Theology and Religious Studies BA Hons

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Course Summary

How do ancient texts help shape people's choices in the modern world? What's the connection between believing, belonging, and behaving? Do new religious movements present a danger to society? What tools does Christian doctrine provide for addressing the climate crisis? What does the Bible really say? Is religion a force for good in the world, or a source of conflict?

Questions about religion, faith and spirituality are vital in modern, global society. A degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Chester will equip you to understand the ongoing significance and meaning of religious perspectives in the contemporary world, as well as inviting you to think critically and constructively about beliefs, practices and ethical concerns in traditions such as Christianity, Islam and Asian religions. Our course welcomes and supports students from a variety of faiths, beliefs, and non-belief backgrounds.

Our expert staff will support you in gaining skills highly valued by employers, such as religious and cultural literacy, empathy, communication, critical thinking and organisational skills.

Hear from our students and discover what the course lecturers are pursuing in their field in our blogs and news posts.

Why You'll Love It

Our courses are nationally recognised for their excellence

Flexible opportunities to pursue your own interests

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UK top ten for world-leading and internationally-excellent research

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Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester

What You'll Study

The BA in Theology and Religious Studies course introduces the core areas of the study of religions and theology, and then enables you to develop existing or new interests through a range of specialist topics.

Year 1 (Level 4) provides a foundation by introducing the core disciplines within the theology and religious studies subject area: Christian theology; religious studies; biblical studies; ethics; and religious traditions, such as Islam, Christianity and Buddhism.

You will be able to choose from a variety of specialist topics in Year 2 (Level 5) and in Year 3 (Level 6); modules relate to theology and religion in both the modern and ancient worlds. In topics such as Jesus and the Gospels, God in Christian theology and philosophy, and contemporary Islam, you will be able to explore your interests in greater depth.

You will also be given the opportunity to encounter ancient and contemporary religious texts and investigate key themes such as gender, violence and spirituality in popular culture.

In Year 2 (Level 5), you’ll be able to apply your skills in workplace settings or to contemporary problems in our innovative module, Religion in the City.

In Year 3 (Level 6), you will have the opportunity to work individually with a subject specialist to pursue a project of your own choosing.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

While the exact details of delivery will vary depending on the content of a particular topic (or even a particular session), most class sessions will be a mix of lecture, discussion, group work and practical demonstration. Some topics may have specifically designated seminars to facilitate discussion among a smaller group of peers. Some may include field trips. You will also have one-to-one tutorials in every module to help you prepare for your assessment. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately eight and twelve hours per week, depending upon the level of study.

You should also expect to spend around 30 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics in the subject, drawing on their research and expertise. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There is a wide range of assessments designed to help you consolidate your learning and develop key skills, so you will be equipped for a variety of careers. The emphasis is on coursework rather than exams. In addition to essays, you are likely to write book reviews, text analysis, blog posts, dictionary entries, give oral presentations, video presentations, reports, research journals, workbooks, or critical reflections on your own learning. All assessments involve some element of independent choice and are supported by formative activities, such as one-to-one tutorials and feedback, which highlight the next steps to enhance your achievement.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

This course may include optional field trips, usually in Chester and the North West region. The costs will vary depending on the destination, but are likely to be between £0 and £15 for travel. Participation on these trips is not required to successfully complete the course.

Who You'll Learn From

Prof Hannah Bacon

Professor of Feminist Theology

Professor Caroline Tee

Professor of the Anthropology of Islam

Dr Ben Fulford

Associate Professor of Christian Theology

Prof Paul Middleton

Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity

Dr Steve Knowles

Senior Lecturer in Religion and Popular Culture

Dr Matthew Collins

Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism

Dr Dawn Llewellyn

Associate Professor in Religion and Gender

Dr Deborah Casewell

Associate Professor in Philosophy

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

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Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Taught by active staff responsible for advising religious communities and shaping policy, you will be well equipped to enter into any professional role which requires religious literacy and cultural sensitivity. Our students go on to work in a variety of different professions, including charity work, law, education, government, health and social care, youthwork, publishing, ministry, finance and other forms of business and industry.

While studying our Theology and Religious Studies degree, you will develop skills that are in high demand with employers across all sectors. Alongside critical thinking, argumentation, independent decision making, and the ability to present complex information clearly, our programme develops cultural and religious literacy, empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives, media literacy and technological skills, and helps you gain project management experience that is crucial for career advancement.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Theology and Religious Studies BA (Hons)

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