Programme Description

Medieval studies are flourishing at Trinity College, both at the level of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and at the research level. There is a medieval component in the undergraduate courses of at least 8 departments in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and over the last decade more than 30 M.Litt. or Ph.D theses have been completed on topics related to the Middle Ages. About 20 members of the academic staff have as their main focus of research medieval history, philosophy, literature or language.

The College library possesses a large, varied and valuable collection of medieval manuscripts which are regularly consulted by scholars from all over the world and worked on by members of staff and research students of the University. Trinity College has hosted major international conferences on a wide range of aspects of medieval culture, and staff and research students from the College regularly attend and contribute to conferences elsewhere. It is in the context of this established, widely-recognized and vibrant research culture that the present M.Phil. course is offered.

This interdisciplinary course is designed for well-qualified graduates who wish to extend their interest in medieval studies. The flexible structure of the course allows students to construct their degree around their particular areas of interest, while acquiring both the technical expertise to investigate primary medieval documents and an insight into the complexities of medieval culture generally. Students will have the opportunity to be taught not only by Trinity staff but also by visiting lecturers from other internationally renowned institutions.