MA Medieval and Antiquity

at National University of Ireland Galway

Students take a year-long seminar (Sources & Resources) focusing on palaeography and manuscript studies; it also introduces students to auxiliary sciences such as diplomatic, heraldry and philology and includes a team-work, web-based project on a medieval scriptorium. All students take Latin and one other language (of their choice). No prior knowledge of these languages is required. To round out the year, students choose modules in Archaeology, Classics and History, and English, French, German or Irish Literature.

By Semester 2, students will have identified a supervisor with whom they develop a dissertation topic through intensive bibliographical investigation, before completing their research and writing over the summer.

Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases). 
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (90 Credits)

• Optional MV532: Aspects of Old & Middle Irish Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV537: Aspects of Late Antiquity 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV539: Aspects of Old Norse & Icelandic Languages & Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV520: Aspects of Medieval History 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV522: Aspects of medieval Archaeology 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV524: Aspects of Medieval & Middle French Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV526: Aspects of Old & Middle English Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV528: Aspects of Old & Middle High German Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV530: Aspects of Medieval Italian Literature 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV6112: Medieval Latin for Beginners - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV6113: Intermediate Medieval Latin A - 5 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV560: Dissertation (History) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV562: Dissertation (French) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV561: Dissertation (Archaeology) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV565: Dissertation (Italian) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV563: Dissertation (English) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV569: Dissertation (Classics & Late Antiquity) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV564: Dissertation (German) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV567: Dissertation (Old & Medieval Welsh) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV566: Dissertation (Old & Middle Irish) - 30 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV504: Old & Middle English - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV505: Old High & Middle High German - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV506: Grammar of Old & Middle Irish 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV507: Grammar of Old & Middle Irish I - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV509: Medieval & Middle French - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Required MV6116: Sources & Resources for Medieval Studies - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Required MV6111: Palaeography - 10 Credits - Semester 1
• Optional MV6101: Supervised Dissertation Research (Archaeology) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6103: Supervised Dissertation Research (Old and Middle Welsh) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6104: Supervised Dissertation Research (Old and Middle Irish) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6105: Supervised Dissertation Research (Italian) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6106: Supervised Dissertation Research (History) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6107: Supervised Dissertation Research (German) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6108: Supervised Dissertation Research (French) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6109: Supervised Dissertation Research (English) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6102: Supervised Dissertation Research (Late Antiquity) - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV540: Aspects of Old Norse & Icelandic Languages & Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV515: Sources of Early Irish History - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV538: Aspects of Late Antiquity 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV521: Aspects of Medieval History 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV525: Aspects of Medieval & Middle French Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV527: Aspects of Old & Middle English Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV529: Aspects of Old & Middle High German Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV531: Aspects of Medieval Italian Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV533: Aspects of Old & Middle Irish Literature 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6114: Intermedate Medieval Latin B - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV6115: Advanced Medieval Latin B - 5 Credits - Semester 2
• Optional MV523: Aspects of Medieval Archaeology 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2

A Second Class Honours, Grade 1 BA, or a GPA of 3.3, or equivalent international undergraduate degree (at NFQ Level 8) in a relevant subject. Selection is based on an applicant’s academic record, academic references stating her or his potential for completing a research project, as well as samples of the applicant’s written work.

Fees: EU
€6,980 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition
€6,840 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Non EU
€16,940 p.a. 2022/23

Student levy €140 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. 

Graduates in Medieval Studies who do not proceed to PhD research at universities like NUI Galway, TCD, Oxford, Durham, Leeds, or the universities of Toronto or Southern California have a reasonable expectation of finding employment in many walks of life, outside of academia. These include cultural and heritage development, library and museum studies, publishing and the book trade, print journalism, research consultancies, financial services, the civil service, teaching and administration.