Skip to content Exit mobile menu

Your next steps...

Open days

Apply now

A course that trains you for a digital, global age in which theological insight and religious literacy matter more than ever.

  • Opportunities to visit international sites of religious significance, such as Jerusalem or Rome.
  • You will receive teaching and tuition from top-level academic experts drawn from the St Mary's theological research centres.
  • Combine your studies with Education Studies.

Why study Theology, Religion, and Ethics?

Our degree in Theology, Religion, and Ethics combines contemporary debates with ancient disciplines. 

Along with our experts, you will read seminal writers and thinkers of centuries-old traditions, pick up critical views of contemporary world issues, and examine the cultural appropriation of religious ideas and imagery.

You may wish to study modules about science and religious ethics, politics and the Bible, or look closely at developments in theory and theological doctrine. 

This degree allows you to explore some of the most recent and the most long-standing examples of the perennial human search for meaning, and apply them to the realities of contemporary society.  

Why St Mary's?

Studying Theology, Religion, and Ethics with us enables you to engage in open critical inquiry and contemporary intellectual debates in a setting with a vibrant religious identity. 

We focus on cultivating academic excellence and are deeply concerned with ensuring your receive the best student experience.  

The programme includes opportunities to visit religious communities, and we also make use of the galleries and museums of London, situating your degree within the wider cultural economy of the UK. 

While the degree takes special account of the University's Catholic identity and ethos, we welcome students from all faith traditions—and none. 

Our staff includes academics of various backgrounds and convictions, and we offer a supportive and welcoming community in which you can study. All our staff aim to ensure that you are highly attractive to employers after you graduate. 

As part of your degree, you will also have the opportunity to take part in an work placement. Previous students have been placed in the local and wider London area, in religion, public life or interfaith relations think tanks, third sector agencies such as charities and NGOs, catholic schools, and units for ethical and social responsibility in the corporate sector.


Course lead

Dr Jeremy Pilch headshotDr Jeremy Pilch
Programme Director - Theology, Religion and Ethics

Return to sub navigation

Entry requirements

112 - 96UCAS points required

Check how many points your grades are worth

Calculate your total UCAS points

80 UCAS points should include at least two B grades at A Level (or equivalent).

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

For undergraduate programmes we will take into account subjects studied at Level 3, your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile, relevant non-academic achievements outlined in your personal statement, references, and your motivation for study.

International requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent).

UCAS Personal statement support

Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.

Return to sub navigation

Course content

Each year consists of 120 credits. You are expected to gain a minimum of 80 credits in modules offered by the Theology, Religion and Ethics programme, and can choose from a set of non-programme module options for the remaining 40 credits if you would like to.

Year one

  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option

Year two

  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Optional
  •  Optional

Year three

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Optional

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

Return to sub navigation

Career opportunities

An awareness of theological issues and religious literacy presents numerous possible career paths, including journalism and media, teaching, the health and caring professions, various business organisations, human resources, development work, pastoral ministry, local government and civil service.

The programme affords many opportunities to acquire key transferable skills: strategic knowledge acquisition; research skills; analysis and evaluation of material; the preparation of written and oral reports, IT skills, time management; interpersonal skills such as negotiation, diplomacy, flexibility, adaptability, teamwork and delegation.

The Careers Service has more information on careers and postgraduate study options available to Theology and Religious Studies students who have started their studies at St Mary’s.

Return to sub navigation

How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

Theology, Religion, and Ethics can be studied either full-time or part-time.

Our teaching involves lectures from leading experts in the fields of Christian theology, Religion, and Ethics, drawing from St Mary's leading research centres in Religion and Theology. 

We make full use of class seminars, which encourage group work, offer a wide variety of active and interactive tasks, and provide plenty of scope for discussion. We also engage in innovative teaching methods - multimedia delivery of content, creative use of online learning environments, and the active acquisition of digital research skills - which supplement more traditional methods and ensuring the best and most engaging guidance and instruction for you.

Class sizes tend to be between 10 to 15 students.

Teaching breakdown

Learning on the course is made up through a combination of:

  • Contact time: 16%
  • Guided learning: 22%
  • Independent study: 62%

Independent study is a key feature of your degree and is crucial to furthering your knowledge.

You will receive your timetable a week before teaching is due to start at the latest.

Assessment methods

We seek to furnish your excellence, experience, and employability through a broad range of assessment methods. This includes written essays and traditional exams, but also oral presentations, short video assignments, reports or reviews of specific texts, visual portfolios of visits to centres of religious significance, interpretive exercises on ancient materials, and a dissertation assessment for final-year students assessing independent thinking and research skills.

This range of assessment methods ensures you attain a variety of skills that make the most of your acquired knowledge.

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within three weeks.

See how your final degree mark is calculated...

Compensated passes

Please refer to the information on compensated passes throughout your degree as outlined in the academic regulations.

Return to sub navigation

Facilities

View all facilities
Return to sub navigation

Fees and funding

2023/24 fees

  • Home: £9,250
  • International: £14,850

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Governments review of Higher Education Funding.

Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.

Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage

Scholarships

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to new undergraduate students. This includes:

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.

Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

Return to sub navigation

Further information


Return to sub navigation

Visit the campus

Upcoming open days

Meet current students, explore our green campus, and find out why St Mary’s could be the place for you.

You'll also get a chance to:

Staff from various teams, including the Student’s Union, Student Funding, and Admissions, will also be around to discuss any questions you may have about studying at St Mary’s.

Book your place now

Campus tours

There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the campus, even if you can't make it to an Open Day. We run campus tours every Wednesday at 12pm. If you'd like to join us for one of these tours please register your place for your preferred day.

Virtual tour

We know that for it's important to you to see where you'll be living and studying before you make your decision. However, we also know that for many people it's not always easy to make it to the campus.

That's why we've developed a virtual tour of campus, allowing you to explore that facilities and the beautiful views that we have to offer.

Launch the virtual tour

Return to sub navigation

UCAS Application Timeline