Department of Theology & Religious Studies

Career Paths

Our students go on to enjoy a wide variety of different careers and opportunities following an education in Theology & Religious Studies.

Explore the stories below from recent graduates from our BA, MA & PhD programmes.

Undergraduate stories

Lauren Roberts

'After completing my TRS degree, I joined the Civil Service and have progressed through a number of roles. Being able to break down and understand complex philosophical theory has helped me to read and digest complicated government policy and turn it into something accessible through external campaigns.

Furthermore, my knowledge about how society reacts and responds to both religion and politics has given me useful insight when working on campaigns targeted at specific groups.

I have also been able to adapt this thinking within my Diversity and Inclusion work when looking at people with specific protected characteristics, i.e. a faith group or race. Ultimately the application of skills and knowledge I attained throughout my degree have been instrumental to how I’ve been able to approach my work.'

Molly Ryan

'Whilst at King's I realised that the two most desirable aspects of my future career were being able to work with children and use the knowledge of religion and philosophy that my course gave me.

A position as a Religious Studies teacher was a perfect choice! My dissertation on the relationship between religion and education raised my awareness of the nuances of this role, and modules such as Religion, Politics and Global Media and Thinking About Evil introduced me to case studies and examples that I still use when lesson planning.

The empathy, acceptance, and intercultural understanding that I developed during my degree have been invaluable when working in an underprivileged and diverse area of London.'

Joseph Shaw

'I graduated from King’s in 2017 with a BA from the Theology and Religious Studies department and then pursued a one-year Diploma in Accounting and Finance at LSE.

Now I am working as an Investment Analyst at Morningstar Investment Management, where I research European equities, fixed income and currencies. Studying theology as an undergraduate challenged me to think critically about complex theories and taught me how to deal with subjective evidence and imperfect information.

This academic rigour provided an analytical skillset which has enabled me to pursue my career in investment management. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at King’s and fondly remember my years studying.'

Hamza King

'My degree in Religion, Philosophy & Ethics has equipped me with the tools needed to thrive in the world of politics. The modules encouraged and enhanced my critical thinking, while offering a concrete overview of moral and political philosophy. 

My undergraduate dissertation explored the conflict between UK drug policy and liberalism.

Weeks after graduating, I began working as a researcher at the ResPublica think tank, utilising my dissertation knowledge to publish articles on ResPublica’s blog that examine the perceived failings of classical liberalism.'

Postgraduate Stories

Michelle Fletcher

Michelle Fletcher 'I came to the Theology and Religious Studies department with a dream of becoming a biblical scholar. Today, that is exactly what I am, speaking at international conferences, publishing articles, and teaching students on the course that made it all possible.

The MA in Biblical Languages and Literature laid the foundations for my future. I was immersed in biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) and took fascinating modules on both the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Critical theory was also integral, such as feminist and queer readings of texts. The teaching was superb and set my mind on fire. Incisive feedback from staff, academic rigour, and an environment where any question was possible led to me finding abilities I never dreamt I had.

As a result, I was accepted onto the department’s PhD programme, and through outstanding supervision was encouraged to fulfill my academic dreams.'

Steffan Mathias

Steffan Matthews

'I studied a PhD programme in Biblical Studies at King’s 2011-2015, and after a couple of years and some training was ordained a Priest in the Church of England. It might sound like an obvious career progression, but the two things were never linked – although the Biblical Studies knowledge came in handy! What I found, however, was that my research and training has stayed with me in unusual ways.

The academic study of a culture so different than mine has helped enormously in ministering in a multicultural parish. A lot of my research focused on death and burial in the ancient world, and it’s given me a perspective on dealing with grief and loss. Studying in an engaging and dynamic department has opened my eyes not just to my subject, but to whole new ways of looking at the world, society, culture and community.

On top of this there’s so much going on – public lectures, discussions, societies and groups, parties – that you can explore wherever you feel led.'

Share your story

Have you attained a postgraduate qualification from the Department of Theology & Religious Studies in the last five years?

We would love to hear where your career path has taken you.

Contact the Department on trs@kcl.ac.uk and tell us your story today.

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Postgraduate opportunities with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies

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Career Paths

Our students go on to enjoy a wide variety of different careers and opportunities following an education in Theology & Religious Studies.

Undergraduate stories

Postgraduate Stories

Share your story

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