MA Folklore Studies

Why choose Herts?

Excellent Reputation: We are the only provider of academic Folklore Studies in England and Wales.
Teaching Excellence: You will be taught by experts in their field, including Professor Owen Davies, the current President of the Folklore Society.
Work-Related Learning: Benefit from our strong connections with the Folklore Society, heritage organisations including Hertfordshire Archives, Local Studies, and the Museum of London Archaeology.

A minimum 2.1 honours degree in Folklore Studies or a related discipline (eg History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Celtic Studies, Creative Arts, Creative Writing and English Literature).
All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in each band.
If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English may help you to achieve this level.
More information about English language qualifications are available on our international pages.
Personal statement
One academic reference


Institution code	H36
Course length	Full Time, 1 Years Part Time, 2 Years
Location	91였튬, Hatfield

Employability

Careers

Our postgraduates are equipped for a wide range of jobs, including careers in heritage and culture industries such as material archivists or education officers, in libraries, museums, tourism, arts organisations, the publishing industry, and funding agencies. Through the University’s Heritage Hub and the Professional Doctorate in Heritage, we also have established connections with heritage organisations and employers such as John Lewis. Postgraduates in Folklore Studies are equipped for a wide range of jobs, including careers in libraries, museums, tourism, arts organisations, the publishing industry, and funding agencies.

Work placement

Work placements are not part of the programme, although extra-curricular opportunities include working with our renowned staff-student Oral History team, whose recent BBC Radio 4 documentary was commended at the 2018 Royal Historical Society Public History Awards. There are other extra-curricular opportunities within the Heritage i-teams, Heritage Hub activities with employers in the museums and heritage industry, and relevant training, including that currently provided by the

About the course

Why do we carve pumpkins, blow out birthday candles or leave ‘love-locks’ on bridges? When and where did these customs start? From urban myths to local legends, the stories we tell and the traditions we follow are part of our folklore, the shared beliefs and oral traditions that are handed down through generations.

The 91였튬’s MA Folklore Studies explores legend, ritual, belief and tradition in British society, providing students with a thorough grounding in the history of the discipline of Folklore Studies and examining current work in the field.

This distinctive MA, which will run for the first time in 2019-2020, is the only such programme offered in England.

Aimed at recent graduates in related subjects such as literature, history, archaeology, anthropology or religion, who have perhaps touched on folklore in their dissertations and want to develop this further, this MA also offers opportunities for mature students looking to turn their interest in local folklore into an academic qualification.

Drawing on the research specialisms of academics in the University’s History Group, the MA will offer modules on contemporary customs and rituals, the lore of the British landscape, and migratory beliefs and traditions. You will also explore folklore in comparative international contexts and consider its global importance as an aspect of UNESCO’s definition of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Under expert supervision, you’ll also write a 15,000-word dissertation, giving you the opportunity to research your own area of interest, from witchcraft and magic to local folklore.

A module on Contemporary Ritual and Tradition led by Folklore and History Lecturer Ceri Houlbrook will draw on her research into the heritage of contemporary British folklore and the material culture of ritual practices and popular beliefs. She has published on the customs of coin-trees and love-locks in the journals Folklore and History Workshop Journal.

Professor of Social History Owen Davies will lead a module on Folklore of Landscape in Britain, examining how changes in the landscape are tied in with legends, and how artificial objects and urban geography contribute to folklore in contemporary society. He has published widely on magic and witchcraft in Folklore. Professor Davies is the President of the Folklore Society and Dr Houlbrook is the editor of the Folklore Society's Newsletter.

Lecturer Dr Leanne Calvert’s module Migratory Beliefs and Traditions will investigate how beliefs and stories brought to Britain by different communities are adapted to reflect the new culture. She has published widely on women and family life in Ireland.

The MA also includes two Folklorist’s Craft modules focusing on methodologies in Folklore Studies and on the skills needed to disseminate research and prepare your dissertation. Sessions will include workshops on collecting oral histories, interviewing and presentation techniques, ethics and using objects as primary sources.

Why choose this course?

Top reasons to study the MA Folklore Studies at the 91였튬

We give you:

The only MA in Folklore Studies offered in England
An exceptional academic team of lecturers and supervisors, conducting world-leading folklore research
The opportunity to write a dissertation on a folklore topic about which you are passionate

Is this course for me?

Our MA Folklore Studies will be of interest to:

Anyone curious about the traditions we follow, the customs we practice, and the legends we tell
Graduates who have just finished their BA degree in a range of subjects
People looking for intellectual fulfilment or a new challenge on retirement
People looking to develop their interest in local folklore and turn this into a qualification
People wanting to study part-time while working

What will I study?

