Postgraduate study

Durham offers an unparalleled environment for postgraduate study of Theology and Religion, having been ranked no. 1 in research quality in the 2008 RAE. With 20 full-time staff, Durham is also one of the largest departments in Britain, and thus provides a considerable range of expertise for postgraduate students interested in all areas of Theology and Religion. The range of research seminars (in which all postgraduates are invited to participate) testifies to the Department's intellectual breadth.

As well as academic excellence, we also aim to provide students with access to world-class study facilities and to a range of training and professional-development opportunities that are second to none. This may include work as a teaching assistant or research assistant, or participation in the Durham-Duke exchange scheme.

The Department offers seven taught MA courses, along with a variety of research degrees (PhD, DThM and other Research Degrees). We also now offer a four-year Integrated PhD. All of these may be studied full time or part time. Entry into a research course normally requires the completion of a taught MA, during which a proposal for independent research can be developed and refined. The breadth of the Department's offerings is reflected in the range of degrees available.

Examples of possible research areas can be found by browsing a list of current postgraduates and their thesis topics.

For more information, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Secretary, the Tutor for Postgraduate Admissions, or consult the course handbook below. Additionally, please consult the course catalogue.

• Postgraduate Useful Information 2012-13

Check out our Postgraduate Facebook Group: Durham University Theology & Religion Postgraduates.

Why Durham

The Department of Theology and Religion offers postgraduate students the opportunity to study in a world-class research centre.

A strong team of scholars is engaged here at the forefront of international research, and postgraduate students can both learn from and contribute to this dynamic research community.

The fields of research here explored are diverse but sufficiently coherent to create many opportunities for and cross-disciplinary (as well as single-disciplinary) studies. The Department houses strong teams of scholars in Old Testament and Related Studies, Judaism in Antiquity, New Testament and Related Studies, Historical Theology (Christianity in Late Antiquity, Christianity in Early Modern and Modern Europe), Systematic and Philosophical Theology and the Philosophy of Religion, the Study of Religion, Film and Religion, Theology and Ethics, Theology and Science, Catholic Studies, Anglican Studies, and the Study of Spirituality.

The Department has strong international links, both in Europe and in North America, including a new reciprocal study arrangement with Duke University, North Carolina. The Department was ranked 1^st in Britain for overall research quality and for world-leading research in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.

In addition to excellent study facilities, we aim to provide research students with a comprehensive range of training and professional development opportunities without parallel in British universities. Many of our alumni have gone on to successful academic careers amongst many, many other possible career routes.

We currently have a postgraduate student body of about 180 students at all levels engaged in research, most at PhD level and many from outside the U.K. There is thus a diverse, vibrant and supportive research environment, in which students learn much from each other, as well as from their research supervisors.