Accessibility statement

Palaeography - MST00008M

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  • Department: Centre for Medieval Studies
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

A course to enable students to transcribe, fully, manuscripts and documents of their chosen period, and to understand when, how and why such texts were produced. Students should then be able to use texts in their own work with confidence and be able to edit where necessary.

1. Autumn term, wks 2-5, four lectures with practical work, to introduce scripts from pre-Caroline reforms (6-7c) to the beginnings of Secretary (up to 16c).

2. Autumn term, wks 6-9, and Spring term, wks 2-9; 12 x 2 hrs. Three seminar groups will be offered, from which students will choose one (typical offering: Early Medieval Palaeography c. 500-1000; Administrative Hands from the Conquest to the Later Middle Ages; Later Medieval Book Hands c. 1250 -1525). These seminars will be detailed and practical; and students will be tested at the end, in summer term, by transcription exercises, possibly also (as appropriate) by comprehension/use questions.

Module learning outcomes

  • that students should be able to transcribe, fully, documents and manuscripts of their chosen period, in the languages used in texts written in England
  • that students should understand when, how and why such texts were produced
  • that students should be able to use such texts in their own work with confidence and be able to edit where necessary

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Open Examination 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Open Examination 100

Module feedback

Weekly verbal feedback on class transcription exercises and weekly feedback on homework transcription exercises. The exam results will be given within 25 working days.

Indicative reading

None.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.