Theology and Religion

Theology and religion is a discipline that takes seriously the beliefs, practices, texts, and institutions through which human communities have attempted to understand the sacred, the transcendent, the moral, and the ultimate meaning of human existence. It is a field that draws on philosophy, history, literary criticism, anthropology, and sociology, and that engages with the full diversity of religious traditions across world cultures and through history. Far from being a narrowly devotional subject, theology and religious studies is one of the most genuinely multidisciplinary of the humanities, raising questions that cut across nearly every other field of human inquiry.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year programme is designed with significant flexibility: all of the modules in your second and third years are optional, allowing you to tailor your degree to your specific interests. Whether you are drawn to biblical studies and early Christianity, Islamic theology, philosophy of religion, gender and religion, religion and politics, or the interaction of religion and ethics, you can shape your studies around the questions that matter most to you. This flexibility is unusual and allows you to develop real depth in the areas you find most compelling.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic studies. These opportunities allow you to develop professionally in relevant contexts and to encounter different religious and cultural environments firsthand.

Graduates from theology and religion degrees move into a wide range of careers. Common destinations include education, the civil service, NGOs, journalism, publishing, social work, community and interfaith work, religious ministry, heritage and cultural organisations, and charity and voluntary sector roles. The analytical, research, and communication skills the degree develops are highly transferable.

Postgraduate study in theology, religious studies, philosophy, or related humanities fields is a natural route for those who wish to develop their research or pursue academic careers.