Student Experience – Centre for Medieval Studies

The Centre for Medieval Studies is incredibly proud of our postgraduate students. We are thrilled to report that our students are making outstanding contributions to the field as part of the bespoke MA Placement but also further down the line as early career researchers and in heritage sector employment. This page showcases the fantastic work our past and present postgraduates have achieved in recent years.

MA Medieval Studies

Find out from MA Medieval Studies Alumni about their experiences of studying at the University of Bristol.

Steph Garratt completed the MA in Medieval Studies in 2021. Since graduating, Steph has gained employment in the heritage sector. As a textiles artist, Steph communicates ideas of the Medieval world to the wider public and has exhibited her work nationally. In this short video, Steph discusses her experience of completing the MA in Medieval Studies and the medieval art that inspired her most recent works.

Viève Forward completed the MA part-time, over two years and has remained an active member of the Centre for Medieval Studies since graduating. As part of the MA, she secured a placement with the University of Bristol Library Special Collections, transcribing three cartularies (charter books) of Malmesbury Abbey. After graduating, Viève secured work with another of our heritage partners, Gloucester Cathedral and has been working closely with Cathedral Archivist, Rebecca Phillips. Viève’s public engagement is stellar – she has continued to present her dissertation research into Malmesbury-within-the-walls (Bineport) in the late 13th century to a wide range of audiences. She is currently applying for PhD study, and we can’t wait to hear about what she gets up to next.

Sarah Wordsworth came to Bristol with experience of working in the heritage sector as a Visitor Experience Officer at Berkley Castle. For her MA Placement, Sarah curated an exhibition titled, ‘The Women of Berkley Castle’. The exhibition showcased the sometimes-forgotten lives of women connected to Berkeley. It stretches through the ages from the medieval centuries to the current day, thus highlighting women in all walks of life, from the women servants toiling in the kitchens to the noble ladies they waited on. The exhibition details the many struggles these women experienced within society, and their achievements in spite of that. Their stories tell of love, perseverance and determination, and they illustrate that these women, from another time, were not so different from modern women today.

Francis Peppett, our Faculty Employability Consultant, explains the opportunities of taking our MA degree in Medieval Studies and the unique career support we offer students.