Brayford Pool
MPhil: 1.5-3 years. PhD: 2-4 years
MPhil: 2-4 years. PhD: 3-8 years
Start Dates in October and February
MPhil/PhD Medieval Studies offers you the opportunity to undertake an intensive study of a topic of your choice in the history, literature, and/or culture of the medieval period, and to make an original contribution to scholarly understandings of your chosen subject area. As a medieval city, Lincoln provides an ideal backdrop to undertake your research. You will have access to a wealth of local resources, including our established Medieval Studies Research Group.
While the emphasis is on your independent research, you will receive guidance from academic supervisors whose broad range of expertise includes Roman and medieval history of the British Isles, Western Europe, and the Mediterranean (with a focus on the Iberian Peninsula); along with gender and literary studies; social, political, economic, legal, religious and cultural history; archaeology; medievalism; and the history of emotions.
Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research
Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills
Supervision and support from expert academic staff
Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work
Enrol in February or October each year
Over the course of your studies, you will be expected to complete an original piece of research that makes a contribution to the existing scholarship on, and knowledge of, the subject under scrutiny. You will be guided throughout this process by expert and well-published supervisors, from whom you will receive feedback and advice. Your PhD project might cross disciplinary boundaries and focus on multiple subject areas; in such cases, we will endeavour to support you through the allocation of supervisors in relevant fields.
Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, a significant amount of time will be spent in independent study and research. You will need to take considerable responsibility for your studies, including time management, project planning and writing drafts of your work. You are expected to submit appropriate written work regularly to your supervisors and to act on the feedback received. Students will have regular meetings with their academic supervisor(s) who will discuss the development of the research, comment on written drafts, and agree the next stage of work.
Students have access to support and training to develop the practical and critical skills necessary for investigation and study at doctoral level, and for interpreting a wide range of evidence.
The School of Humanities and Heritage provides a stimulating research environment within which our postgraduate community plays a central role. Research seminars and staff-student reading groups foster cross-disciplinary debates and collaboration, as well as providing opportunities for career development.
Our MPhil/PhD programme relies on the research expertise and collaboration of members of our Medieval Studies Research Group.
Strong links exist within other areas of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, especially with the Lincoln School of Film, Media and Journalism. An interdisciplinary research culture facilitates collaboration with colleagues across a wide range of topics. We also collaborate with the Global and Transregional Studies Research Group and with the EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Committee of the School of History and Heritage.
Current and Recent PhD projects include:
Our MPhil/PhD students are encouraged to participate in the Medieval Studies Research Group, which provides a stimulating and inclusive environment for discussion and debate with fellow students, scholars, and visiting academics, through various research events and activities.
We have a strong relationship with the wider scholarly and professional community including Lincoln Cathedral Library and Archives, with whom we collaborate in our teaching and research. We also collaborate closely with:
The assessment at this level of study takes the form of thesis of 80,000 words (PhD) or 40,000 words (MPhil), which is deemed to make an original contribution to knowledge, and to be suitable for publication (in whole or in part).
You will normally need to defend your thesis in an oral examination (viva), where you are expected to demonstrate an expert understanding of your subject, and to show how your research findings contribute to knowledge or build on existing understandings of the subject.
To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October or February, although alternative dates may be agreed with your supervisors on an individual basis. When writing your research proposal, please take note of the following guidance:
Applicants with appropriate projects will be offered an interview with the programme leader and one or more subject specialists where the application can be discussed in more detail.
Applicants with appropriate proposals will be offered an interview with the programme leader and one or more subject specialists, who will discuss with you in more detail the research proposal and your suitability to undertake it.
Postgraduate Research Application Support
Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.
Relevant Master's degree.
Vitally, you will need to submit a research proposal along with your application form. This must demonstrate a suitable scope and focus, and an understanding of how your project makes an original contribution to the field of study.
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.
For further advice on IELTS and the support available, please contact the International College by email at internationalcollege@lincoln.ac.uk.
You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by your research proposal and will be calculated on an individual basis.
Loans and Studentships
Find out more about the options available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.
Meet PhD student Francesca Cannon, whose doctoral research is focusing on the roles, relationships, and impact of three queens who were the second wives of kings in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.
A doctoral qualification may be regarded as the capstone of academic achievement and may mark the beginning of a career in academia. Our School’s former students have also taken up careers in research, research administration, publishing, arts and heritage, and teaching in various contexts.
The University’s Doctoral School provides a focal point for Lincoln’s community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also offers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.
For more information about this course, please contact:
Dr Rebecca Styler
rstyler@lincoln.ac.uk
Through our research, we are striving to change society for the better. Working with regional, national, and international partners, our academics are engaged in groundbreaking studies that are challenging the status quo. We also understand the importance of providing the best possible environment for pursuing research that can support our communities and make a tangible difference to the world around us.
