Research Degrees: MPhil/PhD

We welcome applications for MPhil or PhD study on a wide range of subjects in the medieval area. Projects can focus on a single discipline, or as appropriate to the topic, may be interdisciplinary or combine two or more disciplines.

The MPhil involves one year of full-time study, or two years part-time. Candidates for the PhD normally register for the MPhil in the first instance and are reviewed for upgrade to the PhD after the first year of study. The PhD usually involves three years full-time study, or five years part-time. The MA in Medieval Studies, while not a pre-requisite, is designed as a foundation for doctoral study and is team-taught within the Centre for Medieval Studies.

Staff expertise is especially strong in the areas of medieval History, Archaeology, Law, Music, French Literature, Spanish Literature, Italian Literature, English Literature, and Arab and Islamic studies. See the staff pages of the Centre for Medieval Studies for information regarding various research specialisms of individual staff.

In addition to research projects in single disciplines, we especially encourage interdisciplinary projects at postgraduate level and beyond. A specially designed PhD in Medieval Studies caters for those students wishing to specialise in inter- or multidisciplinary research combining one or more specialisms offered by medievalist staff at the University of Exeter including Archaeology, English literature, French, Italian, German, History, Islamic studies, Law, Music, Spanish and Theology. Applications to the PhD in Medieval Studies can be made online by clicking here.

Potential applicants for either MPhil or PhD study are invited to contact Professor Simon Barton (Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies) or specific staff in the particular disciplinary area in question.