PhD in Theology and Religious Studies

The Divinity Faculty at Cambridge has a distinguished international reputation for research and teaching, and the formation of postgraduate students in Theology and Religious Studies. Consistently ranked as one of the top research units in the country in our subjects, it offers postgraduate training at an acknowledged world-class standard.

Specialisms

• The teaching officers of the Faculty include leading experts in a wide range of fields:
• Biblical Studies
• Ancient, Medieval and Modern Judaism
• Patristics
• History of Christianity
• Christian Theology
• Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
• Religion and Natural Sciences
• Religion and the Social Sciences
• Study of Religions (with special reference to Judaism and Rabbinics, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism)
• World Christianities (with special reference to African Christianity)

Each major research area is centred on a senior seminar meeting fortnightly during a term. In practice, these seminars are often interdisciplinary in character (such as the D Society in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and the Hebrew, Jewish and Early Christian Studies Seminar), and a variety of other informal postgraduate seminars and reading groups also help to expand the repertoire of exchange. A number of named lectureships (the Stantons, the Hulseans, etc.) regularly bring international figures from outside Cambridge to contribute to the research culture.

First-year PhD students are not registered for any degree and must undergo an examination at the end of their first year. If they successfully pass this, then they will be registered for the PhD degree. Candidates submit a thesis of not more than 80,000 words. The Degree Committee must approve the thesis title. There is an oral examination on the thesis and the general field of knowledge in which it falls.

Learning Outcomes

PhD students spend most of their time working on their own research. The student's Supervisor will assess any required skills, such as languages, and training may be provided by the Faculty or the Language Centre.

Other learning and development opportunities are available through the research skills sessions run by the Faculty in the Michaelmas and Lent terms and courses run by the University. Students should attend and contribute to one of the Faculty's senior seminars. Students also run their own seminars and reading groups. Students are given the opportunity to supervise and give lectures for undergraduates.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

• Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. Master's degree with marks of at least 67% or a GPA of at least 3.7 in the US system. University Minimum Academic Requirements Language Requirement

Listening: 7.0, Writing: 7.0, Reading: 7.0, Speaking: 7.0, Total: 7.5, Listening: 25, Writing: 25, Reading: 25, Speaking: 25, Total: 110