A fascinating overview of the key scripts of the Latin European Middle Ages and a window to the latest Digital Humanities projects in palaeography.
Meet tutor Dr Manuel Muñoz García as he introduces the Latin European Medieval Palaeography online course.
An intensive, full-time online course
This two-week full time course gives a skills based, rigorous, contextualised and complete overview of the key Latin scripts of the European Middle Ages.
Plenty of options
Two days in the course will be dedicated to optional content, as we offer a large selection of videos on manuscript cultures, additional scripts and other aspects of Manuscript Studies and Digital Humanities by leading academics.
At your own pace
The course has a blend of asynchronous content – videos that can be watched (and rewatched!) at your own pace – and synchronous content – daily live sessions via Teams where you can meet your peers and ask any questions. You will also have access to all materials for two months from the start of the course.
Click here to apply by 2 April 2026 for our next course offering (13-24 April 2026)
Please contact us (study.imems@durham.ac.uk) for further information.
What students have said
Feedback from former students
Thoroughly enjoyed this course. The content was so comprehensive and the complex historical contexts for each script was presented in a way that was very easy to understand and contextualise.
Manuel was just fantastic, very patient and has a knack for explaining complicated scripts in a way that is simple to understand.
Delighted to have access to the content post course.
Meet Laura…
Watch Laura Bitterli, PhD student in Zurich and former student of the Latin European Medieval Palaeography course, talk about her experience.
Yvette
Watch Yvette Campbell, Rare Books Librarian at Maynooth University (Ireland), talk about her experience and the ways this course will support her work with manuscript collections.
…and Lauren
Watch Lauren Randall, PhD student at Durham University, talk about her experience of learning to read medieval Latin scripts and the impact of the course on her research.
Course outline
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify key scripts used in Medieval Latin manuscripts.
- Be able to generally place scripts chronologically and, where applicable, geographically.
- Read and transcribe the following scripts: Uncial, Half-Uncial, Insular, Caroline Minuscule, Gothic scripts & Humanistic scripts.
- Identify the key punctuation devices and abbreviations commonly found in Medieval manuscripts.
- Understand the history and development of Palaeography and Digital Humanities as disciplines.
- Have an awareness of historical and current trends in Digital Humanities applied to Palaeography and Manuscript Studies.
Core modules
© Chapter of Durham Cathedral.
- Late Roman scripts
- Capitals, Cursives, Uncial and Half-Uncial
- Early Medieval scripts
- Geographical development & Insular scripts
- Caroline Minuscule
- Gothic scripts
- Humanistic scripts
- Abbreviation, punctuation and Digital Humanities
Optional modules
Two sessions of the course are dedicated to optional content, exclusively created for us by renowned specialists. These videos cover a number of topics – from manuscript studies to digital humanities to additional scripts – and are a perfect way to get an introduction to fascinating manuscript cultures, manuscript making and exciting new digital projects.
The optional modules are arranged in three strands:
- Introduction to: Dedicated to manuscript studies and digital humanities.
- Explore: Dedicated to manuscript cultures, such as Japanese or Ethiopic manuscripts.
- 15′ scripts: Dedicated to scripts not fully covered in the core modules, such as Beneventan or Visigothic script.
© Chapter of Durham Cathedral.
Assessment
© Chapter of Durham Cathedral.
This course will be assessed through a portfolio of palaeographical transcriptions. This is a collection of transcriptions of all the key scripts covered in the course, which must be submitted by or on the last day of the course.
Written feedback on students’ portfolios will be given no later than two weeks after the last day of the course.
Course specifications
Format
This course is delivered online. Most content is asynchronous – videos, quizzes and text – but there are live sessions on every day of the course where there will be a chance to ask questions, give feedback and practice.
The daily live sessions will be held twice to cover different time zones, and students can choose which one to join every day. Links to the Teams meetings will be available on each lesson, and any specific login details will be shared via email.
Time investment
This is a full time course. Considering the work involved in the course – following the online content, attending the live sessions and completing the portfolio – we estimate it takes 5 to 6 hours daily to make the most of it and consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired.
Pricing
The full price for this course is £700.
Payment will be taken via Events@Durham once your application is confirmed as successful. We will be in touch with further details in due course.
Bursaries
There are a number of bursaries on offer. The cost of the course with a bursary is £375. Please select ‘Yes’ on the ‘Are you eligible for a bursary?’ question in our application form, and fill out the required response. You will be informed of the outcome of your bursary application together with your admission to the course.
Capacity
There are 24 places available for this course. If you cannot get a place in the course, we will automatically enter you in a waiting list, and will keep your details for the next round of the course (dates to be announced).
How to enrol
Apply
Fill out our application form before 02/04/26.
We will notify successful candidates.
Book
You will be given a link to book your course via Events@Durham.
The course will take place between the advertised dates.
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