Divinity BD (Honours)

Program Overview

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Divinity BD (Honours) 2025 entry

The BD (Hons) in Divinity is a shorter course intended for those who already have an undergraduate degree and are interested in focusing on theological and biblical studies. It is especially suited for those considering ordination within a Christian denomination.

Overview

You will have the option to specialise in subjects such as the Old Testament, theology, practical theology, church history or a combination of these.

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Grades

• SQA Highers: AAAB
• GCE A-Levels: AAA
• IB points: 36 (HL 6,6,5)

Minimum Entry Grades

• SQA Highers: AABB
• GCE A-Levels: ABB
• IB points: 36 (HL 6,5,5)

Gateway Entry Grades

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

General Entry Requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology

Other Qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Course Details

The BD (Hons) in Divinity is a three-year course run by the School of Divinity. The course is only available to those who already hold an undergraduate degree and are now interested in focusing on theological and biblical studies. There is a four-year option for students who wish to also study biblical languages (see the Biblical Studies MA).

The course focuses on the teachings and practices of the Christian faith as rooted in biblical and theological studies, and considers the significance of faith today as well as the challenges to it. Students can expect to have the opportunity to engage with a number of specialist topics including, for example, the study of the biblical text in its original languages or the interactions of Christian theology with current scientific and philosophical developments.

Modules

During the first two years of your degree, you will take the required modules in Divinity only.

• First year:
  • Hebrew 2
  • Christ, Paul, and the Origins of Christianity A (English Texts)
  • Early and Medieval Christianity
  • Philosophical Theology
  • Religion Today
  • Reading the Women of the Old Testament A (English Texts)
  • Christianity and Modernity in Global Perspective
  • New Testament Greek 2
• Second year:
  • The Bible Through the Ages: History, Theology, and Hermeneutics
  • Religious Practices in Socio-Political Contexts
  • Medieval Monastic Spirituality
  • Johannine Literature and Theology: English Text
  • Johannine Literature and Theology: Greek Text
  • Epistle to the Hebrews: English Text
  • God and Morality: Faith and Philosophy in the Scottish Enlightenment
  • Prophetic Books
  • Hebrew Readings
  • Creation and Chaos in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East
  • Themes and Texts in Christian-Buddhist Dialogue
  • Christian Ethics and Contemporary Society
  • A Quest for God: The Religious World of Dante
  • Native American Religions

In third year, students also undertake a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice.

Teaching

Teaching in first year is mainly by lectures (10 to 100 students), supplemented by regular small-group tutorials (10 to 15 students).

At Honours level, greater emphasis is put on individual study and on students taking a major role in preparing for, and conducting, seminars (5 to 15 students) and classes (5 to 35 students).

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Joint Honours Degrees

You can also take Divinity BD as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Careers

Most graduates from the BD take the course as part of their preparation for ordination. That said, graduates from the theological and biblical disciplines develop key transferable skills in critical thinking and in written and oral communication, which make them highly attractive to potential employers. Accordingly, employment prospects are usually wide ranging.

Recent graduates from the School of Divinity have become:

• Religious studies teachers
• Lay chaplains at schools
• Ordained ministers
• Journalists with the national and religious press

Others have gone on to become lawyers, corporate bankers, marketing managers, social workers, language therapists, and even wine tasters.