Theology and Religious Studies 2023

Our courses are delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials and one-to-one supervision for the final-year research dissertation. The aim is to stimulate your curiosity and provide you with essential information by means of lectures in the first instance, so as to establish a solid grounding in the core of the subject. You will be able to discuss your ideas with experts in the field and take part in group discussions and events.

The development of oral communication skills is an important aspect of our course. Key modules in all years involve assessment not only via written work, but also through your engagement with your peers, for instance in oral presentations or participation in seminar discussions. These skills are vital in all sorts of careers, from the civil service to business, teaching, the media or work within a religious context. By learning to convey complex religious, historical and philosophical ideas in a clear and engaging way, you will develop confidence in communicating your ideas academically and in the workplace.

As a single honours student, during your three years at Nottingham, you will take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, mainly from those offered by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, but also from a choice of subsidiary modules from outside the department.  

A joint honours degree (see the Department of Philosophy) is split between your two subjects, so the theology half of your degree is normally made up of 60 credits each year. Our joint honours degree in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics allows for greater flexibility in the way you divide your study between the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, according to your particular interests.

Assessment

Most modules in the first two years are assessed by a combination of essays and exams. In the final year, some modules are assessed by a single long essay. There is also a dissertation in the final year, for which you undertake in-depth research into a topic of your choice.

Successful completion of your first year allows progression to the second year. Your final degree classification will be determined by work in the second and final years, with more weight given to the latter.

A degree in theology and religious studies leads to a wide range of careers. You will be equipped for a variety of positions that call for skills such as the careful analysis of texts and complex issues, reasoned decision-making, sensitivity to cultural and religious diversity, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. Recent graduates are working in areas such as: law, teaching, journalism and publishing, politics, the charity sector, as well as in a variety of religious contexts.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

74.7% of undergraduates from the Department of Classics and Archaeology secured employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary was £21,963.*

*Data from UoN graduates, 2017-2019. HESA Graduate Outcomes. Sample sizes vary.

As well as the opportunity to spend part of your degree studying or working abroad through the Turing Scheme, you can take part in activities alongside our China or Malaysia campuses.

Offers are usually made without interview. Students with non-standard entry requirements, including mature students, may be invited to an interview.

Choosing where to study for the next few years of your life is a difficult decision. By coming to an open day you can see for yourself why Nottingham could be the place for you.

If you make an application to study at the University of Nottingham and are successful in being made an offer, you will receive an invitation to attend an offer-holder event. These events take place between February and April.