Norwich University

What you'll study

The programme combines thematic and period-focused modules with intensive training in primary-source methods and a substantial independent dissertation. Core topics typically include cultural practices and belief systems in medieval Europe, the social and intellectual transformations of the early modern period, material culture and visual sources, and the history of literacy and information.

• Research Methods and Historiography – advanced approaches to archival research, manuscript studies, palaeography, and critical engagement with historiographical debates.
• Medieval Cultural Worlds – institutions, ritual, and everyday life in the high and late Middle Ages, including literature, law and popular religion.
• Early Modern Ideas and Practices – print culture, scientific and intellectual change, confessionalisation, and the material cultures of courts and marketplaces.
• Material and Visual Culture – artefacts, architecture and visual sources as historical evidence; techniques for contextual analysis.
• Language and Sources – optional modules to develop reading competence in medieval/early modern Latin, early modern vernaculars or palaeography as appropriate to students' research needs.
• Dissertation – a supervised piece of original research (typically at master’s length) that demonstrates command of primary sources and historiographical context.

Teaching is delivered through seminars, source seminars, workshops on archival techniques and one-to-one supervision. Assessment usually combines source-based essays, a long research paper and the final dissertation.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally hold a relevant undergraduate degree with strong academic performance (equivalent to a UK upper second-class honours or higher). Acceptable backgrounds include history, medieval/early modern studies, classics, literature, art history or other humanities disciplines with substantial historical content.

Typical application materials include academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining research interests and suitability for the specialism, a writing sample (for example a long undergraduate essay), and at least one academic reference. Applicants whose first language is not English will be asked to demonstrate competence in English to a level appropriate for postgraduate study.

Career prospects

Graduates develop strong skills in critical analysis, research, archival work and written communication, which are valued in a wide range of professions. Common career paths include:

• Progression to doctoral research and academic careers in history and related fields.
• Roles in museums, archives and heritage organisations—curation, collections management and public history.
• Library and information services, including special collections and conservation support roles.
• Education and outreach, including secondary teaching (often following professional teaching qualifications) and lifelong learning roles in cultural institutions.
• Publishing, research consultancy, cultural policy and roles in the charitable sector where research and communication skills are required.

Why study at Norwich University

The programme provides focused supervision in cultural history and sustained training in working with primary sources, suitable for students aiming for specialist research or careers in the heritage sector. Small-group teaching ensures close interaction with staff and peers, and the course emphasises hands-on archival and palaeographic skills alongside critical theoretical perspectives.

Students benefit from a campus environment that supports postgraduate study and from opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary approaches that connect history with art, literature and material culture. The course is designed to be adaptable to students working on a range of topics across medieval and early modern Europe, with supervisory expertise to support diverse research projects.