Program Overview

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Overview

We are thinking across historical periods and through a variety of critical approaches using ethnographic, linguistic, historical, philosophical, and theological methods. We provide many opportunities for postgraduates to build a strong portfolio of skills and experiences in preparation for an academic career and professional life beyond university.

We often collaborate with the interdepartmental Centre for Medieval Studies. We invite you to participate in the stimulating intellectual and social life of the department, with fortnightly research seminars and guest lectures that bring all staff and students together.

Programme Duration

• MPhil: one year full-time; two years part-time
• PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time

Start Date

• January 2025, September 2025, January 2026

Application Deadline

• January 2025 start: 1 December 2024
• September 2025 start:
  • Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025
  • Home applicants: 1 August 2025
• January 2026 start: 1 December 2025

Delivery Method

• Distance Learning, On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• PhD, MPhil

Programme Structure

MPhil

A one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation. Students have the option to audit a wide selection of BA units giving you the opportunity to study subjects you might have missed out at BA level or want to develop if they are relevant to your research.

Students who register on the MPhil may choose to exit with the MPhil after the normal one year period of full-time study (or two years part-time study) or submit for upgrade to PhD.

PhD

A research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis. As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to teach units themselves from their second year of study onwards.

The MPhil and PhD can be studied via distance learning.

World-leading Research

• 5th: The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94%: 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

MPhil

• An upper second-class degree (or international equivalent). Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.

PhD

• A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.

Fees and Funding

Fees

• Home: full-time £4,850 per year, part-time £2,425 per year
• Overseas: full-time £21,300 per year

Alumni Discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.

Funding and Scholarships

The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP), which will be offering studentships for September 2025. For information on other funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages.

Career Prospects

The majority of graduates from this programme develop careers as academics in secondary and higher education while maintaining the capacity to undertake new and innovative research in the field of religion and theology.

Meet our Supervisors

• Dr Lindsey Davidson
• Dr Rita Langer
• Dr David Leech
• Dr Benedetta Lomi
• Dr Toby Matthiesen
• Dr Yael Shiri
• Dr Sigbjorn Sonnesyn
• Dr Adam Willows

Research Groups

The department has developed a research agenda based on a rationale of depth, and is highly recognised for its distinctive research environment and culture, ranking 15th in the UK for Theology and Religious Studies (analysis of REF 2021).

Staff and postgraduates are also engaged in Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences interdisciplinary research themes and centres: Centre for Medieval Studies; Centre for Material Texts; Centre for Health, Humanities and Science.

Equally, individual academics have established distinctive research areas that attract a number of research students. The department has expertise in the following areas:

• Global Islam
• Buddhist Material Culture
• Medicine and Religion
• Patristic and Medieval Christian Thought
• Philosophy of Religion
• Ritual Studies
• Religion and Textuality
• Christianity and Ethics

The University of Bristol Religion and Theology department is recognised as having a characteristic and outstanding focus on Abrahamic religions and Buddhist Studies. The department has produced exceptional research in both these areas, realising the potential for interdisciplinarity between the two clusters and across the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences.