Study the Middle Ages at Girton

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in an aspect of the Middle Ages within any of the University of Cambridge’s subjects, Girton is an ideal college for you. Here you can receive support from specialists within College and join a vibrant community of interdisciplinary medievalists. The only structure of its kind devoted to Medieval Studies within a Cambridge College, Girton Medieval will host regular academic and social events in-College, subsidise trips and excursions, and feature large public lectures. We will soon be launching a Medieval Collaboration Fund to assist with costs for carrying out medieval research, particularly when it involves collaboration with other Girton Medievalists.

See the Girton website for ‘Why Girton?’ and detailed information on how to apply to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

*Below is an unoffical and non-comprehensive overview of medieval coursework at Cambridge, for full and up-to-date information see the Departmental and University Admissions websites (undergrad and postgrad)*

Undergraduate Courses (BA [Hons]) with Medieval Elements:

• Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic (ASNC)
  • Unlike any other in the world, a unique course focused on the cultures of early medieval northern Europe. Interdisciplinary and allowing for focus on history, literature, linguistics; the only place in Cambridge to work across unique medieval languages including Old English, Old Norse, Middle Welsh, Old and Middle Irish, and Medieval Latin
• Archaeology
  • Ability to work in medieval topics within, including the Medieval Globe module. Notable for medieval specialists and ongoing projects, in Cambridge and beyond, such as the After the Plague project.
• Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES)
  • Opportunities to study medieval aspects of Asian and Middle Eastern languages, literature, and history through specialist modules and dissertations.
• Classics
  • Opportunity to develop skills in classical languages as well as to study Late Antique history. Excellent Girton provision for ancient languages, especially Medieval Latin.
• English
  • Wide range of medieval module options taught by range of specialists, including compulsory papers on ‘Literature and its Contexts’ in the Middle Ages, as well as option modules including ‘The Medieval Supernatural’.
• History
  • Wide range of options to specialise in the Middle Ages: three Part I Outline courses overviewing the Medieval World, source and topic papers (e.g. ‘Travel and Trade in the Medieval World’), to Part II special subject seminars (e.g. ‘Age of Justinian’) and dissertation supervision.
• Modern and Medieval Languages
  • Opportunities to focus in medieval languages and their development, including German, Romance languages, and Slavonic languages.

• Joint courses and others:
  • Environment, Law, and Economics (formerly Land Economy)
  • Geography
  • *History of Art
    • *Not offered by Girton
  • History and Modern Languages
  • History and Politics
  • Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)
  • Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Modern Languages
  • Philosophy
  • Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion (Divinity)

Postgraduate – MPhil (9-month Master’s) Courses:

• Specialist medieval master’s degrees:
  • Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
  • Medieval History
• Master’s degrees with established medieval tracks:
  • Archaeology
    • Archaeology of the Global Middle Ages track
    • Various specialist MPhils, e.g. Heritage Studies, Archaeological Science
  • Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
    • Many special degree options, e.g. ‘Classical Islamic History and Culture’
  • English Studies
    • Medieval specialist seminars, dissertation support, here
  • Literature, Culture and Thought
    • Medieval and Early Modern Pathway
• Master’s courses which allow medieval foci:
  • Classics
    • *Also Advanced Diploma in Classics
  • Digital Humanities
  • History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine
  • Linguistics and Language Sciences
• Others with possibility of medieval crossover, e.g. Geography, Philosophy, Theology

Postgraduate – PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy):

• Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
• Archaeology
• Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
• Classics
• English
• History
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Languages (e.g. French, German)
  • Literature, Culture and Thought
  • Linguistics
• Others including Philosophy and Theology

Other Cambridge Non-Degree Learning

• In addition to formal provision within degrees, University members can take advantage of free / subsidised lessons or informal seminars for medieval languages through the Language Centre, with unique medieval options including Icelandic (Modern) and medieval Latin, see Open Courses
• Open to anyone, courses through Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education
  • Short online courses including ‘Medieval Britain and the Wider World’
  • Undergraduate courses including ‘Certificate in the Study of Medieval England’
• Public events by the University of Cambridge on medieval topics, including those at the Cambridge Festival and heritage events through Open Cambridge