Institute for Medieval Studies

For 50 years, the University of Leeds has combined exceptional interdisciplinary teaching and research with a close-knit community interested in the Middle Ages. Our staff and students have access to some of the best resources for the study of the medieval period.

Internationally renowned for its specialism in Medieval Studies, Leeds is home to the Institute for Medieval Studies (IMS), the International Medieval Bibliography (IMB) and the International Medieval Congress (IMC). As a hub of outstanding research, we are committed to developing the next generation of medievalists and pushing the boundaries of academic knowledge and impact.

Believed to be the oldest interdisciplinary centre in the University, the Institute for Medieval Studies has been home to a large community of medievalists since 1967. Professor John Le Patourel, Professor of Medieval History, led a group of pioneers to form a centre of graduate studies; since then, the IMS has flourished, with over 70 staff, students and associates from around the world.

With resources such as the world-class Brotherton Library and the archives of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society based at the University, with the British Library’s Boston Spa Reading Room nearby, our students have access to some of the best medieval resources in the UK. Many of the medieval manuscripts of the Library can now be viewed online. The IMS has a long-standing cooperation with the Royal Armouries and Leeds City Museum and Galleries, as well as other regional heritage organisations. In addition, we have also a close association with the Centre d’études supérieures de civilisation médiévale at the University of Poitiers.