Religion and Literature MTh, MSc

This programme is run over one year full-time (or two years part-time). You will be taught mainly in small classroom-based seminar groups. You will be given training in research methods which offers a practical approach to postgraduate-level skills of critical investigation and writing. You will also receive individual supervision for your 15,000-word dissertation.

Compulsory courses:

• Literature and Religion: Exploring the Connections
• Approaches to Research in Divinity and Religious Studies
• Approaches to Research: Religion and Literature

Option courses:

You will choose up to four options from the courses specific to the programme, such as:

• Scottish Religion, Imagination and Faith
• Peace-building, Theology and the Arts
• Literary Classics of the Islamic World
• Lives of the Buddha in Indian Art and Literature
• Science and Religion in Literature
• The Holocaust in Literature and Culture
• Understanding the Hindu Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana
• Issues of Religion and Ethics in Literature
• Buddhist Literature
• Jews and Non-Jews: Co-Existence, Conflict, Co-operation

The options on offer can change from year to year, so please consult the Programme Director for advice on courses available. With the agreement of your Programme Director, you may also choose an option from other taught Masters programmes, including those on offer in English Literature when available. One course may also be taken from the options of Level 10 courses offered by the School of Divinity, with the agreement of your Programme Director.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

• a strong grounding in the major themes and methodologies in the academic study of religion and literature.
• an appreciation of the breadth of the field and the critical voices from within and outwith its sphere of interest.
• an understanding of the comparative study of religion and literature, including facility in engaging comparative methodologies drawn from religious studies, literary studies, theology and other relevant disciplines.
• the critical skills necessary to engage in close comparative readings of major texts across a range of religious and literary traditions.
• the ability to plan and complete a coherent research project.
• the skills to prepare and deliver oral presentations that communicate academic research to a wider audience.
• the ability to undertake research using a range of resources including academic libraries, archives, field-work, and internet databases.

Possible fields for employment after completion of this programme include:

• Academia
• Teaching
• Academic Publishing
• Religious Leadership
• Creative Arts

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, a minimum US 3.25 GPA, or its international equivalent, in a relevant humanities subject such as theology, religious studies, or english literature.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding