The Medieval Studies Institute is an interdisciplinary center for the study of medieval cultures from the fifth to the fifteenth centuries. The Institute's nearly forty faculty members are drawn from twenty academic departments at Indiana University.

The Institute administers area certificates and minors in Medieval Studies, coordinates an active schedule of events and colloquia open to the public, offers research and travel support for graduate and undergraduate students, and promotes interdisciplinary work among the many Indiana faculty and students engaged in medieval studies. Each spring, the Institute hosts a conference on a medieval topic that draws participants from around the world.

In addition to the interdisciplinary and archival courses offered by the Institute itself, a full schedule of medieval courses is offered in the participating academic departments. Approximately 65 medieval courses are offered at Indiana University each year, not including the many courses in language instruction and independent research that student medievalists frequently take.

IU graduate students can earn a Graduate Area Certificate or Ph.D. Minor in Medieval Studies. Undergraduates can pursue an Undergraduate Area Certificate or Medieval Minor. However, many students participate in medieval studies at Indiana without enrolling in any of these formal programs, either by taking courses or attending some of the Institute's many activities.