Medieval History (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

The University of Winchester

• Set yourself up to flourish in your degree and beyond with our Foundation Year
• Survey a wide range of periods while zooming in on landmark medieval events such as the Norman Conquest, the Black Death and the Wars of the Roses
• Secure work placements at leading historic and cultural venues such as the Mary Rose and the British Museum
• Learn from expert tutors and their cutting-edge research
• Join a student-led history society on trips to sites of historical interest and talks by major historians
• Study in a beautiful city steeped in medieval history

In Britain, we love our crumbling castles, noble cathedrals and bloody representations of the medieval age in popular culture. If you have a passion for history with a special interest in the Middle Ages, then this course is perfect for you.

On our Medieval History (with Foundation Year) programme, you study the great sweep of history in Britain and around the world, from the transformation of the Roman Empire to Renaissance court politics.

Studying how people lived in the medieval world is highly instructive. The word medieval has become synonymous with lawlessness and brutality, but this was not always the case. Some populations had the vote, trade happened over long distances, and witch hunts were restricted to certain periods. Learning more about the medieval world and why it exerts such a strong hold over our imaginations can help you to better understand the contemporary world.

A Foundation Year is the perfect way to boost your academic skills, build your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge so you can succeed at Winchester. This course offers an extra year of study at the start (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).

A Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to education after a break; haven’t quite achieved the entry qualifications required; are wanting more support during the transition to studying at university; or are unsure about which subject you wish to pursue.

In Year 0, you will study a set of modules from across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of Medieval History and related subjects.

In Year 1 (second year of study), you take core modules that explore the nature of history as a discipline. You look at the changing assumptions, methods and definitions of history and explore the current concerns of historians. You also select from a range of possible optional modules, including Early Medieval Britain 400-1066 and Europe 1300-1500.

Having acquired research skills and knowledge in Year 1, your studies in Years 2 and 3 (third and fourth year of study) are more specialised. You take core modules that deepen your understanding of the study of history, including Past Historians and Current Practice'

In Year 3 (fourth year of study), you produce your dissertation and take core modules in Writing History, and History and the Public Sphere.

By studying Medieval History you develop transferable skills in written and oral communication, both as part of a group and individually, and critical analysis of evidence and large bodies of material.

Our graduates enter a wide spectrum of careers. Many work in museums and heritage sites. Others work within teaching, retail, the arts, marketing and local, regional and national Government.