Durham University
Biblical Studies MA
Durham University

Course modalities offered

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Biblical Studies MA at Durham University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Anthropology.

Overall student satisfaction
79 /100
15 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Anthropology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Anthropology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £26500 £27000 £33000
25-75 percentile range £22000 - £32500 £21000 - £32000 £23000 - £45500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Anthropology

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £22450 £26876
25-75 percentile range £21000 - £28000 £16925 - £28392 £20314 - £34845

Course Description

Our MA in Biblical Studies offers you the opportunity to study in depth both biblical and falsely attributed religious texts known as pseudepigrapha. 

This comprehensive course is one of the three key areas of teaching and research in the Department along with Christian theology and the study of religion, and consists of two core modules – Gospels and Canon and a dissertation. 

You will also be given the opportunity to select additional optional modules on topics such as faith and reason, conceiving change in contemporary Catholicism and religion in the neo-Liberal age.

The full range of biblical and ancient languages including Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, and Middle Egyptian are also studied and we are proud to be one of only a small number of universities that offers the opportunity to study such a broad range.

Durham University has a long tradition of outstanding biblical scholarship, and our course provides a wide range of distinctive approaches to biblical studies, including the historical, critical and theological that will allow you to grow and mature as independent researchers, working in your own fields of biblical interest. 

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Biblical Studies MA at Durham University

35% Sales occupations
15% Teaching Professionals
10% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Elementary occupations
10% Artistic, literary and media occupations
10% Administrative occupations
10% Welfare and housing associate professionals

Grading & Study Time

The course provides a research-led approach to learning with the aim of developing your skills and abilities as an independent researcher.  Teaching is very much research-led and carried out in small-group seminars and tutorials although some classes include a lecture-style element which will help you to understand topics and then develop your knowledge away from the classroom. Seminars boost your knowledge and understanding as a result of your preparatory work and the subsequent discussions with course colleagues and teaching staff. The small group discussions and tutorials provide the opportunity to receive feedback on your completed items of work and to discuss specific issues in detail.  We adopt a lecture-style format where appropriate in order to help both your understanding of a subject and your ability to evaluate information and produce ideas and analysis. Finally, the course culminates in the dissertation. This is a major piece of writing and you will receive individual support and guidance throughout the academic year from a supervisor as you complete the work.  Assessment is thorough and ongoing and is carried out by careful and exacting analysis of your completed work over the year using in some cases essays, oral examination and written exams. As a key part of the course, you will be required to complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a subject of particular interest to you.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All other courses
    • 4.5
    • Foundation
    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

For further information see the course listing.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Biblical Studies, MA, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

The standard entry requirement is a BA (Honours) degree (UK 2:1 or equivalent, for example, a GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale) in Theology, Religious Studies or a related discipline.

The two principal exceptions to this rule are as follows:

Graduates of other disciplines who have studied at undergraduate or equivalent level in one or more of the areas in which they hope to work, through their first degrees, through training for the ministry of the churches, and so on

Students from overseas universities who have successfully reached a point in their theological studies comparable with completion of a British BA at the standard noted above - for example, on the German model, passing the Zwischenprüfung or Kolloquium and two semesters at the Hauptseminar level.

The University will contact the referees named in your application directly. Please ensure that your referees are able to provide a reference in a timely fashion. If you are also applying for a Durham MA bursary, please ensure that your referees understand that their references will be used both for admission and for a very competitive funding process.

Costs

Tuition Fees Biblical Studies MA

England UK £12600 year 1
Northern Ireland £12600 year 1
Scotland £12600 year 1
Wales £12600 year 1
Channel Islands £12600 year 1
EU £26750 year 1
International £26750 year 1
Ireland £26750 year 1

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of Durham University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Durham University in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #4 
    • #6 
    Theology & Religious Studies
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

See all 37 university rankings of Durham University

About Durham University

Founded in 1832, Durham University (DU) is located in the cathedral city of Durham, North East England. DU takes pride in having numerous subject fields ranked among the best in the world according to QS, as well as having an exceptionally large course catalogue without compromising the quality that students can expect. Apart from the impressive academic opportunities on offer, students can also participate in numerous sports, music, and art-based extracurricular activities on-site.

List of 211 Bachelor and Master Courses from Durham University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Durham University

undergraduates:
17140
postgraduates:
4365
Total:
21505
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Where is this programme taught

Durham University
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