Theology & Religious Studies
Master
A lecturer whose research interests in religion matches yours best, will act as your supervisor throughout the programme.
How are religion, conflict and peace related? What are the boundaries of tolerance in societies, in past and present? And what is the significance of religious heritage in a secular society?
In this Research Master's programme, you will study how religion is embedded in historical and contemporary cultural contexts, and what the relationships are between religion and other cultural domains such as science, philosophy and politics. You will explore the impact of local and global socio-economic and political developments on religion, and how religion in turn contributes to these developments.
By following multiple core modules, you will acquire an overview of current debates in the study of religion and develop key research skills. In addition, we offer different specialization routes within which you can develop your individual research profile and skills. Your individual, tailor made route within the programme consists of a combination of optional modules from one of the one-year master's specializations, research traineeships, (individual) tutorials and writing a thesis and a research proposal. The final specialisation occurs in the Research Master's thesis, which forms the basis of a PhD thesis proposal or an application for research funding.
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English
Title
Master of Arts
Duration
2 years
ECTS credits
ECTS
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme of study. Its aim is to facilitate the recognition of study periods undertaken by mobile students through the transfer of credits. The ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits are equivalent to the workload of full-time student during one academic year.
Accreditation
Tuition fee 2025/2026
EU/EEA
The EU/EEA rate is the regular fee for students from within the EU/EEA.
€ 2,601
Non-EU/EEA
The non-EU/EEA rate is the rate for students from outside the EU/EEA.
€ 21,400
Institutional
The institutional rate is for all students who have already obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree and who want to start a second programme leading to a degree at the same level or at a lower level.
€ 16,300
Admission
Application requirements
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Humanities (e.g. International Organizations, Middle Eastern Studies, Philosophy), Political Sciences or Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. A selection of previous education programmes is shown below under 'Transfer options'. However,
On average, grades for Bachelor-2 and Bachelor-3 courses should be 7.5 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 10). The quality of the bachelor's (or master's) thesis is very important.
A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses. The bachelor's programme must have been completed at a pace and with results that warrant the expectation of successful completion of the Research Master's programme in two years.
After selection based on the motivation letter, the grade list and other information, an interview with the student is part of the procedure.
Sufficient knowledge of English: a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet, with a minimum score for reading/listening/speaking of 21, writing 24), or a minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System; overall; 6.5. on parts) is required. As an alternative to the above-mentioned TOEFL and IELTS scores, a comparable Cambridge Proficiency score (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) or a certificate from the University of Groningen Language Centre with a CEFR C1 or higher score
A letter of motivation to the admissions board, outlining your interest in the programme, including your motivation and expectations (max. 1 page), accompanied with: * Writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) Thesis * Proposal for a study plan
Language requirements
- C1
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
- C2
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
- 7
- IELTS overall band
- 100
- TOEFL internet based
Check when you can start and what you have to pay!
| Tuition fees | |
|---|---|
| € 2,601 | |
| € 21,400 | |
| € 16,300 |
| Start date | App. deadline EU/EEA | App. deadline Non-EU/EEA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep '25 | 1 May '25 | 1 May '25 |
| 1 Sep '26 | 1 May '26 | 1 May '26 |
| 1 Sep '27 | 1 May '27 | 1 May '27 |
Scholarships
You can check if you're eligible for scholarships that apply to this course.
StuNed Scholarship Programme
StuNed Scholarships for master studies, short courses and customised training programmes are available for Indonesian professionals with at least 2 years' work experience in a development-related organisation.
UNESCO
Contact
Main addressOude Boteringestraat 44
9712 GL Groningen
050 363 9011
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