Religious Studies MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Theology and Religious Studies

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Divinity

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

New College

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

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 options

This programme is run full-time over one year, or part-time over two years.

Programme rankings

  • 8th in the world for the study of Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
  • The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School 1st in Scotland and 5th in the UK for its research power in theology and religious studies
  • Edinburgh is ranked the 6th best student city in Europe and 13th in the world. (QS Best Student Cities 2025)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

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

Featured scholarships

Divinity scholarships are awarded on academic merit. Most are open to all, but some are ring-fenced for applicants from certain parts of the world.

Awards are made for masters programmes. Typically, awards are for full or partial fee costs.

School of Divinity scholarships

If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for study from one of the UK’s governments.

You should check that your chosen programme is eligible for the funding you want to apply for.

View details: UK government loans for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, a minimum US 3.25 GPA, or its international equivalent, in theology/religious studies or a relevant field within humanities and social sciences.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • 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.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We 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

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Compulsory courses

Compulsory courses comprise:

  • Theory and Method in the Study of Religion – 20 credits
  • Approaches to Research in Divinity and Religious Studies – 10 credits
  • Approaches to Research: Religious Studies – 10 credits
  • Four optional courses – 80 credits
  • 15,000 word dissertation – 60 credits

Option courses

You will choose three options. At least one must be a course in religious studies, such as:

  • Contemporary Theories of Religion
  • Hindu Traditions: Critical Investigations
  • From Diatribe to Dialogue in Christian-Muslim Relations
  • New Age Spirituality in Contemporary Culture
  • New Spiritualities
  • Religion and Nationalism: Theory and Performance
  • The Holocaust in History and Culture  
  • Understanding the Hindu Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana  

The options on offer change from year to year. If you would like to find out more about which courses will be available in your chosen year of study then please contact the Programme Director.   

With the agreement of your Programme Director, you may also choose options from other taught masters programmes, language courses, and advanced undergraduate courses.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

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.

Assessment

You will learn and be assessed through a combination of:

  • short written assignments
  • presentations
  • essays
  • in-class tests
  • exams 

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme, you will be able to:

  • identify the contexts out of which the academic study of religions emerged
  • understand the diverse religious traditions and how they relate to the academic study of religions
  • articulate key components within a variety of methodologies in the study of religion and offer critiques of each
  • clarify if and, if so, how the study of religion constitutes a discipline in its own right
  • evaluate recent developments in the academic study of religion
  • critically analyse principal problems in the study of religion and relate these to other problems in the human and social sciences

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

Our academic staff offer expertise in various thematic traditions and approaches.

Prof Naomi Appleton's primary research interest is the role of narrative in the construction, communication and negotiation of ideas in Indian religions, including Buddhism, Jainism and early Hindu traditions.

Prof Naomi Appleton

Prof Holtschneider is a cultural historian of contemporary Jewish history. The focus of her work is the Shoah/Holocaust and its aftermath, particularly the long-term effect of the Holocaust on families, and the representation of the Holocaust and Jews in a variety of cultural media.

Prof Holtschneider

Prof Longkumer works is an expert on the anthropology of religion and works primarily in highland Asia but is also interested in broadly themes around politics and religion, materiality, and museums.

Prof Longkumer

Dr Alysa Ghose’s work focuses in Cuba on questions of race, gender, kinship, sexuality, and nation.

Dr Alysa Ghose

Dr Fuller brings his expertise on Buddhist studies on the Pāli canon and looking at engaged Buddhism, the prevalence of blasphemy in Buddhist culture, and political and chauvinistic expressions of Buddhism.

Dr Fuller

Where you will study

Study location

The School of Divinity is based at New College, an impressive neo-gothic building in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It commands spectacular views over the city centre towards the sea and is a distinctive feature on the Edinburgh skyline, close to Edinburgh Castle.

You will benefit from a self-contained college setting just five minutes walk away from the main University campus. We have our own library, study space and on-site café, situated in the grand Rainy Hall. This provides a great place to meet friends and study and is also the venue for our whole School Christmas Dinner and Burns Supper!

Academic facilities

The School has great facilities for postgraduates including study rooms, kitchen facilities and a cafe for staff and students open during the teaching semester.

Postgraduates can also opt-in to our mentoring scheme, in which staff members are matched with students outside their area of specialism to offer career and pastoral support.

The New College library holds one of the largest theology and religious studies collections in the UK. Its special collections include:

  • historical archives
  • manuscripts
  • printed books and objects

Current collections support the School of Divinity's teaching and research activities in:

  • biblical studies
  • the history of Christianity
  • religious studies
  • theology and ethics
  • world Christianity

The collections continue to develop in new and evolving areas, such as:

  • science and religion
  • Christian-Muslim relations
  • Buddhist and Jewish studies
  • religion and literature

Many other study and student support facilities are only a short walk away in George Square, including the University's Main Library.

Beyond the University – but located close to the School of Divinity – the National Library of Scotland holds more than 5 million volumes, including every book published since 1710 in the United Kingdom (and numerous volumes published in the United States in cooperation with British presses). Scotland’s National Archives are also nearby.

Virtual tour

Career opportunities

This programme is designed to provide a strong foundation for postgraduate research in the field or for employment in a range of areas requiring critical analysis and empathetic understanding.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 August 2026

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Find out what our students think of New College in these short graduation interviews:

Our community

Community is what sets our School of Divinity apart. Time and time again students tell us that this is what drew them to New College and what they liked the most about studying here.

From the start we try our very best to make you feel part of our community and help postgraduate students integrate into life at New College, the University, Scotland, and the UK. When you join the School, at the start of the academic year, you will be invited to Welcome Week, an intensive introduction to study and life in Edinburgh.

Our community benefits from monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students which offer a supportive forum to discuss issues as diverse as work-life balance, publishing strategies, and dealing with writer’s block. We also have an active postgraduate student committee that organises regular social events.

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

Within New College, students join all kinds of university clubs and societies, such as the New College choir, New College Pride, and the five-a-side football team.

The postgraduate committee organises social events, including quizzes and the welcome Ceilidh (a Scottish dance event).

Staff and students meet together for seasonal and community events such as Diwali Potluck, Christmas lunch, Eid Meal and Burns supper.

There are also regular monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students, and you can participate in worship/reflections from a range of faith traditions.

The city of Edinburgh

A cultural capital

Edinburgh has an incredibly energetic and diverse cultural life. There are dozens of museums and galleries with unique collections and cinemas specialising in arthouse and world film. Apart from the renowned Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival every August (the largest arts festival in the world), it hosts many other cultural events every year.

Edinburgh's surroundings

A short journey will take you to the old port of Leith and waterfront pubs and cafes, or the fishing villages of Fife, to the Pentland Hills or country parks and beaches. Further afield, Scotland’s magnificent scenery, its villages and coastlines, and other vibrant cities are all easily accessible. Edinburgh is also a haven for cyclists, with quiet and scenic routes crisscrossing the city.

UNESCO world heritage site

With a population of around 450,000, our city mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively and cosmopolitan environment. It is a safe and prosperous city with many parks and green spaces for recreation and reflection. It offers an exciting array of entertainment, arts, culture and sport, with the lush Scottish countryside and dramatic coastline just a few miles away. 

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

Contact us
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 8952

Academic contact

Dr Arkotong Longkumer

Programme Director

  • School of Divinity
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

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