About the centre
The Centre for Medieval Studies aims to create a scientific environment for the exchange of knowledge and discussions of methods and theories, and to an extent that it is attractive for external researchers to be involved in the centre.
The activities of the centre include symposia, seminars and research courses led by researchers from all of Scandinavia and further afield. Activities are constantly developed through targeted projects implemented by separate researchers or groups of researchers in cooperation. The centre regularly collaborates with several institutions in Sweden and abroad to develop new courses on master and PhD level.
Image: Gösta Knochenhauer, Mostphotos
The centre brings together researchers of the Middle Ages working within many different disciplines and also institutions from outside of the university: archaeology, economic history, philosophy, history, art history, human geography, quaternary science, literature, musicology, physical geography, numismatics, history of religions, theatre studies, and a number of languages such as French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Scandinavian languages and German. The focus of research is Europe and the relationship of Sweden/Scandinavia to Europe, but connections with other cultural areas are also considered.
The researchers and PhD students are also particularly active nationally and internationally within research policy institutions, editorial committees, research exchanges and actively participate in the development of joint research projects.
Since its founding in 2008, the centre has received economic support from Marcus Wallenberg Foundation for International Scientific Collaboration, Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation, Torsten Söderberg Foundation, Ragnar Söderberg Foundation, The Swedish Research Council, Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, Åke Winberg Foundation and the faculty of humanities at Stockholm University.
The Medieval Council
The centre organises the medieval council two times annually. The purpose of the council is to be a recurring forum for exchange of knowledge and information between different institutions and authorities working with medieval research in the Stockholm area.
Storkyrkan, Gamla stan. Image by Linus Mimietz via Unsplash.
Minutes from council meetings (in Swedish) can be found under the heading "styrdokument" here
The Medieval Seminar
A meeting of doctors at the university of Paris. From the "Chants royaux" manuscript. Gallica.bnf.fr, Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The Centre for medieval studies organises the interdisciplinary medieval seminar at the Department of History. The seminar offers a platform for cooperation between different disciplines and gives opportunities for scholars to present new publications, projects and ongoing research. Presentations are held in Swedish or English depending on the subject and speaker. The seminars are open to the public and no sign-up is needed.
Seminars are held on Mondays 15.00-17.00. Until further notice seminars are held via zoom as well as in room D900. The latest information can be found on our Facebook page and through our email-list. Sign up to the list by emailing: sekreterare@medeltid.su.se.
Find more information about upcoming seminars in our Calendar
Research
The field of medieval studies is broad, both in terms of subjects and themes. Medieval studies are conducted within more than 15 subjects both as doctoral- and postdoctoral projects as well as projects by senior researchers. Currently, there are close to 20 doctoral students with medieval subjects and even more researchers. The themes are broad: Linguistic studies regarding medieval translation practice, syntax, lexicography, diplomatics, palaeography, editorial philology; literary and philosophical examinations of medieval fiction theory, prose and poetry, logic, theology and political thought; studies of medieval crafts, art theory and architecture, studies of the medieval landscape, its organisation and the utilisation of material resources.
Last updated: 2025-11-06
Source: Department of History