The web Medieval Languages and Literatures was created at the Department of Languages and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Iceland, the Central European University, and the University of Southern Denmark.
The two-year Master programme in English, Applied Middle Ages, is planned as an international joint degree based on collaboration with Central European University (Vienna) as coordinator, the University of Iceland (Reykjavík), and the National University of Ireland (Maynooth). It stands as a unique offering within the broader European context and addresses the growing need to engage with the increasing utilization of medieval themes in contemporary culture, as well as their exploitation for ideological purposes. Its comparative aspect compensates for the traditional research conducted within individual philologies, portraying the medieval period as a dynamic realm where themes, subjects, and concepts have perpetually evolved and continue to transform in their reception. Internships expose students to institutions where their knowledge can be used during their studies. Designed for students worldwide, this study plan not only provides international exposure and an understanding of comparative medieval studies methods, but also fosters proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing English at an academic level, among other skills. Moreover, by emphasizing the contemporary applications and misuses of medieval themes, students are equipped to extend their expertise beyond academia, finding roles in media or civil society. This study plan cultivates experts capable of bridging academic discourse and public debate, enabling them to bring historical knowledge into the public sphere through historically informed journalism, documentary filmmaking, exhibition curation, and educational online resource development. The skills and competencies acquired in the realm of digital humanities are readily transferable to other domains, enhancing students' professional prospects.
Graduates of the MA programme will gain formative experience in medieval studies and its applicability in today's world. They are able to integrate and critically assess results from multiple disciplines involved. They are prepared to contribute creatively to the presentation of the latest results of research on the Middle Ages and can make convincing and informed public statements. They are equipped with knowledge of the changes and processes taking place in the European Middle Ages in the fields of comparative literature, manuscript culture, history, archaeology, and art. They are capable of reading primary literature in at least one medieval language and working at a high level with secondary literature. They are proficient in interdisciplinary approaches to relevant sources and are able to interpret and contextualise them.
Let’s dive into the diverse literary heritage of the peoples of medieval Europe:
