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I have really appreciated the way the MPhil’s structure has enabled me to specialise in Medieval literature while still maintaining contact with other periods, which has often helped me to see my own specialist area from a more rounded perspective, as well as given me the chance to engage with other interests that do not fit under the banner of Medieval Studies. At the same time, the course has taught me new skills that are vital for any Medievalist: the Textual and Related Studies course has enabled me to work confidently with Medieval manuscripts despite having never previously done so, and the Latin course has made accessible a huge corpus of Medieval texts I could previously only engage with in translation, many of which have been critical to my research.
Nathan Brooks, on being a Medieval specialist (April 30, 2025)
When I was applying for the English Studies MPhil, I felt torn in two directions: I had already specialised in the Renaissance during my undergraduate degree to a large extent, but a large part of me still longed to sit around reading unwieldy Victorian novels all day. In fact, it was my (otherwise crippling) indecisiveness that made my choice of studying here at Cambridge a very sensible one: it allows for real variety of interest alongside the dedication to one niche area of study. While I have elected to become a Renaissance specialist, I have also been able to study all kinds of other things, including reading graphic novels, listening to pop music, and binge-watching all of The Wire. And of course, I have been able to read my fair share of very heavy – in both senses of the word – 19th century novels.
Following the Renaissance track has allowed me to properly burrow down into the time period, even while indulging my curiosity in other seminar courses. From not knowing what the word ‘palaeography’ even meant to deciphering dense passages of secretary hand about conjugal conflict or licking frogs, I have been able to grow in unexpected new directions over the course of the year. The continuity of the dissertation makes it feel like I’m really developing as an academic, and it is satisfying to have a singular research focus as a through-line while the seminar courses come and go.
Ella Hawes, on being a Renaissance specialist (April 30, 2025)
As someone whose interests sit squarely within the eighteenth century and Romantic period, I’ve appreciated the diversity of approaches the Research Framework courses and Specialist Seminars provide. My work sits at the intersection of contemporary affect theory and feminist approaches to eighteenth-century empiricism and moral sentimentalism, so being exposed to a range of philosophical and political texts concerning ethics, gender and embodiment has shaped my thinking here. It’s been a pleasure to hear from others in these classes: seeing where we have common ground has encouraged me to be a bit more open-minded with the philosophies and critical approaches I tend towards and has demonstrated some of the less obvious connections that can be made across time periods, particularly with regards to my focus on women’s writing.
While I have appreciated the option to remain within my time period (important for me as I will be progressing to a PhD in Romantic-era women’s novels), I have also appreciated the opportunity to move away from my usual novels and into drama and poetry as well. Across my Specialist Seminars, there have been a range of approaches, from the highly theoretical to the contextually particularised, which have supported me in finding the most convincing manner to present my own arguments.
In sum, I’ve found the combination of Research Frameworks and Specialist Seminars to afford both flexibility in approach and opportunities to specialise in historically-situated ways, facilitating an in-depth knowledge of my period and an interdisciplinary angle on the questions which might arise in relation to it. Rigorous but stimulating, and above all enjoyable, I feel that the MPhil in English Studies balances depth and breadth well, and has provided an excellent grounding in the skills and knowledge I will need for my PhD.
Shona Whelan, on being a Romantics specialist (April 30, 2025)