Teaching will be in small group workshops on weekday early evenings, led by members of the Folklore Studies team in the History Group. Discussions and group work will encourage students to share their experience and knowledge of aspects of folklore and learn from each other. We may also offer some Saturday sessions for the Folklorist’s Craft methodology module.

The MA Folklore Studies has the full support of the world-renowned Folklore Society, which is offering membership and use of its library to our MA Folklore students during their course. MA Folklore students will have the opportunity to form part of a student panel at the Society’s annual conference and will also be eligible for the Folklore Society’s annual President’s Prize for Young Scholars.

As one of our MA students you will benefit from being part of a diverse and active academic community. We see our postgraduate students as fellow researchers, and we place a great deal of importance on sharing and developing skills. Our ‘History café’ offers an informal get together with other Humanities postgraduates before classes, while each year the History Group arranges an off-campus staff-student weekend conference.

Please note: MA Folklore Studies is not currently offered online.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Contemporary Ritual and Tradition	30 Credits	Compulsory
Folklore has long been heralded endangered, but this module considers the opposite stance: that folklore not only survives in the twenty-first century, but flourishes in it. We will examine a diverse range of contemporary rituals and traditions, engaging with literary sources, oral history, and material culture. Drawing on skills gained in Folklorist's Craft I, you will independently gather a body of primary material through fieldwork, which will feed into a piece of coursework on your chosen topic within the subject area.
The Folklorist's Craft 1: Skills, Debates and Methodologies	15 Credits	Compulsory
'Folklore' was a term first coined in 1846 by William Thoms, and, despite varied connotations, is still in use today to denote the stories and customs of a people. How has folklore been approached as a discipline in the past? How is it studied today? This module enables you to make the transition into postgraduate level studies, equipping you with knowledge of the history of folklore studies; the subject's key figures and approaches, such as Stith Thompson's motif index and the genres of folklore.
The Folklorist's Craft 2: Approaches, Dissertation and Dissemination	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module develops the skills and learning achieved in The Folklorist's Craft I, and gives you the opportunity to present your work to different audiences through focusing on writing and communication. You will reflect on your independent research plans for the dissertation through a presentation and a series of reflections about your choice of dissertation topic, sources and methods, which can be presented in a variety of formats. It also focuses on the groundwork for your dissertation through the development of a dissertation proposal.
Folklore of Landscape in Britain	30 Credits	Compulsory
From early recorded history, successive cultures and generations have sought to make sense of the British landscape in supernatural terms and to interact with the landscape through custom and ritual. From the interpretation of prehistoric monuments as the work of fairies and giants, to the myriad legends of local hauntings in the countryside, and from the creation of new urban lore and legend to the modern neo-pagan embrace of the natural world, this module considers how individuals and communities have perceived the landscape around them.
Migration of Beliefs and Traditions	30 Credits	Compulsory
Migration is a story as old as time. Whether motivated by a desire for religious freedom, greater economic opportunity or as refugees from conflict, people have always been on the move. Migration, however, is more than the movement of people between geographical borders. It also involves the transmission of folklore (beliefs, traditions and practices) across cultural boundaries. Through a programme of thematic and specialised workshops, this module considers the migration of folklore in historical context, tracing continuity and change across time and space.
Folklore Studies Dissertation	60 Credits	Compulsory
The dissertation gives students the opportunity to research an area of individual interest in depth and detail to produce an extended piece of written work of 15,000 words. It gives students the scope to demonstrate sophisticated independent thought, research and writing, supported with an agreed programme of supervision. The topic should be appropriate to postgraduate-level study, and chosen by the student in consultation with their supervisor. The dissertation should aim to make a distinctive and original contribution to the field of Folklore Studies.

Key staff

Dr Owen Davies
Professor of Social History

Further course information

Course fact sheets
MA Folklore Studies
MA Folklore Studies

Programme specifications
MA Folklore Studies
MA Folklore Studies

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the 91였튬, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

Find out about how we support our students

You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.

Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2025
UK Students
Full time
- 짙10020 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time
- 짙835 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
EU Students
Full time
- 짙17250 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time
- 짙1440 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
International Students
Full time
- 짙17250 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time
- 짙1440 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The 91였튬 offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation
How to apply

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2025
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2025 31/08/2026 1 UH Hatfield Campus
23/09/2025 31/07/2026 1 UH Hatfield Campus
2026
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2026 31/08/2027 1 UH Hatfield Campus
23/09/2026 31/07/2027 1 UH Hatfield Campus

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
23/09/2025	31/08/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
23/09/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
23/09/2026	31/08/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
23/09/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus

91였튬

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