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About us

Our teaching and research is shaped by long experience of innovative interdisciplinary collaboration, extending across the humanities to the natural sciences.  

Founded in 1968, York’s Centre for Medieval Studies has always been characterised by a distinctive approach to interdisciplinary teaching and research.

We explore the European Middle Ages (400 to 1550) through a global lens, situating our research within the wider Afro-Eurasian world. Our world-leading expertise covers five key areas:

  • Medieval England and its neighbours
  • The built environment (architecture, archaeology, and landscapes)
  • Religion and dissent
  • Viking studies
  • Islamic cultures

We draw upon expertise from the departments of Archaeology, English and Related Literature, History and History of Art, as well as from Philosophy, Computer Science, Language and Linguistic Sciences and Music. Our teaching and research is shaped by long experience of innovative interdisciplinary collaboration, extending across the humanities to the natural sciences. 

We are a welcoming and supportive community, fully committed to diversity and inclusivity in our study of the Middle Ages.

Support our students in the study of the Middle Ages with a gift to York Giving.

Partnerships

Our national and international partnerships drive ambitious research collaboration, unlock funding opportunities, and provide students with vital professional insights and work experience.

We have longstanding relationships with York heritage organisations, including:

We work closely with:

We collaborate with colleagues throughout the White Rose Consortium, bringing together the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York.

Our facilities

We’re based in the spectacular Heslington Hall, a hub for interdisciplinary teaching and research, and a venue for our lively events programme. Our students benefit from extensive on-campus libraries and archives, alongside vast collections in the city.

York is steeped in history and heritage. Its many surviving medieval sites and the huge range of museums, galleries and organisations offer our students the chance enrich their experience.

Explore our facilities

 

 

 

York Medieval Press

We are home to the Boydell and Brewer imprint, York Medieval Press. York Medieval Press promotes innovative scholarship and publishes monographs, editions and collections of essays in all fields relating to the study of the Middle Ages.

Discover York Medieval Press

Inclusivity in teaching and research

Creating an inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds is vital to our mission.  Our teaching and research directly engages with questions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and class in the Middle Ages - challenging modern preconceptions and uncovering the true complexity of past societies identities.

Our people
Our research
Our courses