Program Overview

Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies

The Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern offers a Master program in Interreligious Studies, which has existed since 2005. This program is designed to provide students with a well-founded and reflective knowledge of their own religious tradition and the traditions of other religions, which is extremely important in today's multicultural societies.

Program Details

• Degree: Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies, Universität Bern
• Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
• Degree programs:
  • Major Interreligiöse Studien: 90 ECTS credits
  • Minor Interreligiöse Studien: 30 ECTS credits
• Combination possibilities: several
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language: German
• Beginning of studies: Fall or spring semester

Legal Basis

The program is based on the following legal documents:

• Studienplan für die Studienprogramme Interreligiöse Studien an der Theologischen Fakultät vom 03.10.2019 (PDF, 114KB)
• Anhang zum Studienplan für die Studienprogramme Interreligiöse Studien an der Theologischen Fakultät vom 14. Dezember 2017 (PDF, 189KB)
• Reglement über das Studium und die Leistungskontrollen an der Philosophisch-historischen Fakultät der Universität Bern (RSL 05) vom 01.02.2014 mit Änderungen (PDF, 140KB)

Program Structure

The program has several components, including:

• Christianity: studied in all its historical forms down to the present day
• Other major religious traditions (Judaism, Islam, religions of India, Buddhism): courses offered in part in cooperation with other institutes

Study Content

The study content includes:

• Subject field 1: Christianity (21 ECTS credits)
  • Bibel (18 + 3 ECTS credits)
  • History of Christianity, Christian theology and practice (15 + 6 ECTS credits)
  • Judaism (18 + 3 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 2: Islam, religions of India and Buddhism (9 ECTS credits)
  • Islam (3-6 ECTS credits)
  • Religions of India and Buddhism (3-6 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 3: Inter-religious and intercultural topics, questions related to the theory of religion (15 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 4: Master thesis (30 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 5: Electives (15 ECTS credits)

Combination Possibilities

The major can be combined with any minor subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern, with the exception of Religious Studies.

Requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master's degree program in Religious Studies (major):

• a) Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university with a major in Religious Studies
• b) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major or mono in a related field (theology)
• c) Bachelor's degree from a university with a major in a different branch of studies, provided that the master's degree can be successfully completed with an additional maximum 60 ECTS credits

Application and Admission

For questions regarding application and admission, please consult the Admissions Office.

After Completion of the Master's Degree

The Faculty of Theology offers students the possibility to contribute to further research in their field with a dissertation. Like any course of study in the humanities, the program offered here does not prepare students for a specific career but instead teaches them methods and skills that can be applied in a variety of fields (e.g., research, media, education, diplomacy, culture, dialog between religions).