MA Medieval Studies Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Medieval Studies
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			23 Sept 2024			Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			7			Length of programme			12 Months
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			FT and PT
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Centre for Medieval Studies
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17	Lead department			Centre for Medieval Studies			Other contributing departments			Archaeology, English, History, History of Art, Language and Linguistic Science
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	This programme has been designed in accordance with the University's Institutional Framework for Taught Programme Design and Taught Postgraduate Programme Design Policy, the Higher Education Credit Framework, and QAA Master's Degree Characteristcs Statement and Quality Code, including Advice and Guidance.
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32	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
33	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
34	No.
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36	Exceptions to Regulations
37	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
38	None. A current exception that allows students to take an extra 10 credits of skills will not apply in the new degree.
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40	Internal Transfers
41	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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43		Transfers in:	Yes, with the only restrictions related to entry requirements and capacity.				Transfers out:	Yes. The usual transfers are to/from MA degrees in Medieval History, Medieval Literatures and Language, and History of Art.
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46	Statement of Purpose
47	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
48	The MA in Medieval Studies is a degree that offers you a truly interdisciplinary experience, with the opportunity to study in one of the longest established centres for the study of Middle Ages in the world. The degree will introduce you to new disciplines that complement your existing expertise, offering you teaching from leading specialists in the early, high and later Middle Ages from the departments of Archaeology, English, History, and History of Art. Through the MA, you will be able to bring together research questions and sources from different disciplines to create a genuinely interdisciplinary experience. Through our Medieval Islamic Cultures pathway, students are also able to specialise in the area of the Islamic medieval world by taking a selection of relevant courses within our annual module offerings. This is accompanied by extensive provision of skills training, with options available in Latin, palaeography and diplomatic, Arabic and medieval vernacular languages. By encountering a wide range of evidence and approaches, you will be part of a lively interdisciplinary scholarly environment including seminars, study groups, research lectures, and fieldtrips, enabling you to develop key research skills, and the ability to explore and solve problems independently. The flexibility of the programme allows you to build competence in at least three of the disciplines that make up the specialisms of the Centre, leading to the production of supervised essays and a dissertation at the forefront of scholarly research. Being in York gives you access to some of the UK’s most important medieval records held in the York Minster Library and Archives, The Borthwick Institute for Archives, the City Archives, and a rich source of archaeological material in York and Yorkshire's museums and galleries, built environment, and landscape. By undertaking the MA in Medieval Studies you will develop interdisciplinary skills which will prepare you for further postgraduate study, and to seek employment in a wide range of professions, including archives, libraries, museums, galleries, publishing companies, the heritage sector, and the media.
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59	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
60	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
61	Postgraduate Certificate in Medieval Studies			exit award only	The PG Certificate in Medieval Studies offers recognition for the work and achievements of students who have completed a majority of taught elements of the degree, but not the dissertation or research project. Students with a certificate will have developed a depth of knowledge in at least one medieval subject, critical evaluation in at least one discipline and a practice in the application of interdisciplinarity. They will have developed their communication in writting and oral presentation as well as personal and professional skills, including teamwork.				Students must obtain 60 credits in order to receive a certificate. Students will thus have completed at least three 20-credit modules: the core module (Approaches to an Interdisciplinary Methodology - MST00004M), an option module and either a second option module or a 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option (MST00087M, MST00088M or LFA00002M).
62	Postgraduate Diploma in Medieval Studies			exit award only	The PG Diploma in Medieval Studies offers a postgraduate qualification that can be completed in less time than the MA. Students complete the full slate of taught modules but not the dissertation, instead they create, plan, research and write an individual 4,000-word research project. Students with a diploma will have developed a critical understanding of research, with experiene working in three disciplines and developing interdisciplinary projects. They have persuasively engaged audiences in writing and via oral presentation, will have deployed methodologies to interpret medieval primary sources in disiplinary and interdisciplinary contexts, and developed their personal and profession skills, including teamwork and project management, identifying opportunities for personal and collective development.				Students must obtain 120 credits in order to receive the diploma. Students must complete six 20-credit modules: the core module (Approaches to an Interdisciplinary Methodology - MST00004M), three option modules and one 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills option (MST00087M, MST00088M or LFA00002M); they also complete the Research Project (MST00096M).
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64	Programme Learning Outcomes
65	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
66	1	Depth of Knowledge: Demonstrate in-depth understanding of current research, theoretical approaches, context, sources, and advanced scholarship at the forefront of medieval studies.
67	2	Critical evaluation: Critically evaluate a range of complex scholarly arguments and primary sources, informed by systematic knowledge of relevant disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, and multi-disciplinary approaches within the early, high and later middle ages.
68	3	Apply methodologies: Independently analyse and interpret diverse forms of medieval primary sources and data to high academic and professional standards.
69	4	Communication: Confidently, clearly and persuasively engage audiences via written work, oral presentation, discussion, and visual media.
70	5	Creativity: Demonstrate originality through the application of knowledge and skills from disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and multi-disciplinary contexts, in individual and group work, and where possible, generate new contributions to scholarly understanding.
71	6	Personal and professional development: Informed by learning and research, reflect critically and constructively on a range of personal and professional skills, identifying opportunities for personal and collective development, to proactively enhance employability both within and beyond academia.
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73	Diverse entry routes
74	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
75	The interdisciplinary degree, in its very nature, welcomes and fosters difference in discipline, approach, material, and student background. The Core Course is specifically designed to introduce and develop interdisciplinary knowledge, and presentation and skills, as well as get to grips with a new discipline; it does this whilst fostering students' abilities to celebrate and accommodate difference, both intellectual and individual. 'Reading the Middle Ages' skills modules prepare students for graduate work with sources by engaging students of all levels in the task of moving beyond the published translation, developing confidence in working with medieval language and palaeography and reflecting on the cultural environments that created the sources we have. All modules have formative essays which are revised after feedback for summative work and supported by tutors all of whom have twice weekly office hours. The Core module also supports the development of a dissertation proposal, including advice on project design, finding sources, and navigating scholarship.
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82	Inclusion
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84	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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86	Employability
87	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
88	Fundamental to the degree are core transferrable skills: teamwork, project management and presentation. Students develop their abilities and confidence in presenting lucid and persuasive work, in writing and via presentations; in collecting and distilling information from a diverse range of sources; in analytically and critically opening up sources to develop original insights; in storing and analysing qualitative and quantitative material; in managing tasks to a deadline, and working collaboratively and inclusively with colleagues. Students are encouraged, where appropriate, to work with external sites and partners on projects, including for their dissertation. They are also encouraged to reflect on career opportunities in an array of fields, including education, civil service, media and broadcasting, heritage, and charities.
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94	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
95	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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97	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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99	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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