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Theology & Religious Studies Graduate Diploma

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Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Theology & Religious Studies is designed as a bridge from undergraduate to master’s study and may be used as a qualifying course for study at MA level. It offers a flexible structure where you can select modules from Theology, Religion, Politics & Society, Theology, Religion & Culture and Religion, Philosophy & Ethics.

 


Key benefits 

  • Study in one of the largest and most wide-ranging departments of Theology & Religious Studies, ranked in the top 10 in the UK (QS World Rankings by Subject 2018/19).

  • Enjoy unparallelled access to specialist libraries, including the Maughan Library at King's, and other religious and cultural resources in central London.

  • Be part of a supportive educational environment within a department that specialises in the three 'Abrahamic' faiths - Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration Nine months FT, eighteen months PT, September to July

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 90 / ECTS 90

Course intake No set number.

Course leaders Dr Daniel Nilsson DeHanas

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0) 20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department Department of Theology and Religious Studies

Locations

 

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Course detail

Description

If you would like to study theology and religious studies at a postgraduate level, but do not have the academic background required, our course is perfect for you. It is specifically designed to ease the transition between subjects and provide you with the necessary skills and background to take your study further. You will only need to attend one or two days a week.

Course purpose

For applicants of graduate or equivalent status in areas of study other than Theology & Religious Studies. The Graduate Diploma may be used as a qualifying course to enable study at MA level, as it is especially designed to ease the transition to Theology & Religious Studies from another subject.

Further literature

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx 

Structure

Year 1

Teaching Style

We will teach you through lectures, seminars and feedback on your assignments. We will also expect you to undertake a significant amount of independent study to complement our teaching. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

We will assess your performance through a combination of examinations and coursework. You will also write a dissertation.

Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Required Modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

You are required to take:

  • Independent Study Project – Dissertation (30 Credits)

If you are a part-time student, you will take this in your second year.

Optional Modules

Inaddition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules. At least 60 credits from this total must be taken from level six modules (more advanced) with the remainder coming from modules at either Level 5 or 6.

If you are a part-time student, you will take 60 credits in your first year and 30 in your second from either list.

The lists of modules may typically include:

Level 5

  • Modern Islam I: History & Politics (15 credits)
  • An Introduction to the Doctrine of the Person of Christ (15 credits)
  • Intermediate Greek with Texts (15 credits)
  • Religion in Ethnographic Perspective (15 credits)
  • Modern Islam II: Sociological & Intellectual Practices (15 credits)
  • Paul in Context (15 credits)
  • Religion, Culture & Society in Reformation Europe (15 credits)
  • Ritual in the Old Testament (15 credits)
  • Salvation & the City: Christian Faith & the Arts in London (15 credits)
  • Applied Ethics (15 credits)
  • Philosophy & Film (15 credits)
  • Religion & Politics in International & Transnational Contexts (15 credits)
  • Religious Difference: Jewish, Christian & Other Perspectives (15 credits)
  • New Testament Greek & Exegesis A (15 credits)
  • The Bible in Modern Imagination (15 credits)
  • Theological Themes of the Hebrew Bible (15 credits)
  • ‘What is Christianity?’: Patristic Perspectives (15 credits)
  • Between Revolutions: British Christianity 1689–1860 (15 credits)
  • Faith and Enlightenment: Philosophies of Religion from Anselm to Kant (15 credits)
  • Buddhist Ethics (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (30 credits)

Level 6

  • Hebrew Texts: Prose (15 credits)
  • Principles of Systematic Theology (15 credits)
  • Women & Gender in the Bible (15 credits)
  • Varieties of Religious Experience: Christianity in Britain 1850–1970 (15 credits)
  • Theology, Vulnerability & Culture: Shakespeare and Modernity (15 credits)
  • Philosophy of Religious Life (15 credits)
  • Anthropological Approaches to Religious Innovation & Questions of Being (15 credits)
  • Theravada Buddhism (15 credits)
  • The English Reformation (15 credits)
  • Exploring New Testament Theology I (15 credits)
  • Special Questions in Social Ethics (15 credits)
  • Contemporary Thought in the Muslim World (15 credits)
  • Law & Ethics in the Old Testament (15 Credits)
  • Gods, Kings and Prophets: History of Ancient Israel and Judah (15 credits)
  • European Jews & the "Orient" (15 credits)
  • The Search for Meaning (15 credits)
  • Religion, Politics & Global Media (15 credits)

Entry requirements & how to apply

Theology Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements 2:1 A 2:1 undergraduate honours degree. In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band C Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies.

Your application will be assessed by at least one academic member of staff. We aim to process all applications within four to six weeks, although this may take longer in February and March, and over holiday periods.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Theology checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Please explain why you wish to take our programme, and outlinining your relevant background experience.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

 

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31 July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £6,940 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £14,850 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: £3,470 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time overseas fees: £7,425 per year (2020/21)

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer before 1 June 2020, payment is due by 30 June 2020.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 June 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer in late August, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.


Additional costs/expenses

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Testimonials

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Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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