Applying for a postgraduate course
We encourage you to apply as early as possible, particularly if you are intending to apply for funding – many applications to scholarships require you to have an offer of a place before you can be considered.
Entry requirements for a masters degree
Candidates are normally expected to hold an honours degree at 2:1 or above (or its international equivalent) in theology and/or religious studies, or a related subject. Other candidates will be considered at the discretion of the Department.
Entry requirements for a research degree
Candidates are normally expected to hold a masters qualification. Other candidates will be considered at the discretion of the Department.
International students
Those whose first language is not English must achieve an overall score on the British Council IELTS test of at least 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element, or a TOEFL score of 600 (250 for computer based tests) with a TWE of at least 4.5, or a TOEFL iBT score of 100 (with no less than 19 in any element). Test results should be no more than two years old.
Students who cannot demonstrate this level of proficiency may take a course in the Centre for English Language Education at the University prior to studying in the Department.
How to apply
We encourage you to apply using the University's online application system. Please note that your application will not be considered until we receive all the documents that support your application. Alternatively you can apply in paper form.
Phone +44 (0) 115 951 4224 to request a copy.
After you submitted your online application
You will be sent an acknowledgement and your application will be passed to the Department for prompt consideration.
It normally takes two to three weeks from the receipt of your application and supporting documents for a decision to be made on Masters applications and four to six weeks for PhDs. Once a decision has been made, the Faculty Office will contact you. If you applied on-line you can track your application at any time using the Postgraduate Admissions portal (if you sent the University a paper application you may still use this facility but it will take a little while for your application record to appear).
Interviews
UK applicants for MA or research courses are invited to come to Nottingham to visit the Department and see the University's facilities. Those applying for MA courses will normally have an interview with the Postgraduate Admissions Officer and/or the Course Director of the relevant MA. Those wishing to pursue a research postgraduate degree (MPhil or PhD) will normally meet one or more potential supervisors. This interview will be as informal as is consistent with British Academy guidelines.
Applicants from outside the United Kingdom
Essay work is extremely important in the UK academic system, and it is in the interests of both the applicant and the Department that students will not encounter any problems with essay-writing while they are in Nottingham. We therefore generally ask our applicants with no previous experience of the UK academic system to send us:
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a statement of up to 500 words, in English, stating why you would like to study at Nottingham;
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an essay, in English, of about 1000 words, on an aspect of your chosen course of study agreed with the Department's Postgraduate Admissions Officer.
All applicants should indicate their preference for supervisor.