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The University of Edinburgh: Religious Studies
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Divinity |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Our postgraduate doctoral programme is based in theoretically informed and comparative studies of religion, specialising in areas such as Asian studies, history of religions/new religions, and Jewish studies.
Research degrees guide you through an independent study that you have proposed. Your supervisor(s) will work with you to establish the resources that you need for the successful conclusion of your degree.
This will probably include attending suitable courses (not for credit) in the School of Divinity or the wider university.
If you have an area of study in mind, please send your transcript and draft proposal to a member of staff (see the Research Supervisor section below). You will need to demonstrate that you are ready for PhD study and your topic fits the research interests of a staff member.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Our postgraduate doctoral programme is based in theoretically informed and comparative studies of religion, specialising in areas such as Asian studies, history of religions/new religions, and Jewish studies.
Research degrees guide you through an independent study that you have proposed. Your supervisor(s) will work with you to establish the resources that you need for the successful conclusion of your degree.
This will probably include attending suitable courses (not for credit) in the School of Divinity or the wider university.
If you have an area of study in mind, please send your transcript and draft proposal to a member of staff (see the Research Supervisor section below). You will need to demonstrate that you are ready for PhD study and your topic fits the research interests of a staff member.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc
Summary
This programme provides the opportunity to study a variety of religious traditions, in combination with advanced learning in the theory and method of the study of religion.
Religious communities, practices and institutions are powerful components in human societies. Understanding their motivations and structures can help produce meaning and search for solutions to major challenges in the contemporary world.
This programme allows a deepening engagement with theory and method in religious studies, while encouraging in-depth study of one or more religious traditions. This combination of theoretical know-how with studies in specific traditions equips you to make sense of, appreciate and compare religion in a cross-cultural perspective.
You can study:
-
Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Indian traditions
-
indigenous religions of Africa, North America and East Asia
-
new age and Afrodiasporic traditions, particularly those in Latin America and the Caribbean
-
Sanskrit, Arabic or Persian (subject to availability) through our expertise in Asian Studies and in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
-
decolonial approaches to religion
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
This programme provides the opportunity to study a variety of religious traditions, in combination with advanced learning in the theory and method of the study of religion.
Religious communities, practices and institutions are powerful components in human societies. Understanding their motivations and structures can help produce meaning and search for solutions to major challenges in the contemporary world.
This programme allows a deepening engagement with theory and method in religious studies, while encouraging in-depth study of one or more religious traditions. This combination of theoretical know-how with studies in specific traditions equips you to make sense of, appreciate and compare religion in a cross-cultural perspective.
You can study:
-
Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Indian traditions
-
indigenous religions of Africa, North America and East Asia
-
new age and Afrodiasporic traditions, particularly those in Latin America and the Caribbean
-
Sanskrit, Arabic or Persian (subject to availability) through our expertise in Asian Studies and in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
-
decolonial approaches to religion
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Master of Philosophy - MPhil
Summary
Our postgraduate doctoral programme is based in theoretically informed and comparative studies of religion, specialising in areas such as Asian studies, history of religions/new religions, and Jewish studies.
Research degrees guide you through an independent study that you have proposed. Your supervisor(s) will work with you to establish the resources that you need for the successful conclusion of your degree.
This will probably include attending suitable courses (not for credit) in the School of Divinity or the wider university.
If you have an area of study in mind, please send your transcript and draft proposal to a member of staff (see the Research Supervisor section below). You will need to demonstrate that you are ready for PhD study and your topic fits the research interests of a staff member.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
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The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …
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