Postgraduate Study

Psalter from the University Library collections

The MLitt in Mediaeval English is an intensive one-year taught course culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation. (People often ask why we do not offer a postgraduate MA: it is because an MA is the undergraduate Arts degree historically awarded by Scotland's four 'Ancient' universities, as at Oxford and Cambridge.)

Students who successfully complete the MLitt coursework but do not write a dissertation are awarded the Postgraduate Diploma.

Research Degrees

The two-year MPhil consists of the complete MLitt in Mediaeval English taught course in the first year followed by a second year of writing up a 40,000-word dissertation. Note that it is possible to register for the MLitt and transfer to MPhil status (subject to approval) part-way through the first year, and vice-versa.

Candidates for the PhD undertake at least three years of independent research under the direction of a supervisor and submit a thesis of not more than 80,000 words. The School welcomes PhD candidates in any of the areas of expertise covered by current staff, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the medieval/renaissance overlap to the 'medievalism' of later centuries . Potential PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to contact directly the member (or members) of staff whose research interests are most relevant to the proposed topic.

See the School's postgraduate pages for further information on postgraduate study in the School of English, including funding, facilities, current students and advice on how to apply. Questions should be directed in the first instance to Mrs Sandra McDevitt, the postgraduate secretary.

The Medieval Reading Group is an informal seminar run by postgraduates; open to medievalists across the university.

Current medievalist PhD students in English:

All medieval English PhD students are members of the School's Medieval and Renaissance research group.

MLitt in Medieval English

Wyntoun's Chronicle from the
University Library collections

This MLitt offers a rigorous programme of study covering the medieval literature of England and Scotland from the Anglo-Saxon period to the early Renaissance. Compulsory core modules in Old and Middle English ensure depth and breadth of coverage alongside the development of the specialist skills and knowledge required for medieval literary studies, such as palaeography and codicology, editorial theory and practice and an understanding of medieval literary theory, Graduates of the programme are equipped to teach and research in any area of medieval English literary studies. The 20 credits reserved for free choice introduce the flexibility to explore a particular medieval topic in more depth, extend one's studies to another area of English studies, or to take an external option, e.g. another medieval language such as Old Norse (when available) via SAIMS (St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies).or Latin via either SAIMS or Classics (depending on desired focus).

Programme

180 credits comprising 120 credits of taught modules plus a 15,000-word dissertation worth 60 credits (EN5099) which is due at the end of August.

MLitt Medieval English Handbook 2012-13 (pdf)

Taught credits consist of:

1. EN5100 Literary Research: Skills and Resources: a 20-credit research skills module taken by all academic English MLitts.

2. Three Core Modules (80 credits) as follows:

King David detail from a Bible in the University Library collections

EN5015 Reading the Medieval Text: 20 credits (Semester I)

This module is designed to provide or enhance some of the specific skills and areas of knowledge necessary for undertaking research in medieval literature. Students will study Palaeography and Codicology (taught by staff from the Library's Special Collections using original medieval materials wherever practical); medieval textual transmission and editorial theory; medieval theoretical conceptions of the text; the periodisation of Mediaeval English literature.

EN5017 Old English: 20 credits ( Semester II)

A solid grounding in Old English grammar and translation from Old English will be acquired with the help of grammar exercises and translation practice on original Old English texts. It is recognised that students may join this module with widely varying levels of experience of Old English, from none to fairly extensive. The aim is to get all students to an acceptable level of proficiency in reading and translation, and this is reflected in the assessment of this module by two translation exercises. Time and students’ linguistic expertise permitting, some literary contextualisation of the texts studied and translated may also be included. Many students go on to take a Special Topic on some aspect of Old English literature.

EN5018 Middle English Literature in Context: 40 credits (full year)

This module teaches culturally central Middle English and Scottish texts from the later Middle Ages within their wider literary context, both continental and insular. Fortnightly seminars (allowing time for a heavy reading load) examine a historical and generic variety of major literary texts produced from 1200 to 1500. Middle English and Scots examples of key medieval genres such as drama, saints’ lives and romance are compared to their sources or counterparts in other languages, while major Middle English and Scottish authors such as Gower, Chaucer, Langland, Lydgate, Hoccleve and Henryson are studied alongside such influential earlier writers as Boethius (The Consolation of Philosophy) , Geoffrey of Vinsauf (Poetria Nova), Jean de Meun and Guillaume de Lorris (Roman de la Rose) and Boccaccio (Il Filostrato).

3. An Option of 20 credits. All academic MLitts in the School of English leave 20 credits free for an Option which may be one of three things: a Special Topic in English Studies (EN5401 or EN5402) of the student's choice or design; a core module from another English MLitt (current MLitt programmes are Shakespeare and Renaissance Culture, Romantic/Victorian Studies, Modern and Contemporary Literature, or Women, Writing and Gender), or on a module outwith the School of English, whether arranged through SAIMS or independently with another school such as Classics, Modern Languages, Divinity or Philosophy. For further details on all of these see the MLitt Options page.

The Director of the MLitt for 2012-13 is Dr Ian Johnson.

For further information on postgraduate programmes, facilities and funding opportunities within the School of English, see the Postgraduate pages and/or contact the postgraduate secretary, Sandra McDevitt.

Alternatively, see the interdisciplinary MLitt in Mediaeval Studies offered through the St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies (SAIMS).

School of English Postgraduate studies