Medieval History
V190In 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.
Course overview
On our Medieval History 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.
In Year 1, 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 are more specialised. You take core modules that deepen your understanding of the study of history, including Reading History and Practicing History, and optional modules focused primarily on the Medieval World. You either concentrate on how to use original sources (in translated ad printed form where appropriate) or explore, through thematic approaches, social continuity and change over long periods.
In Year 3, you produce your dissertation and take core modules in Writing History, and how History Matters. Optional modules take the form of Depth Studies, using primary and secondary sources as evidence, and Comparative Studies, where more than one country and culture is examined. Depth Studies options may include Ruling England in the Second Viking Age, The Wars of the Roses 1450-1499. Comparative Studies options include The Black Death and Popular Protest in Late Medieval Europe.
Our degrees, combined with inspiring extracurricular activities, such as field trips both in the UK and abroad, offer a wide and deep experience that opens up numerous career paths. Many Winchester graduates carry on to teaching and heritage roles but our alumni can also be found in political think-tanks, the Civil Service, the BBC, automobile and insurance companies and publishing houses, to mention just a few destinations.
History is part of the School of Humanities.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
Winchester campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
Apply
V190
Typical offer
104-120 points
Fees
From £9,535 pa
Course features
- History achieved 100% for academic support as rated by final-year undergraduate students in the 2023 National Student Survey
- Winchester students have secured work placements at leading historic, cultural and entrepreneurial venues such as the Mary Rose and 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
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 216 hours
- Independent learning: 984 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 228 hours
- Independent learning: 972 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 180 hours
- Independent learning: 1020 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus, in Winchester.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*
- 66% coursework
- 25% written exams
- 9% practical assessment
Year 2 (Level 5)*
- 62% coursework
- 25% written exams
- 13% practical assessment
Year 3 (Level 6)*
- 63% coursework
- 21% written exams
- 16% practical assessment
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module introduces students to the core skills required to study history successfully at degree level, developing their skills as independent researchers and building confidence with both primary and secondary sources
This module examines key themes, events and ‘turning points' in world and global history from the Classical world to the present day.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to key concepts and developments in Medieval History.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to key concepts and developments in Early Modern History.
Modules
History in Practice introduces students to some of the most influential and significant developments that have shaped the ways in which historians think and write about the past. It will then consider the planning and preparation of research and the methods and skills used, with particular reference to – but not sole consideration of – the dissertation.
This module takes a thematic approach to study issues of continuity and change across a long period of time through a wide range chronological, geographical, cultural, political, economic and social contexts.
Through the critical study of sources this modules explores the past through various chronological, geographical, cultural, political, economic and social contexts.
Semester 1 Option A: Exploring Past Localities
This module allows students to focus their attention on the history of localities both in the UK and abroad
Semester 1 Option B: Group Project
Students will be required, in groups, to plan a project which involves gathering and analysing historical material and presenting it as an artefact (e.g. oral testimony, documentaries, web-based material).
Semester 2 Option C: Field Trip
This module will provide a study period in an external setting (e.g. Madrid, Krakow, Scotland, Bruges). Students, guided by staff will visit for approximately 5-7 days normally during the Easter vacation to study various aspects of history and heritage via visits to various historical settings, organisations and institutions in their contemporary and historical contexts
Semester 2 Option D: Work Placement
This is a module designed to provide appropriate and carefully selected History-related practical work experience in a record office, museum, heritage site, art gallery, tourism office, local government department, law court, political party branch, etc.
Modules
The Dissertation (Extended Independent Study) is an 8,000 -10,000 thesis on a subject of a student’s choice. It makes an original contribution to historical knowledge and understanding.
Depth Study is the most detailed and exacting part of the taught programme. It is firmly grounded on a thorough understanding of the pertinent primary and secondary sources and thus represent the culmination of the taught course.
Option A: Comparative Study in History
A Comparative Study examines an area of historical concern usually across more than one country and culture taking a variety of approaches including transnational, global and entanglement histories
Option B: Contested History
Contested History allows students to engage with the histories of under-represented and marginalised groups and to challenge accepted, often Eurocentric, historical narratives
Semester 1 Option A: History and Heritage
This module will explore the various ways in which history and heritage interrelates.
Semester 1 Option B: Histories on Screen
This module will consider a number of films and television programmes that draw from different historical settings and case studies.
Semester 2 Option C: The Past Matters
This module introduces students to the uses and abuses of history in the public sphere
Semester 2 Option D: CLAH/CLAY Death and Ritual in the Ancient World
Students will examine evidence for death, funerary, and burial practice in the ancient world.
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSEs English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2025/6 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1* | £9,535 | £16,700 |
Additional tuition fee information
*(UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland) £9,535 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. The fee is currently subject to a governmental fee cap for each academic year. It is our policy to charge tuition fees at the level of the cap set by the Government. If the cap set by the Government changes, then we may increase our Fees in line with governmental policy.
*(International) £16,700 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. We decide the annual level of increase of our Tuition Fees by taking into account a range of factors including the cost of delivering the course and change in governmental funding.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £79.45 and a 15 credit module is £1,191. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £7,145
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Dissertation work
Students working on dissertations in Year 3 may incur costs (mainly travel) of visiting archives, dependent upon the specific nature of the dissertation and availability of online resources for a specific subject. This would typically involve either travel to a local archive (e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth or further afield if the student chooses to study a locality away from Winchester) or a national archive, usually in London (TNA, British Library, Women's Library, etc.). If the dissertation work is based in Winchester, then costs will be far less.
Field Trip
Optional week long History fieldtrip in Year 2 - costs vary depending on location and number of students going on the trip. Indicative costs vary between £300-£700.
Placement
If students decide to complete an optional History work/volunteering placement it may incur travel costs, which are dependent upon where the student undertakes the placement (if local it may be zero, but costs go up when public transport is used to travel). Students will have a say in where their placement is located. Indictative costs vary from £0 - £300, dependent on location of placement and number of visits required.
Mandatory
Core texts: Any core reading is made available through the library or on module pages. Students may sometimes be given recommendations for further reading, which they may obtain freely through the library or by paying a very small fee through an inter-library loan, or they can choose to purchase (this can often be done at considerably reduced rates second hand).
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards page.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates have become historians working in museums, heritage sites, teaching and in many other sectors including in retailing, the arts, press, publishing, marketing and in governmental and non-for-profit organizations at local, regional, national and international level.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
Read about how Early Medieval History Professor, Ryan Lavelle, has consulted on a new French docudrama series on the Vikings and their 'Empire of the North Sea.'
