The Book: History and Techniques of Analysis (MLitt)

University of St Andrews

The MLitt in Book History offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the book world from the inception of the printed book in the 15th century to the invention of the mechanised press in the 19th century.

Course information

The MLitt in Book History is a taught postgraduate programme run by the School of History.

Highlights

• You will acquire the technical skills required for rare book scholarship and curatorship.
• The programme provides a deep understanding of key issues and methods in book history and familiarises you with the invention, development, spread and transformation of printing.
• Circumstances allowing, you will be introduced to a range of libraries and rare book collections, members of the antiquarian book trade and digital techniques.
• You will take part in our annual international book history conference, now in its 15th year.
• You can undertake skills training in palaeography and either Latin or a modern foreign language.

Teaching format

The MLitt course comprises two semesters of taught courses followed by a dissertation (15,000 words) completed during the summer on a subject of the student’s own design.

The optional components of the course are carefully designed to meet each student’s intentions: structured preparations for undertaking a PhD, professional development, or personal scholarly interests.

Teaching methods include fortnightly seminars and practical classes. Class sizes range from individual supervision up to eight students. The modules are assessed by coursework only; there is no final exam.

Careers

History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:

• librarianship
• rare book trade
• journalism
• publishing
• think tanks
• government
• law
• teaching.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.