MA - Culture of the European Renaissance

The Centre for the Study of the Renaissance offered me the chance to find my specialist subject whilst becoming involved in a rich and diverse inter-disciplinary department. Both in Venice and at Warwick we were surrounded by staff and other post-graduate students from a range of academic backgrounds each with their own interests and special expertise. At the Centre I continued to study my specialisation in Italian Renaissance History alongside courses in Venetian Art History, Early Modern French literature, Elizabethan domestic tragedies and many other topics. As such when it came to my dissertation, I was able to apply a more varied set of skills to my chosen subject area so as to produce a coherent yet engaging body of work. Even though I stuck to my specialisation in Italian History, I felt my time at the centre encouraged me to experiment with new and exciting sources. In my case I chose to examine examples of Italian handbooks intended to provide medical advice to midwives and families, including a famous gynaecological treatise by the grandfather of the notorious Florentine preacher Girolamo Savonarola.

I had already spent three months in Venice as part of my undergraduate degree; returning there for my Masters, however, allowed me to consolidate the experiences from my previous visit. I became highly attached to Venice (and its libraries of course), which became a very familiar home away from home. Very few degrees offer such a lifetime experience, where you can touch and live amongst the subject you are studying. Delving into Venice’s unique urban geography and profound archives gave me the chance not merely to read but also to experience my studies and I would certainly recommend it to anyone. This experience had such an effect on me that I am currently planning to work abroad in Italy teaching English as a foreign language. I have long been studying Italian and have a desire to fully consolidate my language skills, which partly inspired my plans to work in Italy. But it was the Venice term that confirmed my passion for the country. I have applied for a place on the British Council’s scheme to teach as an English Language Assistant and have recently completed a 168-hour TEFL course to help me towards this goal; my hope is to use this experience to find more permanent work as a full-time English Language Teacher.

When I decided to specialise in Renaissance studies, I knew this MA offered by the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance, at the University of Warwick, would give me not only the education I wanted, but also the experience of a lifetime. As a foreign student, I considered it a great opportunity to live in the UK for some time, but the term in Venice made the whole situation of living abroad even better than I had expected. When I was admitted to study this course in 2021, I feared the pandemic could be a serious problem. However, the University achieved to keep everything under control, making it possible to me to have a normal academic year.
I was taught various subjects through an inter-disciplinary method by wonderful teachers whose priority is that their students learn and develop their thinking and research skills in the best possible way. I was able to deepen my knowledge of one of my favourite topics, the Art of the early modern period, especially when I was in Venice for 10 weeks, where I could appreciate many pieces of artwork in relation to their original context. The term in Warwick also allowed me to be in touch with an interesting cultural atmosphere. The best part of both places is that I was able to share all these new experiences with other students whom I had just met and with whom I formed friendships, even from different disciplines or courses.
After finishing my course, I had to think carefully about what path to follow for my future. I had met several PhD students at the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance whose dedication and passion made me consider this option. However, I chose to develop my career in the field of museums, but only because I had worked previously in museums and I knew it was the right choice for me. In fact, soon after my course ended, I got a new temporary job in a museum in my country, where I could help to organise an exhibition that I will always be proud of, having written several texts that were praised, among other intellectual and creative tasks. While now I keep looking for new opportunities, I must say I am very grateful to Warwick for my personal and professional growth.