Theology and Religious Studies

What this subject is

We list 172 Theology and Religious Studies courses at 33 UK universities across 28 cities. They run at undergraduate level.

Teaching in Theology and Religious Studies includes quantitative methods at most departments, which surprises applicants who expected essays alone.

September is the main intake. A number of departments also run a January start, which is worth knowing if your English result or your documents will not be ready in time for the summer.

What you will study

• Core theory
• Qualitative research methods
• Quantitative analysis
• Comparative and area study
• Policy and practice
• Academic writing
• An optional specialism
• A dissertation

What departments ask for

The lowest English requirement across the departments we hold on this subject is IELTS 6.0. Component scores count as well as the overall: a department asking for 6.0 overall normally sets a minimum in each of the four papers, and writing is the one applicants most often miss.

Postgraduate entry is judged on your bachelor degree and its classification. Most departments ask for the equivalent of a UK 2:1, which is broadly a 3.00 out of 4.00 or 70 out of 100 on a Turkish transcript. A 2:2 is accepted at a number of departments, more readily where you have relevant work behind you.

Undergraduate entry is judged on your school leaving certificate and grades. Where a qualification is not a direct match for A levels, departments either ask for a foundation year first or accept it at a higher grade.

Alongside the transcript you will need a personal statement, one or two references and a passport copy. Statements that name a specific module, a piece of work or a problem you want to study read very differently from statements that would fit any course.

Where it leads

• Researcher
• Policy analyst
• Charity or NGO officer
• Civil service
• Social worker route
• Doctoral study

Questions we get asked