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Culture of the European Renaissance (MA) (2024 Entry)

Explore our Culture of the European Renaissance, taught Master's degree.

Explore the wide-ranging developments of the Renaissance world and develop your research and communication skills.

Warwick’s Centre for the Study of the Renaissance is an innovator and international leader in its field, bringing together over 40 specialists from Classics, English and Comparative Literature, History, History of Art, and the School of Modern Languages and Cultures. The term in Venice will let you experience first-hand the richness of Renaissance culture.


Course overview

This MA covers the period c.1300-c.1650 across Europe and beyond. It provides a foundation in the art, history, literature, philosophy, religion, and science of the period, exploring their interconnections with the social and political context.

Strongly interdisciplinary, this course provides a firm grounding in the features of the period, but also allows students to develop their own interests through a choice of modules in, for instance, classics, art history, English, and history.

The MA also encourages students to develop their skills in areas such as writing, classical and modern languages, and palaeography. Students receive an excellent preparation whether they plan to proceed to PhD work or look for jobs in sectors such as museums or galleries, archives, higher education, or fundraising.

Skills from this degree

  • Advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the historical and cultural developments of the Renaissance
  • Advanced synthetic and analytical skills
  • Linguistic, palaeographical, and bibliographical skills
  • Research and Information managements skills
  • Advanced written and oral communication skills

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Renaissance Culture and Society

The core module provides an overview of selected methodological and topical issues important for studying the Renaissance and the early modern periods. This ensures you are familiar with a number of different disciplinary approaches to the period (e.g., literature, history, history of art). This module gives you the opportunity to sample the broad expertise of members active in the Centre; prepares you, if you wish, to go on to further study; and encourages you to become effective at sharing and communicating knowledge.

Dissertation

This module forms a core part of this taught MA. As the capstone of such a course, it invites you to develop and display your research and writing skills within the context of an original study of materials related to the Renaissance. The dissertation is developed in consultation with an academic supervisor; normally the research takes place between the end of Term Two and over the summer term.


Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Inventing the Renaissance
  • Books, Subversion and the Republic of Letters
  • Italian Renaissance Humanism
  • The Development of English Drama, 1558-1659
  • Themes and Approaches to the Historical Study of Religious Cultures

Teaching

During the first term, you will be in Venice. There you will take a module in History (including several site visits) and the online Core Module. You will also be able to join the online palaeography and Latin classes delivered by the Renaissance Centre. You will be at Warwick for the rest of your course. In term 2 you will be able to take two modules of your choosing and start preparing your dissertation topic (which you will write under supervision over the summer).


Class sizes

Class sizes tend to be small (five to twelve students), allowing plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.


Typical contact hours

MA modules typically run as seminars of two hours each, but you will have more like 6–8 hours a week of teaching if you avail yourself of the language and skills classes offered or paid for by the Centre.


Assessment

Our aim is to develop your research and writing skills to the point where you are able to present cogent, complex and original arguments based on your research of images, buildings, artefacts, documents and other primary sources.

Each individual module is assessed through essays. Normally you will write an extended essay (5,000 words) for each of your modules, in addition to a dissertation (currently 15,000 words). The dissertation is prepared over the late spring and summer and submitted in September. You will be requested to submit a literature review before starting on your dissertation.

You will receive close one-to-one tuition from members of staff to guide you through your programme of research and writing. Warwick modules are typically assessed by essay only.


Additional course costs

Travel abroad (Venice) for a term there and possible extra living allowances as the cost of living can be more expensive than in the UK.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes.

Your career

Graduates from this course have chosen to progress to PhD study and/or pursue a career in academia, museums or galleries, archives, Higher Education and fundraising.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
  • Careers in the Creative Industries sector event
  • Working for More than Profit careers fair and sector event
  • Making applications

Centre for the Study of the Renaissance

The Centre for the Study of the Renaissance (CSR) is a world-leading research community based at the University of Warwick. It is one of two 'category one' research centres of the University. As an independent and interdisciplinary centre, it has very strong international connections and an active programme of MA and PhD study.

The CSR aims to support – through research, teaching, and outreach – the study of the period stretching from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century, at Warwick and beyond. It is particularly dedicated to exploring Renaissance Studies in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary way and within a context of international collaboration. It also promotes activities that intersect with the work of medievalists and early modernists.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window


Our Postgraduate courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  


Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support. 

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed. 

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.


Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

The Centre for the Study of the Renaissance offers scholarships of up to £6500 to suitable candidates, on a competitive basis. Contact the Centre’s administrator at renaissance at warwick dot ac dot uk for further details.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course  

After you’ve applied

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Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Our hosted events run throughout the year, with a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions. These events are a great way to learn more about our courses and departments, chat to current students and staff, and find out more information about accommodation, careers, and how to apply.

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Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

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Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.