Religious Studies and Philosophy (BA)
- Subject areas: Philosophy, Religious studies and theology
- UCAS code: VV65
- Next intake: September 2024
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Tailored to you
With primarily optional modules you have freedom to choose a personalised degree.
Industry experience
Gain skills, confidence and connections through a variety of cultural internships.
Forge your own path
Through optional modules, you can explore subjects that interest you ranging from Islam to scriptual language to Buddhism.
Religion in context
Understand how religion influences and is influenced by the media, society, history and politics.
Dissertation with a difference
Explore a topic that sparks your curiosity; enhance multiple skills with a presentation and written element.
Religion and philosophy are fundamental parts of how people have sought to express their understanding of the purpose of life, and the foundation of personal and social behaviour.
In this thought-provoking degree combining two complementary disciplines, you will explore your own and other peoples' religious history and culture, and some of the fundamental questions of existence.
How should we live our lives? What should we believe? How should we set about trying to answer these questions, and how are we even able to think about them? Philosophy investigates these profound issues.
As the world’s oldest academic discipline, Philosophy has developed a range of concepts and techniques for addressing complicated problems. We equip you to analyse and construct complex chains of reasoning, developing and refining your thinking skills to consider the pressing puzzles of our time.
Religion has been part of human experience from the earliest traces of human existence up to the present day. It has been the way most cultures have sought to express their understanding of why we live and how we ought to behave.
Unlike other UK degrees, we explore beyond the major world religions, investigating lesser known faiths such as Jainism and mysticism. We give you space to focus on the ethical dimension of all traditions as you carry our your studies.
We offer a challenging and flexible programme of modules, supported by a friendly atmosphere and excellent staff-student relationships. Experts in their fields, our lecturers are all active researchers, sharing the latest thinking in the classroom.
Subject area: Philosophy
Subject area: Religious studies and theology
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-ABB
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
- Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Humanities or Social Science subjects. We will consider BTECs in alternative subjects alongside other academic qualifications and any relevant work or volunteer experience.
T level
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,000 | None |
| Year two | £9,000 | None |
| Year three | £9,000 | None |
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £22,700 | None |
| Year two | £22,700 | None |
| Year three | £22,700 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Course specific equipment
No.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
We are currently working with our students to update and improve the content of this course. The information shown below reflects the current curriculum and is likely to change. The review of the course is expected to be completed by August 2024 and this page will be updated by end of October 2024 to reflect the changes.
This is a three-year degree programme comprising 120 credits per year. In each year of study, you take 60 credits of Religious Studies and 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/2025 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.
Year one
You will take 60 credits of Religious Studies and 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
You may study religion through texts, poetry, art, film, biographies, fieldwork and drama. You will be introduced to key ideas about ritual, gender and place that provide a dynamic foundation for further study across a range of modules offered in your second and third years. You will also have the option to study one of the original languages of religious texts on offer.
Your Philosophy modules will provide a comprehensive grounding in the subject, giving you a strong foundation to build on in years two and three
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Origins and Legacies of Religion in the Modern World | RT0101 | 20 credits |
| Mind, Thought and Reality | SE4101 | 20 credits |
| Moral and Political Philosophy | SE4103 | 20 credits |
| Critical Thinking | SE4107 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A World Full of Gods | HS0001 | 20 credits |
| Themes and Issues in the Study of Religion | RT0102 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to the Bible | RT0105 | 20 credits |
| The Story of Christianity | RT0106 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to an Ancient Scriptural Language 1 | RT0107 | 20 credits |
| Introduction to an Ancient Scriptural Language 2 | RT0108 | 20 credits |
Year two
In Year Two, you will take 60 credits of Religious Studies modules and 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
In Religious Studies you will have the opportunity to develop a more advanced knowledge of a range of religious traditions, building on introductory modules undertaken in year one and develop your awareness of the role of religion in shaping the cultural, intellectual, and ethical concerns of contemporary societies.
After Year 1 there are no compulsory Philosophy modules. We give you choice – but we also give you the skills and knowledge to make informed choices. The second year of your degree will equip you with a thorough understanding of the core arguments of the principal areas of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| What is Religion | RT0201 | 20 credits |
Year three
You choose a further 60 credits of Religious Studies and 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
You will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of religious themes and topics with a range of specialised modules. You may also acquire skills in qualitative and quantitative research into religion(s) in contemporary societies, depending on the modules you choose.
