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Careers in Medieval Studies

Close up of student working with a medieval manuscript
Hands-on skills like those gained working with medieval manuscripts can be used in many ways. Leanna Porter (BA 2006) examines documents everyday as a fraud analyst.

What can you do with a Medieval studies degree?

Our degree establishes strong critical thinking skills and awareness of cultural heritage. We prepare you for professional studies in education, law, theology, museology or graduate study in related fields.

We support experiential learning methods and strategies. Assignments are often designed to be published and disseminated among the community and many courses involve hands-on experience with manuscripts or the digital humanities.

Co-op for Medieval Studies students

Co-op helps you start building your career while you're still at university. It's designed to work around your academic courses, so you'll complement what you're learning in class with practical workplace experience.

Co-op enables you to try out a range of jobs before you graduate; gain work experience and skills; and make connections with employers. And you get paid for the experience! 

Learn

Some career options for Medieval Studies graduates

  • Auctioneer
  • Collections manager
  • Communications coordinator
  • Creative or technical writer
  • Curator
  • Entrepreneur
  • Event planner
  • Fund development
  • Interpretive assistant
  • Librarian/archivist
  • Program manager
  • Student services
  • Teacher/instructor
  • Trade officer
  • Volunteer coordinator

Develop your career

Meet our alumni

LeAnna Porter

Fraud Analyst
Best Buy Canada

LeAnna uses the skills she gained as a medieval studies student every day as a Fraud Analyst. She says that working as a fraud analyst isn’t that far of a jump from medieval studies. She still spends her days analyzing and investigating, only instead of working with manuscripts and art, she works with excel spreadsheets and indulges her passion for medieval studies in her spare time.
Medieval Studies - MA (2006)

Erin Halstad McGuire

Associate Teaching Professor
UVic Department of Anthropology
Erin teaches anthropology courses at UVic, ranging from a survey-based introduction to anthropology to upper-level courses in medieval archaeology, Vikings and the archaeology of death. She works with hundreds of students each semester, introducing them to skills and concepts that will come into play both during their studies and beyond. In 2016, Erin was the inaugural winner of UVic’s Excellence in Teaching for Experiential Learning Award. In 2021, she received the Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award and the Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership. Read more.
Kelly Ditmars

Writer

Kelly studied medieval studies to get the historical research skills she now uses as a novelist. She is currently working on two novels—one contemporary and a second set in the 12th century.
Medieval Studies - BA (2013)

Deryck P. Harry

Photographer and law student
Thompson Rivers University

Deryck's degrees may say history and English, but he considers himself to have been a medieval studies student—his time in the program was the most influential part of his studies at UVic. He says it greatly improved the research skills he uses every day in law school. Read more.
History and English - BA (2014), MA (2015)

Courtney Burrell

PhD Candidate
Ludwig-Maximillians-University

Courtney graduated from the Medieval Studies honours program in 2012. After completing the program, she moved to Munich, Germany, to complete a master’s degree in Nordic Philology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University. Currently she is pursuing a PhD degree in Old Norse/Scandinavian studies at the same institute. Read more.
Medieval Studies - Honours BA (2012)

Sheryl McDonald Werronen

Marie Currie Research Fellow
Arnamagnæan Institute at the University of Copenhagen

Sheryl’s degree in medieval studies gave her a strong foundation on which to build her academic career. She feels very lucky to have had the opportunity as an undergraduate to take courses in Old Norse language and literature, palaeography, and codicology, in addition to so many other interesting courses in diverse fields. As an interdisciplinary program, the degree was well-rounded and prepared her well for further studies. Read more.
Medieval Studies - Honours BA (2012)