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Religion is a vital element in human culture, and today religious issues are everywhere – from current affairs and international events, to the history of ideas, art and literature, and our own immediate experience and environment. Religious Studies at Kent involves investigating and discussing these ideas, experiences, practices and institutions, through texts, films, historical data and directly observing the world today.
Overview
Kent offers a range of modules reflecting the central place of religion in human life and thought. Some modules provide introductions to major world religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. Other modules investigate philosophical themes within religious studies; and others explore connections between religion and topics such as psychology, sociology, science, ethics, popular culture, films, literature and the arts.
Canterbury is a well-known centre in world religion, and the University has strong links with the Cathedral library and archives, and the Department of Religious Studies benefits from its staff expertise in Asian Studies to give an insight into world religions and its location near mainland Europe to give a truly global perspective on world beliefs.
Independent rankings
Religious Studies at Kent was ranked 14th overall in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2017 and in the National Student Survey 2015, 91% of our students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
You have the opportunity to study at a partner university for a term or a whole year, to experience an international environment. Religious Studies students currently have a wide range of opportunities in Canada, the USA, China, Hong Kong; with more partnerships hoped for in the near future. You may also wish to pursue a European exchange through the Erasmus Exchange scheme.
Teaching and assessment
You are usually taught in small groups, with most modules involving either two or three hours per week in class, plus individual consultations with teachers as well as sessions on computing and library skills.
Stage 1 modules are normally assessed by 100% coursework. At Stages 2 and 3, some modules are assessed by 100% coursework (such as essays), others by a combination of formal examination and coursework.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- increase knowledge of religious ideas and institutions as found in a diversity of cultural settings both past and present
- explore and discuss religious ideas and institutions, through both texts and historical data as well as direct observation of the contemporary world
- develop critical understanding of a sympathetic insight into the diversity of religious life, both as it has shaped and has been shaped by, other factors within culture and history.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the place, role and influence of religion, and religions, in human culture - particularly the culture of Europe
- the role and significance of religion within human experience
- the relationship between the study of religion and other branches of the humanities and social sciences
- the main approaches and methodologies characterising the critical study of religion, and its influences, as defined by the secular context of the University.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- evaluation of empirical data
- analysis and interpretation of relevant textual resources
- assessment of alternative theories and interpretations
- ability to construct and defend arguments and conclusions in a coherent manner.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- sensitive and critical evaluation of religious data within their proper historical and cultural contexts
- sympathetic appreciation of the ideas and practices of other groups and individuals
- ability to articulate the multiple connections between experiences, ideas, practices and institutions in the appreciation and understanding of religion and religions.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- research and writing
- computing and IT
- effective formal and informal communication
- working creatively and flexibly, on your own or with others
- time management, especially under pressure
- performance evaluation.
Careers
Through your study, you gain the key transferable skills considered essential by graduate employers. These include excellent communication skills, both written and oral, the ability to work in a team and independently, the ability to analyse and summarise complex material and devise innovative and well thought-out solutions to problems.
Recent graduates have gone into areas such as teaching, publishing, travel, advertising, personnel, diplomacy, social work, journalism, media, marketing and the legal profession, or further academic or vocational qualifications.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.