Scottish History/Theology & Religious Studies

Scottish History and Theology and Religious Studies is a combination that speaks directly to one of the most distinctive features of Scottish identity and culture: the deep intertwining of religious history and national story. From the Reformation and the rise of Presbyterianism through the Covenanting conflicts and the Disruption of 1843, religion has been at the heart of Scottish political and social history. Studying these disciplines together at the University of Glasgow, which has been central to Scottish intellectual and religious life for over five centuries, gives you an exceptionally rich context for both.

Glasgow's Scottish History department is home to renowned researchers working across all periods from the medieval to the modern, and the Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies encourages students to engage with the discipline in a genuinely cross-disciplinary environment. Your theological and religious studies work will develop your understanding of Christian thought, world religions, ethics, and the sociology and philosophy of religion, giving you the conceptual frameworks to engage seriously with the religious dimensions of Scottish history. A year abroad is available, allowing you to study in another country and to develop a comparative perspective on both history and religious tradition.

Graduates of this combination are well placed for careers in education, heritage, archiving, museum work, journalism, chaplaincy, the church and religious organisations, and community engagement. Many go on to postgraduate study in Scottish history, theology, religious studies, or related fields, and some pursue academic careers. The combination of historical research skills and theological understanding is particularly valuable in heritage contexts, in education, and in interfaith and community relations work.