(Including Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway)
Explore all facets of global medieval life and culture, from 400 to 1550, studying in the heart of England's medieval capital.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
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Upcoming eventsAs part of the MA in Medieval Studies, we offer a Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway so you can choose to focus your studies in this specialist area.
The Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS) is the UK’s oldest and largest centre for the interdisciplinary study and research into the Middle Ages. Our expertise spans over 1,000 years and multiple disciplines and faculties, offering dedicated skills training in palaeography, diplomatic and medieval languages.
New disciplines will complement your existing experience, offering you bespoke interdisciplinary modules as well as world-class teaching in the subjects of Archaeology, Literature and Language, History, History of Art. You'll learn to recognise how geographies, chronologies and sources of evidence are interrelated, while exploring the fields of study that most interest you. Our global range of research and teaching extends across medieval Britain, Scandinavia (the Vikings).
Our new interdisciplinary pathway examines the cultures of the Islamic world through the prism of literature, history, archaeology, art and architecture. Drawing on the wide-ranging experience of our staff, you can create a bespoke programme that demonstrates the close connections across the medieval Mediterranean and beyond into Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Anatolia, Central Asia and East Africa.
In the medieval city of York, inspiration is everywhere, and you'll have access to some of the UK's most important medieval archives and museums, including York Minster Library and Archives, the Borthwick Institute for Archives, the Yorkshire Museum, and Jorvik Viking Centre.
Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of professions, including academic teaching and research, archives, libraries, museums, galleries, publishing companies and the heritage sector.
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The CMS has been a fantastic place to study with a vibrant and inclusive community. The staff are extremely supportive and happy to discuss ideas, while the centre's profoundly interdisciplinary character means that I have found new, exciting and sometimes unexpected approaches to my research.Luke, PhD student
Work with specialists from the Departments of Archaeology, English, History and History of Art for a truly interdisciplinary experience.
Access state-of-the-art resources, including research centres, archives and libraries.
Unparalleled practical skills training in palaeography, diplomatic and medieval languages.
You'll take a core module that will introduce you to the methodologies and approaches of interdisciplinary study, as well as training you in the use of research resources.
We offer a broad range of modules ranging in date from Late Antiquity to the late Middle Ages, and geographically from England, Scandinavia and Europe to North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, enabling you to explore a cosmopolitan and connected global medieval world.
You'll also develop specialist language and palaeographic skills, streamlined according to your knowledge and experience. You can focus on Medieval Arabic, on two European languages, or on a language and palaeography, with options in Latin, Old English, Old Norse and Old French, and in administrative hands, and early or late Book hands. These will equip you with the skills required to read and interpret original texts from the Medieval Period.
You'll choose a topic for your dissertation, and in the spring semester, start working on your dissertation, to continue through the summer. During this time, you'll attend dissertation workshops, research seminars and one-on-one consultations with your dissertation supervisor.
You must take the Core interdisciplinary module ('Islamic Worlds'), at least one other Islamic-related option module, and Arabic for Research, and complete your dissertation on an Islamic topic.
If you choose the Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway you will graduate with a degree title of MA in Medieval Studies.
At least one option module must be a CMS interdisciplinary module, one a 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option, and those remaining must be from different disciplines. If you are on the Islamic Cultures pathway, you take Islamic Worlds and at least one other Islamic-related option module, in addition to the Arabic for Research skills option.
You will study four option modules, one of them a 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option, from example including:
Interdisciplinary modules are team-taught by a number of staff from our parent departments.
Skills options will see you working closely with two medieval languages, or with a language and palaeography. Those on the Islamic Cultures pathway choose the Arabic for Research option.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
At the end of the programme, you will submit a 14,000–16,000-word dissertation on a topic anywhere within the chronological period 400–1550. You'll develop your proposal during semester one, in consultation with CMS staff. You can choose whether to write a dissertation that engages with several disciplines, or to specialise in just one. Although you’re not required to choose an interdisciplinary topic, many students find this a rewarding option.
If you are on the Islamic Cultures pathway, you must complete your dissertation on an Islamic topic.
During semester two and the summer, you’ll meet regularly with advisor who will help to structure your research programme, suggest reading, and provide feedback on your written work. There will dissertation events, including workshops, to provide extra support. The dissertation accounts for 57 per cent of your final mark.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
The Centre for Medieval Studies is a very supportive community, both staff and students. Everyone is easy to talk to, discuss and share ideas with. It is a fantastic place to study.Stefan, MA Medieval Studies
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
You will be expected to meet printing costs associated with the submission of assignments. It may be recommended that you buy textbooks for language courses, but it is not essential, and the courses are designed so that no books need to be purchased.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
The Centre for Medieval Studies will have a limited number of scholarships to award this coming year, to support students who fall into the following categories:
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
The core module is team-taught by experts from our parent departments. You'll attend weekly two-hour seminars, where you'll be expected to read, discuss and present your work to your seminar group, culminating in a poster session. Language and palaeography teaching is also delivered via a weekly class in each chosen skill.
You'll engage regularly with our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where you'll access weekly teaching content as well as further reading and resources.
The Centre for Medieval Studies is part of a vibrant research community, and you'll be expected to regularly attend the seminars, workshops and research groups that run throughout the year. In particular, the York Medieval Lecture is given by a distinguished external speaker, giving you a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with the wider academic community.
You'll have access to a wealth of resources including the Minster Library and Archives, and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
You'll have use of the Department of Archaeology's BioArCh lab and experimental archaeology facilities.
We have good working relations with institutions around York, such as English Heritage, the Council for British Archaeology and the York Archaeological Trust.
You'll be based on Campus West
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed using a range of methods, including 4,000-word essays, skills tests, written exams and group poster presentations, as well as completing a dissertation. You will have the chance to get useful feedback on draft work ahead of your final submission.
Your coursework is weighted at 43 per cent of your final mark, to encourage you to experiment with unfamiliar disciplines. Your dissertation makes up the other 57 per cent.
This course has successfully launched students into careers with a huge range of organisations involved in investigating and interpreting the Middle Ages, including English Heritage, the National Trust, archives, libraries, museums, galleries, publishing companies, television companies and the media.
York is a beautiful city. It’s quite a privilege to spend your days encountering that history, stumbling around incredibly long cobbled streets! I really miss it as a place. That’s why I’ve loved coming back for the past nine years to give talks – it feels like coming full circle.Greg Jenner
Public Historian & Podcast Host
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a relevant subject. |
| Other qualifications and experience | If you don't have experience of undergraduate study we may consider your application if you have a suitable professional background. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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