Philosophy modules in year three reflect the current research activities of the staff who teach them, building on the themes studied in year two. You will read and think about the very same texts that the module leader is currently thinking and writing about and will have the opportunity to explore issues in greater depth, as your competence, knowledge and confidence increases.
If you wish, you can write a dissertation on a topic of your choice in either Religious Studies or Philosophy.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation or Critical Translation | RT0301 | 30 credits |
| The Life and Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer | RT0305 | 30 credits |
| Religion and the News: Conflict and Context | RT0310 | 30 credits |
| Identity and Integration: Muslims in Britain | RT0314 | 30 credits |
| Religion and Political Thought | RT0319 | 30 credits |
| Ancient Israel: Portrait of a Near Eastern Society | RT0324 | 30 credits |
| Money, Sex and Power in the Early Church | RT4329 | 30 credits |
| Metaethics | SE4367 | 20 credits |
| The Problem of Consciousness | SE4379 | 20 credits |
| Dissertation in Philosophy | SE4385 | 20 credits |
| Cyfiawnder Byd-eang | SE4394 | 20 credits |
| Hanes Athroniaeth yr 20fed Ganrif yng Nghymru | SE4396 | 20 credits |
| The Social Imagination | SE4412 | 20 credits |
| Belief & Irrationality | SE4419 | 20 credits |
| Ethics of Knowing | SE4422 | 20 credits |
| Beauty & Ethics | SE4425 | 20 credits |
| A Sense of the Possible | SE4427 | 20 credits |
| Aesthetic Injustice | SE4434 | 20 credits |
| Sociality Online | SE4435 | 20 credits |
| Reasons and Relationships | SE4438 | 20 credits |
| The Politics of Language Diversity | SE4439 | 20 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and one-to-one tutorials. You will also undertake independent study and research, with guidance from tutors.
Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping you to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop your own ideas. Seminars provide an opportunity for you to explore the ideas outlined in the lecture in a small group environment.
Seminars usually consist of about 15 students and the seminar leader (a member of the teaching team). Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small group work and student-led presentations. They offer a rewarding opportunity to engage critically with the key ideas and reading of a topic, and to explore areas of particular interest with an expert in the field.
How will I be supported?
Your scheduled contact hours will be supplemented by the opportunity for individual meetings with academic staff, by supportive academic progress meetings with your personal tutor and by the opportunity to attend research seminars and careers activities.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
How will I be assessed?
Modules are assessed by various methods, including coursework essays, written reports, source criticisms, critical reviews, examinations, class tests and oral presentations.
Coursework and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacities to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments. Assessment, including coursework, exams, and oral presentations, will test the different skills you have learned.
Progression is built into assessment, in that you will do smaller guided tasks in Year One, as well as formative essays in Years Two and Three. Progression is also evident in the growing emphasis on lengthier, independent work culminating in an optional 10,000-word dissertation in Year Three. Final Year modules also demand deeper engagement with independent methods of working, together with greater demands on handling critically a larger number of bibliographical tasks and items.
Feedback
You will receive written feedback on all your coursework assessments, and oral feedback on assessed presentations and seminar work. You will also receive oral and written feedback from your supervisor on preparatory work and drafts for large bodies of work (E.G. the Independent Study and Dissertation). Individual written feedback is provided for exams.
What skills will I practise and develop?
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’. These will allow you to:
- grasp complex issues with confidence
- ask the right questions of complex texts
- have an imaginative appreciation of different views and options and analyse these critically
- identify and apply relevant data
- develop practical research skills
- propose imaginative solutions of your own that are rooted in evidence
- communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech
- work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time
- learn from constructive criticism and incorporate its insights
- work as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving
- use IT programmes and digital media, where appropriate
- take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
School of English, Communication and Philosophy
English literature and philosophy graduates have excellent analytic and communication skills that fit them for a full range of professions and further training. Their cultural expertise and intellectual abilities are valued in the public and private sector, and in contexts as varied as the classroom, the law courts or the media.
School of History, Archaeology and Religion
We believe in giving our graduates the best opportunities to find employment.
Some of our graduates enter professions which make direct use of their academic expertise, while others compete successfully in a wide range of other fields.
Placements
The School of History, Archaeology and Religion has a dedicated Work Placements Officer who supports students with work experience opportunities both in and out of term time and careers advice.
Studying in Welsh
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How to apply
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
