BA Religion and Theology (V600)

2027 entry | view 2026 entry

Course summary

Our BA Religion and Theology course explores how people and cultures deal with change, why conflicts arise and how religious traditions are constantly evolving.

The skills you'll develop will give you a strong foundation for an exciting career in professions including journalism, law, politics, publishing, teaching, communication, and many more.

Bristol is vibrant and multicultural, and your learning will go way beyond the classroom. As part of the course you'll have the opportunity to visit churches, mosques, synagogues, Hindu and Sikh temples, and Buddhist centres. Engaging in fieldwork gives you the chance to connect with communities, ask big questions and learn directly from people of different faiths and cultures.

You'll be taught by specialists in Buddhist studies, Christian theology, Islamic studies, Jewish studies and East Asian religions. Their expertise will help guide you as you explore historical and contemporary perspectives.

We have links with universities all over the world and in your second year you'll have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. You can choose from top universities on four continents, in countries including Japan, Singapore, Canada, the US, Belgium and Denmark. To find out more, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.

Join our vibrant, welcoming community where you can interact closely with lecturers and experience a variety of teaching styles, ranging from small-group sessions to larger lecture units.

Course structure

BA Religion and Theology at Bristol is a three-year course that enables you to explore a diversity of faiths and dig deep into beliefs.

Year one – you'll gain a solid foundation in global religions' complex interactions across history and modernity. You'll take units covering approaches to and issues in the study of world religions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism across regional and cultural contexts.

Years two and three – you'll develop expertise and shape your degree by choosing optional units according to your interests. We have a wide range of units covering aspects of different Western and Asian religious traditions.

Year three – you'll complete a dissertation, working closely with your supervisor who will advise you on choosing and researching a topic. The annual dissertation conference is the perfect opportunity for all final-year students to share their research.

In any year of the course, you can also choose to study one of the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin or Sanskrit (subject to availability).

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

ABB
DDM in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level
29 points overall with 14 at Higher Level

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Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher: AABBB
Access to HE Diploma in any acceptable title. The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 15 credits at Distinction and 30 at Merit or above.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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More about UK qualifications.