on the recognition, understanding and usage of noun endings, verb endings and on basic medieval vocabulary.

(ii) Palaeography and Diplomatic.

All students are assumed to be beginners. Teaching materials will be provided and students are expected to attend regularly and do the necessary preparation and exercises.

Special courses under A(iii)

The choice of one of these courses must be made early in Michaelmas Term. The courses consist of between two to three hours per week, a combination of lectures and tutorials and the class will include Single Honor and Two-Subject Moderatorship Sophister students, Socrates and One-Year Visiting students, as well as members of the M.Phil. class.

M.Phil. students are regarded as full members of the class and are required to attend regularly, participate in tutorials, and write essays and/or tutorial papers as required by the lecturer.

B.

The Postgraduate Research Seminar

This consists solely of the students in the M.Phil. course and the lecturers on the course. Students are required to attend regularly and each student is required to read one seminar paper in each of Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity Terms.
There is no limitation as to topic (providing it relates to the Middle Ages) and students may make use of work they have done previously, but it is suggested that the seminar paper in Michaelmas Term should be on a text or source in the area related to the student's special interests and that the paper in Hilary term should relate to the area in which the student proposes to write the dissertation.

In Trinity Term each student will present and defend a major paper relating to their proposed dissertation. As many members of staff as possible will be present to assess this. It will also be handed in in written form to be marked by the Supervisor.

Additional Courses and Language Instruction

It may be possible to arrange for teaching in areas other than those listed above, where that is required or would be beneficial for the student's proposed area of specialisation. This applies particularly to the provision of teaching in Irish or other languages and this can be additional to the course in Medieval Latin or, where students already have an advanced knowledge of Latin, could be treated as an alternative. Students who feel that teaching in an area other than those listed above would be beneficial to them should consult the Course Coordinator.

The Department also runs a weekly seminar for graduate students preparing theses for the degrees of M.Litt. and Ph.D. Lists of topics are posted at the beginning of each term. There is no requirement for M.Phil. students to attend, but these seminars are open to M.Phil. students and they are urged to attend any paper in an area related to their proposed area of specialisation.

The Medieval Research Centre at 192 Pearse Street is open to M.Phil. students. They will be given the internal key and the code for the external door, and can use the centre and its resources at any time, but no book may be removed from the centre.

DISSERTATION:

The M.Phil. is awarded on the basis of a minor dissertation arising out of the special course selected under A (iii) and involving substantial use of primary source material. The selection of a subject and preparation for the dissertation should begin no later than the Hilary Term, and this should be carried out in consultation with the supervisor. The subject of the dissertation should have been agreed with the supervisor concerned not later than the first week of Hilary Term.

Students will be offered guidance on sources, bibliography, the form and scope of their dissertation and on formal aspects such as footnoting and presentation of bibliography, but are advised to ensure that their dissertations are well underway by the end of June, since they cannot expect their supervisors to be readily available for consultation during the Long Vacation period (mid July to mid September). Supervisors will read and comment on material in draft form at the final stages of preparation.

The dissertation should be approximately 20,000 words in length, and two copies typed or computer printed, bound (initially soft-bound), and lettered in accordance with the requirements of the Graduate Studies Office, must be presented to the Course Coordinator by 30 September (ONE MONTH'S GRACE UNTIL 31 OCTOBER).