Study of Religion

This course offers an intensive training in research in the study of religions. It enables you to study two major religions, and to explore the nature of religion itself, at an advanced level. You can select your special subjects from the following five religious traditions currently covered by the faculty: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.

Graduate destinations

Students who leave the University of Oxford with graduate degrees in theology enter a variety of careers all around the world. Over half of those who gain an MSt or MPhil proceed to further, usually doctoral, study. Most of the others secure employment as, for example, school teachers, civil servants, parliamentary research assistants or staff members of (or researchers at) non-governmental organizations that work on issues pertaining to religion in public life.

In many cases, you will study the early doctrines and practices of religious traditions in their historical contexts, engaging with primary source texts in English translation, but you may also opt to study the modern variations of a particular religion, or a set of religious practices or institutions in the contemporary world. The Oxford tutorial system applies to post-graduate study in this course, so you are encouraged to develop your particular interests in conversation with your tutors.

Each of these traditions has an internationally-recognised research centre, institute, or outstanding cluster of scholars in Oxford. This typically means that you are not only taught by specialists in your chosen tradition, but also have access to a variety of specialist libraries and collections.

Assessment typically consists of:

• a single three-hour exam on the core course Methods and Study of Religion/Themes in the Interaction Between Religions;
• two essays of up to 5,000 words, between them covering two religious traditions either on their own or in comparison/connection with another;
• a dissertation of 10,000 to 15,000 words on a topic relating to either one religious tradition on its own or two or more religious traditions in comparison/connection with each other - if you are intending to proceed to doctoral study this is normally used as a foundation for future research); and
• an oral examination (viva voce) on your dissertation and essay research topics and wider knowledge of the study of religion unless individually dispensed by the examiners.

The choice of essay and dissertation topics is decided by the student, subject to advice from the supervisor and final approval. Students would be encouraged to use the work on their essays as building blocks towards their dissertation.  

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in theology, religious studies or a related field. Entrance is very competitive.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Other examination results may be submitted alongside degree qualifications. If offered, the minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score sought is 160 and the minimum GMAT score sought is 600.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose: One page
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme