Viking and Early Medieval English Studies MA

Program Overview

This MA program combines the study of Old English, Old Norse, and early medieval culture with interdisciplinary approaches, including place-names, runic inscriptions, and material culture. It provides training for PhD research or work in the heritage industry, with opportunities for exhibition curation, collaboration with local primary schools, and involvement in research centers like the Centre for the Study of the Viking Age and the Institute for Name-Studies.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

'Velkomin' (welcome)! Join our team of internationally renowned specialists to study the languages and cultures of early medieval England and Viking and Medieval Scandinavia. learn and improve your knowledge of Old English and Old Norse languages and literatures explore interdisciplinary approaches to the early medieval period study place-names, runic inscriptions and material culture alongside contemporary texts design and curate a small exhibition The course offers a perfect training if you are considering PhD research, and excellent preparation for work in the heritage industries. Your teaching is informed by the work of the Centre for the Study of the Viking Age (CSVA) and the Institute for Name-Studies (INS), dynamic research centres which host reading groups and organise regular lecture and seminar series. Find out more What our students say "There’s no better place in the country in terms of studying place names. There's the Institute of Name Studies and you have published people in all these disciplines. We also have the Institute for Medieval Research, and the Centre for the Study of the Viking Age, so it’s just some of the best people in the field."

• Bailey McNamara
On this course I’m learning about the culture which is associated with the runes."
• Sarah Toler

Outline:

The total credits for this course are 180. A full-time student takes: three 20-credit modules in the autumn term three 20-credit modules in the spring term a 60-credit dissertation over the summer You may also attend the seminars and lectures organised by various research centres in the Faculty of Arts, including the Centre for the Study of the Viking Age, the Institute for Name-Studies, and the Institute for Medieval Research, where you will meet postgraduates and senior scholars in all areas of Medieval studies.

Assessment:

Most modules are assessed by written coursework of varying lengths, corresponding with the content and weighting of the module. Towards the end of your studies, you will complete a 14,000-word dissertation, a major piece of independent research. Your tutors will provide advice and guidance to help you select your area of study, and you will be allocated a supervisor who is a specialist in your chosen area. They will offer close supervision and support as you complete your research. This course is assessed through varied forms of coursework: ‘Research Methods in Viking and Early Medieval English Studies’ is assessed by a portfolio designed to develop your research skills and ability to communicate in a range of academic and non-academic environments Assessment for ‘Reading Old English’ and ‘Reading Old Norse’ includes language and translation exercises to develop your understanding of these languages You are encouraged to pursue areas of particular interest to you in coursework completed for spring semester modules The 14,000-word dissertation allows you to pursue independent research with expert supervision on a topic of your choice

Teaching:

You will typically have six hours of face-to-face timetabled contact a week. You will receive one-to-one supervision for the dissertation. Class sizes vary, but groups are generally small on this course (with an average of 10 students per cohort). Study hours One credit is approximately 10 hours of student work, so a 20-credit module will be around 200 hours of work. On average, you will spend around 10 hours per module per week on independent study.

Careers:

Graduates from the School of English move into a wide range of areas, including: the education and higher education sectors communications-based roles in marketing/PR/journalism business and finance the charity sector local
ational government Recent graduates have gone on to: PhD studies (with funding) work in the heritage industries (primarily museums) library and archive work work in educational charities "The department in Nottingham was a really supportive environment and helped me to explore new approaches to topics I thought I was already familiar with. The course definitely helped me develop my academic skills, as well as opening my eyes to a world outside of academia. I'm really glad I decided to give it a go!" – Lily Stancliffe (2019 graduate). Now working for the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge Career progression 75% of postgraduates from the School of English secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average starting salary was £20,796

• HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020.
The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK. The School of English has a range of bespoke volunteering opportunities offered throughout the academic year. These provide valuable professional experience, enhancing your CV and helping you to stand out from the crowd. Vikings for Schools: Students design and lead workshops on Viking and early medieval English culture and society for local primary schools.

Other:

Ranked 10th for grade point average among 92 universities, and 7th in the Russell Group. Research Excellence Framework 2021 Share your knowledge

UK fees: £9,250 International fees: £22,600