During Semester 1, in addition to the Literary Research: Skills and Resources module, taken by Masters students on all programmes, you will also take the first of three core medieval modules: Reading the Medieval Text. Consisting of weekly seminar meetings, this module is designed to provide or enhance some of the specific skills and areas of knowledge necessary for undertaking research in medieval literature. Students will study Palaeography and Codicology (taught by staff from the Library's Special Collections using original medieval manuscript materials wherever practical); medieval textual transmission and editorial theory; medieval theoretical conceptions of the text; the periodization of Medieval English literature.‌

In addition to Reading the Medieval Text, in Semester 1 you will also begin the second core medieval module, the year-long Middle English Literature in Context. This module teaches culturally central medieval English and Scottish texts from the later Middle Ages within their wider literary context, both continental and insular. Fortnightly seminars (allowing time for a heavy reading load) examine a historical and generic variety of major literary texts produced from 1200 to 1500. Middle English and Scots examples of key medieval genres such as drama, saints’ lives and romance are compared to their sources or counterparts in other languages, while major Middle English and Scottish authors such as Chaucer, Langland, Douglas, Hoccleve and Henryson are studied alongside such influential earlier writers as Boethius (The Consolation of Philosophy), Geoffrey of Vinsauf (Poetria Nova), Jean de Meun and Guillaume de Lorris (Roman de la Rose) and Boccaccio (Il Filostrato).

During Semester 2, you will continue with the second half of Middle English Literature in Context, but will also take the module Old English. On this module a solid grounding in Old English grammar and translation from Old English will be acquired with the help of grammar exercises and translation practice on original Old English texts. It is recognised that students may join this module with widely varying levels of experience of Old English, from none to fairly extensive. The aim is to get all students to an acceptable level of proficiency in reading and translation, and this is reflected in the assessment of this module by two translation exercises. Time and students’ linguistic expertise permitting, some literary contextualisation of the texts studied and translated may also be included.

An optional Special Topic may also be taken in Semester 2, giving students the opportunity to develop as researchers within a specific area of study. These modules combine student’s individual interests with staff research expertise. Examples of recent specialist modules have included:

• Spiritual Literature in Middle English
• Older Scots Comic Writing
• Saints' Lives
• modern Anglo-Saxonism
• Arthurian Romance in Northern England and Scotland
• the 'Matter of England'
• Romances
• the Pearl-poet
• the reception of the Middle Ages.

Alternatively, instead of a Special Topic, you may elect to take a core module from another English MLitt programme, or on a module outwith the School of English, whether arranged through the Institute of Medieval Studies or independently with another school such as Classics, Modern Languages, Divinity or Philosophy. Medieval Literature students have, for example, previously pursued Old Norse or medieval Latin language modules, run through the St Andrews Institute of Medieval Studies.