Religions and Theology MA

Year of entry: 2025

Course length: 12 months Full-Time | 24 Months Part-Time

About the course

Our MA Religions and Theology course is aimed at both specialists who want to deepen their knowledge and skills, and graduates of other disciplines who want to switch to postgraduate-level study of this subject. You’ll explore religion and theology in their historical, contemporary and political contexts, uncovering how they continue to influence the world in which we live today, and determining your own study pathway throughout.

This course is designed to enable you to either take units covering a broad range of religious, theological and philosophical traditions, or concentrate your study in an area that interests you.

This includes:

Christian Theology and Politics
Ethnic Minorities and Religious Identities
Bible and Early Jewish Texts
Relations Between Jews, Christians and Muslims
New Testament in Graeco-Roman Context
Philosophy of Moral Decision-Making

These are example course units based on 2024/25 options and are subject to change each year.

Learn more >

Where will the degree take you?

We aim to give our students research skills, whether for academic work or for another career, as many professions today require investigative skills.

Many in museums, libraries and other archives require the textual and historical research skills that our courses teach. For some, our course acts as a gateway for leading academic or professional careers in the media, public service or the voluntary sector.

For others who are already professionals in school RE teaching, religious ministry or other areas, our course brings a new level of expertise and confidence to their work.

Find out more about our graduates >

Rob Kanter

MA Religions and Theology Graduate

“I wanted to expand my knowledge of historical and Jewish Studies subjects whilst developing my research and essay skills. The MA proved to be an ideal choice. It encourages people from a wide age range and differing social/professional backgrounds to engage together in a stimulating and rewarding environment.

Following seventeen years teaching History in Bury Church of England High School I took up a new position as Lecturer in History Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and was promoted to Senior lecturer in August 2024. This role has allowed me to explore aspects of my research within teaching on aspects of the Holocaust as well as how to approach controversial and sensitive histories.”

Caitlin Gaslawski

Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Officer

MA Religions and Theology

Caitlin is a fully qualified Careers Leader and Guidance Counsellor who has moved to working in Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at an alpine boarding school in Switzerland. Her primary role is devoted to creating a community of alumni who give back with their time, through mentoring students and combing back to school, and financially to support the school and future scholarship students.

Dr Michael Hoezlzl

MA Program Director

Dr Michael Hoelzl is a senior lecturer in Political Philosophy and Religion and the MA Program Director for Religions and Theology.

His research interests include social ethics, political theology, philosophy of law with an emphasis on Schmittan studies, theories secularisation and the new visibility of religion.

Prof Daniel Langton

Prof Daniel Langton is the Head of the Department of Religions and Theology, Co-director of the Centre for Jewish Studies (CJS), and Lead Assessor for Jewish Studies and Education for the Office for Students (OfS).

In relation to teaching, he was a recipient of The University of Manchester's Teaching Excellence Prize in 2006, a nominee for the Student Union's Humanities Best Lecturer award in 2017, and a recipient of a Faculty of Humanities Outstanding Academic Advisor Award in 2021.

Dr Holly Morse

Dr Holly Morse is the co-founder of the Bible, Gender and Church Research Centre, with Dr Kirsi Cobb of Cliff College. Her ongoing research interests include the Hebrew Bible, gender, visual arts, female biblical interpretation, and hermeneutics. I have written on biblical literature, gender, trauma, abuse and the visual arts (see publications page for more information).