Develop research skills working with primary medieval sources in and around Bristol, a leading medieval English city and gateway to Europe with this three-week summer school programme.

14 June - 4 July 2026, University of Bristol

Presentation

The Bristol Centre for Medieval Studies and the University of Bristol are delighted to announce the Medieval Studies Summer School 2026, which will run from 14 June to 4 July 2026.

This three-week program is for students (undergraduates, graduates, and postgraduates) who are interested in a foundation in the methodologies needed to examine primary medieval sources and to explore a region of crucial importance in shaping the medieval history of Western Europe.

Students will be working with academics from our internationally recognised Centre for Medieval Studies. This is one of the largest communities of academic medievalists in the UK, giving you a unique opportunity for networking and academic development.

The following main topics will be taught:

• Palaeography (Caroline script, Gothic script, Anglicana and Secretarial) and digital tools for palaeography;
• Codicology (how to work and describe a codex);
• Textual criticism and fragmentology;
• Medieval history of Bristol and the Southwest of England;
• Medieval religion and philosophy;
• Medieval literature in vernacular and Arthurian literature;
• Literature, landscape and nature in the Middle Ages;
• Medieval history of art and architecture;
• Medieval music.

Students will be able to apply the research skills they will learn on at least five field trips to exclusive locations, including Gloucester Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Windsor, Oxford.

The provisional timetable can be accessed on our website. 

Submission guidelines

You’ll need to submit:

• a recent university transcript (in English) for completed units/modules and a list of unfinished and future units/modules for this academic year;
• evidence of your English language skills (unless you are a native speaker or your university course is taught in English);
• a short statement (maximum 250 words) explaining why you are applying to each summer programme you've chosen.

Start Application

Early-bird deadline: 1 March 2026

Application deadline: 3 May 2026.

For more information, please contact the Director, Dr Leonardo Costantini (leonardo.costantini@bristol.ac.uk) or the Summer School Team (bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk).

Fees

Tuition fees, which include meals, accommodation, and five guided excursions, are £3,595.

We offer an early-bird single 10% discount for:

• students from International Partner Universities and Study Abroad student mobility partners;
• students who apply for two consecutive programmes; or
• groups of 10 or more students from the same university.

Summer School Team

• Dr Leonardo Costantini (director), University of Bristol
• Joseph O’Hagan, University of Bristol
• Alex Thompson, University of Bristol
• Anna Llewellyn, University of Bristol