Program Overview

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Introduction to the Master's Programme

The Master's programme in Religion and Pluralism, Ancient and Modern, is a one-year, full-time programme that explores the role of religion in shaping social identities across the Graeco-Roman world, Late Antiquity, the medieval era, and the modern period. The programme is offered by the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society at the University of Groningen.

Programme Description

The programme focuses on the (internal) diversity, existence, and coexistence of the three major monotheistic religions, and how these relationships have shaped our contemporary societies. Students will explore the impact of religious diversity on the formation of social identities, analyzing textual sources that reflect encounters between these religious traditions. The programme applies a wide range of methods and perspectives, including archaeology, codicology, paleography, epigraphy, and philological analysis and interpretation.

Programme Structure

The programme consists of one core module on Religious Diversity in the Greco-Roman World (10 ECTS), research methods (5 ECTS), three electives (5 ECTS each), a thesis (20 ECTS), and a placement (10 ECTS). Students can specialize in either the 'Ancient' or the 'Modern' variant through electives.

Electives

• Dark Heritage: Memorialising Death and Disaster (5 EC, optional)
• Material Religion: Things, Performances and Belief (5 EC, optional)
• On the move: People(s), Cultures, and Religions (5 EC, optional)
• Apocalypse and Politics (5 EC, optional)
• Growth and Expansion of Religious Identities: Religious Disputes in the Formation of Christianity and Islam (5 EC, optional)
• Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding (5 EC, optional)
• Religion, Gender and Sexuality: from Politics to Everyday Life (5 EC, optional)

Research Methods

• Fragments and Ruins: Heritage and Historical Approaches to the Past (5 EC)

Internship

Instead of an internship, students have the option to do a research project.

Master's Thesis

The Master's thesis is a 20 EC thesis, and students will receive personal supervision from one of the lecturers. The thesis seminar will provide guidance on tackling the thesis and monitoring progress.

Study Load

The programme requires an average of 40 hours of class and self-study per week. One year contains 60 ECTS, with 1 ECTS equivalent to 28 hours of study.

Curriculum

The programme can also be followed within the two-year Research Master's programme in Theology and Religious Studies.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is optional, with a maximum of 30 EC, and can be done for an average of 20 weeks.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, or another Bachelor's degree in Arts, Humanities, Philosophy, or Social Sciences.
• A reading package will be provided in advance, and students are expected to be aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature.
• Students with a Bachelor's degree other than in one of the disciplines described above may still have direct access to the MA if they have completed the university minor Anthropology, Religion in the Modern World, Art and Religion, or Climate Change and Inequality, or can demonstrate the completion of 30 ETCS worth of subjects in the previous degree programme that have introduced them to Archaeology, Ancient History, Ancient Languages, or Ancient Philosophy.

Language Requirements

• An English language test for Dutch students is only required if they do not have a VWO-diploma.
• IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part)
• TOEFL: 90 internet (18 on Reading and Listening, 20 on Speaking and 21 on Writing)
• Pearson Academic: 66 (62 on Reading, 54 on Listening and Speaking, 62 on Writing)
• LanguageCert Academic: 70 (65 on each part)

Exemptions

Exemptions are granted if students are native speakers of, and have completed their full secondary level education in, the USA, Canada (only when taught in English), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, or have completed a full-time Bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in these countries.

Registration Procedure

International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission, and registration.

Application Deadlines

• Dutch students: 01 May 2026
• EU/EEA students: 01 May 2026
• non-EU/EEA students: 01 May 2026

Tuition Fees

• EU/EEA: € 2601 (full-time)
• non-EU/EEA: € 19200 (full-time)

Job Prospects

As a graduate, students can become an adviser and policymaker on interreligious issues and multicultural society. They may work in cultural organisations and companies in the public sector. In addition, they can work in the media. They can become a teacher of religion or philosophy. If they want to pursue an academic career, they can follow this track as a specialization within the Research Master's programme.

Research Institutes

This MA programme connects with the research of:

• CRASIS
• Qumran Institute
• Centre for Religion, Conflict and Globalization
• Centre for religion, Health and Wellbeing

Pre-master's Programme

If students do not have a bachelor's degree in either the Humanities, Arts, Philosophy, or Behavioural and Social Sciences, they will generally need to complete a pre-master's programme before entering this master's programme. However, there are exemptions, such as completing one of the university minors of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society.

Other Degree Programmes in Religion

If students are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, they might also consider one of the other master's programmes:

• Religion, Conflict and Globalization
• Anthropology of Religion and Culture
• Heritage and Religion
• Religious Diversity in a Globalised World (Erasmus Mundus)
• Geestelijke Verzorging (in Dutch)
• Theology and Religious Studies (Research)
• Lerarenopleiding Godsdienst en Levensbeschouwing (in Dutch)

Study Associations

Gerardus van der Leeuw is the study association of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society at the University of Groningen. It organizes broadening activities, such as lectures or career events, for both the Religious Studies and Theology programs, as well as relaxing activities, such as get-togethers and trips abroad.