History and Archaeology of Medieval Monasticism: Scotland and Ireland

This five-week Summer School will offer students the opportunity to experience the history of medieval Scotland and Ireland first-hand. The course will comprise two weeks of study in St Andrews and three weeks in Ireland participating actively in an excavation of the Black Friary in Trim (County Meath) - a thirteenth-century Dominican priory. We will also travel to various monastic sites in Scotland and Ireland. The course will include both traditional classroom-based lectures and seminars and archaeological training and experience.

Course leader

Professor Alison Beach, School of History, University of St Andrews

Target group

You should have completed at least 2 semesters in full-time higher education, have a minimum average grade of 3.2 (on a USA 4.0 GPA scale) or equivalent, and be agead 18 or over at the time of arrival in St Andrews.

You should have an interest in the study of medieval history and be prepared for sometimes challenging physical work at the excavation site. Normally students will be majoring in History or have done a few history courses at University level.

Course aim

• To become familiar with the history of Scotland and Ireland in the Middle Ages
• To understand the fundamentals of Christian monasticism and its place in the religious, social, and economic landscapes of medieval Scotland and Ireland
• To learn the basic skills the archaeologist, including both excavation and the proper handling and documentation of finds
• To work effectively in a team under a variety of challenging work and weather conditions