Catholic Theology (Distance Learning)

The MA is delivered through a combination of written material, recorded material, asynchronous online discussion, optional synchronous webinars, and occasional tutorials. Students will, as they work through modules at their own pace, be in contact with module convenors and peers. At a minimum, all convenors will be available during university term time to answer questions as they arise, will give feedback on written work in tutorials, and will lead optional webinars (a minimum of three in each module). You will also receive one-to-one supervision through focusing in detail on a particular topic in your dissertation.

All resources needed by students, including all reading materials, will be available online. All video and audio-recorded material will be accompanied by a transcript.

Timetabling of optional seminars and office hours will take into account varying time zones, and all other components of MA modules will be asynchronous or (as with tutorials) organised individually. This will help ensure accessibility of the course to international students, including from the Global South, and to students with caring commitments or other constraints on their timetable.

Students will have access to the Academic Development for Students hub which is delivered by the Durham Centre for Academic Development.

Students will be encouraged to participate in the Department’s research seminars and in those of other departments where they are of interest. They will also be invited to attend events organised by the Centre for Catholic Studies, including such things as Research Conversations for staff and students, an annual Early Career Conference in Catholic Studies (online in alternate years), an occasional ‘Lived Catholicism’ Conference, and other online events.

• A 2:1 undergraduate degree in Theology, or Religious Studies or a related discipline.
• The three principle exceptions to this rule are
  • Graduates of other disciplines who have studied at an undergraduate or equivalent level in one or more of the areas in which they hope to work, through their first degrees, through training for the ministry of the churches, and so on.
  • Students from overseas universities who have successfully reached a point in their theological, religious studies or studies in a related discipline comparable with completion of an English BA.
  • Students who have already passed the module ‘Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour’ with a score of 60 or higher.

A 500-word personal statement should include the following:

• An outline of your interest in the MA in Catholic Theology (DL)
• What skills and knowledge you would bring to the course
• What skills and knowledge you would hope to acquire
• A preliminary indication of the area in which you might like to write your dissertation.

Two professional and/or academic references from people who are familiar with your work, commenting on your suitability for the programme.

A brief one-on-one interview with a programme convenor.

English language requirements

Full Time Fees

Part Time Fees

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Graduates enter a wide range of career areas, including law, government, marketing, business and finance, industry, charity work, teaching, media, the clergy and journalism. Employers include: Linklaters, Kirkland and Ellis, Coltraco Ultrasonics, the Home Office, Durham Police and Jaguar Land Rover.

The Department of Theology and Religion is where ‘belief’ and ‘beliefs’ are taken seriously, respected and studied, whether those beliefs are atheistic, humanistic or religious. Our home, Abbey House (pictured right), is next door to Durham Cathedral, and is a beautiful and inspiring place to pursue research in theology and religion.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

• World Top 10 in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2022
• 3rd in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2023
• 3rd in The Complete University Guide 2023
• 3rd in The Guardian University Guide 2023

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Theology & Religion Department pages.

Research Excellence Framework

• 4th in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021)
• 91% research graded world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

Facilities

Library facilities for Theology and Religion in Durham are extensive, and the holdings at the Bill Bryson Library are only the beginning.

Our next-door neighbour, Durham Cathedral, houses another theological library: The Sharp Library, which focuses on modern and pastoral theology. Additionally, the Meissen Library, located on level 3 of the Bill Bryson Library, is the largest collection of German-language theological materials in Britain.

Some of the College libraries (notably St. Chad's College and St. John's College) hold extensive theological collections and the Department has some library resources of its own, in particular in Hebrew and Jewish studies.

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