The Warburg Institute MA in Cultural and Intellectual History aims to equip students for interdisciplinary research in medieval and renaissance studies and in the reception of the classical tradition. You will become part of an international community of scholars, working in a world-famous library. You will broaden your range of knowledge to include the historically informed interpretation of images and texts, art history, philosophy, history of science, literature, and the impact of religion on society. You will improve your knowledge of Latin, French and Italian and you will acquire the library and archival skills essential for research on primary texts. 

This twelve-month, full-time course is intended as an introduction to the principal elements of the classical tradition and to interdisciplinary research in cultural and intellectual history from the late Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. Although it is a qualification in its own right, the MA is also designed to provide training for further research at doctoral level. It is taught through classes and supervision by members of the academic staff and by outside teachers. The normal format for classes is a small weekly seminar, in some of which students are given the opportunity to discuss texts written in their original languages. The emphasis is on the exploration of primary source material, whether written or visual, and on helping students to acquire the skills necessary to interpret philosophical, literary and historical documents as well as works of art.

The normal minimum entry requirement is a good second-class honours degree from a British university, or an equivalent qualification from a foreign institution, in any discipline in the humanities which is related to the course. A reading knowledge of one European modern language apart from English and of Latin is required. An understanding of Italian is particularly useful. All students whose first language is not English must provide recent evidence that their written and spoken English is adequate for postgraduate study. A list of acceptable qualifications is given here and in the side bar under the heading of English Language Competency.

The Course

The course begins in early October with a Foundation Week, in which students are introduced to the main topics and themes to be covered over the year. All students take four core-courses and two options. In addition, there is a regular series of classes through­out the three terms on Techniques of Scholarship. Subjects dealt with include description of manuscripts, palaeography, printing in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, editing a text, preparation of dissertations and photographic images. Some of these classes are held outside the Institute, in locations such as the British Library or the Wellcome Library. Students are given the opportunity to examine early printed books and manuscripts. Reading classes in Latin, Italian and French are provided and are intended to help acquire the necessary familiarity with those languages as written in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Students are also encouraged to attend the Director’s weekly seminar on Work in Progress and any of the other regular seminars held in the Institute that may be of interest to them. These at present include History of Art, Maps and Society and the History of Scholarship from the Renaissance Onwards.

The third term and summer are spent in researching and writing a dissertation, under the guidance of a supervisor from the academic staff.

The core-courses are spread over two terms and deal with:

Rhetoric and Dialectic: Humanist education and the use of language and its implication for Renaissance culture and discourse.
Italian History: Aspects of late medieval and/or Renaissance social and political history
Iconology: Mythological painting, allegorical figures, historical subjects, altarpiece
Philosophy: The influence of classical philosophy in the Renaissance studied through commentaries, dialogues and letters, as well as popular works

The optional subjects may vary from year to year. Topics expected to be offered in 2011-12 are:

· Sin and sanctity in the Reformation
· Art and devotion in the Renaissance
· Renaissance material culture
· Islamic Authorities and Arabic Elements in the Renaissance
· Dante and the Medieval Transmission of the Classical Tradition
· Sixteenth-Century European Literature
· Early Modern Scepticism: Trends, Dissemination, Criticism

Click here for synopses of courses expected to be offered in 2011-2012

During the first two terms of the course all students will be asked to deliver a number of short presentations relating to their class-work. All students are required to submit two essays of 5,000-6,000 words, one by the first day of the second term, the other by the first day of the third term. A dissertation of 20,000-25,000 words, on a topic agreed by the student and supervisor, has to be submitted by 30 September. The course is examined on these three pieces of written work, and on two written examination papers sat in the third term. One is a translation paper: three passages from two or more languages, one of which must be post-classical Latin, have to be translated into English; the use of dictionaries is permitted. In the other paper, three questions must be answered from a selection dealing with the courses given that year.