Religious Studies

Why study with us?

You study in a supportive environment with staff who are committed to ensuring the best for their students.

The Religious Studies degree programme has a national reputation for theology, Christian ethics, biblical studies, and world religions, with staff who are known for their publications and research interests. We introduce you to a wide range of religions and approaches to the study of religion. You gain knowledge and academic skills, but you also grow personally, in ways essential to independent learning and employability.

The quality of support given to students is reflected in the 2010 National Student Survey in which 99% of respondents stated that they could contact staff when they need to, and 98% of respondents commended the detailed feedback they received on their work.

What can this course lead to?

Students of religion develop essential skills for working with people, and have an understanding of the world that takes account of diversity. Many go on to work in education, social work, health care, business, the police, the civil service, local government and personnel management.

Resources and facilities Have a look at our learning resources for Religious Studies. Entry requirements

80 UCAS tariff points

Find out more about qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.

Credit and UCAS requirements UCAS code: V628L UCAS points: 80 Costs

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Full-time students

Home

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £8,250 (including an automatic £750 fee discount).

As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 per annum (if you're from England) or £15,795 (if you're from Scotland). You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.

Cumbria Bursary

The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £8,250 (including an automatic £750 fee discount).

As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 per annum (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.

Cumbria Bursary

The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Utilities trust

International

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £9,960.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Early payment discount

If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.

Cumbria Bursary

The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.

International scholarship

If you are studying a full-time bachelor's degree (excluding teacher training and NHS-funded courses) or a top-up degree, you may be eligible for an international scholarship. The university has nine scholarships available. Find out more on our scholarships page.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

UCAS Link

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Modules

For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course (PDF).

Course summary

The first year concentrates on important academic skills, such as the ability to formulate arguments, gather and organise information and to think critically. You learn about the major world religions, including the Semitic religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity) and Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism). You are introduced to different methods that inform the study of religion such as the phenomenology of religion, sociology of religion, comparative religion, postmodernism, and gender and religion.

In the second year you study the relationship between religion and a wide variety of cultural expressions. You build on what you have learned in the first year by looking at Christian ethics, Jesus and the Gospels, Islamic civilisation, the religion and philosophy of China, the religious traditions of North America, Sikhism, Modern Hinduism, Buddhism, the philosophy of religion and the relationship between religion, the workplace and the media.

The final year enables you to develop your capacity for independent learning through two supervised independent studies: religion and the world of work, and another independent study. In addition you explore expressions of religion in the modern world. You reflect on the connection between religion, modernity and politics through a study of Fundamentalism, Islam and the State, and the development of Buddhism in the modern world. You also learn about current interpretations of the Judeo-Christian tradition through studying the Old Testament, contemporary Christian theologies and the psychology of religion.

We are particularly keen to ensure that, through your studies, you will be equipped with a range of graduate skills designed to enhance your opportunities for employment and/or further study. Such skills include the ability to communicate in a wide range of formats, personal and time management, group work, searching for information, critical analysis, empathy and awareness of diversity, and a wide range of other abilities valued highly by employers. Consequently, we employ a variety of types of assessment, all of which are designed to enhance your academic and transferable skills. This course is about preparing you for the real world.