How are religion, conflict and peace related? What is at stake in the "musealization" of religion? What role does religion and spirituality play in our experience of health and wellbeing?
Religion is an important factor in many national and international social themes. Sometimes this is obvious, especially when we read news about religious radicalization. Other times, it is much less obvious and we are not as aware of the influence religion has in social phenomena, such as in cases of sexual health or climate change. Experts on religion are needed in a world in which religion is a permanent part of everyday life.
We train these experts in our master’s tracks on religion, discussing subjects ranging from heritage studies to peacebuilding, from health & wellbeing to politics.
Will you join us to make a difference?
The tracks comprise of several course modules (30 ECTS in total), an internship (10 ECTS) and a master's thesis (20 ECTS).
All English taught tracks are fulltime, for parttime options, please contact the student adviser.
40 hours of class and self-study per week on average
1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS. In the first year, you will have on average 6 hrs. of lessons per week at the Faculty, the rest of the hours is reserved for preparation of the classes and studying.
Check the individual websites of our tracks for specific information.
Programme options |
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Werk en Zingeving (track) Hoe draagt werk bij aan welzijn? Hoe zorg je er voor dat je medewerkers gemotiveerd blijven en breng je werkgeluk in de werkdruk? Wat kan zingeving bijdragen aan organisatiestructuren? Werk is een belangrijke bron voor zingeving. Structurele aandacht hiervoor binnen organisaties, bevordert het welzijn van medewerkers en helpt organisaties te reflecteren op hun maatschappelijke impact.In de track Werk en Zingeving van de master Theologie en Religiewetenschappen leer je kritisch reflecteren op wat werk betekent voor identiteitsvorming, hoe mensen werk samen vorm geven, en hoe werk bijdraagt aan de samenleving. Je onderzoekt welke rol leiderschap hierin speelt op zowel organisatie- en teamniveau als persoonlijk leiderschap, en hoe je ervoor kunt zorgen dat iedereen zich thuis voelt in je team en organisatie. Dit draagt duurzaam bij aan een gezonde en veerkrachtige organisatie. Binnen organisaties geef je vorm aan aandacht voor zingeving.De opleiding biedt een unieke combinatie van godsdienstpsychologie, organisatiepsychologie, bedrijfskunde, filosofie en sociologie en is bijzonder geschikt voor HR-professionals of studenten die zich willen specialiseren op het gebied van zingeving, HR en arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie.Het is mogelijk om deze track in deeltijd te volgen. Neem hiervoor contact op met de studieadviseur. |
Spiritual Care (track) Hoe ervaren mensen zin in hun leven en hoe geven zij betekenis aan ingrijpende gebeurtenissen? Iedereen wordt voor keuzes gesteld op het terrein van gezondheid en ziekte, leven en dood. Als student Geestelijke Verzorging leer je mensen bij te staan in crisissituaties door ze te begeleiden op het gebied van zingeving en spiritualiteit. Je gaat je verdiepen in geestelijke en spirituele zorg in de hedendaagse samenleving en in het functioneren van een geestelijk verzorger in de eerste lijn of binnen een instelling. Met deze bagage kun je met kennis en creativiteit inspelen op de huidige zin- en levensvragen.Met de levensbeschouwelijke leerlijn ontwikkel je je eigen levensbeschouwelijke identiteit en leer je deze te verwoorden. De master is beroepsgericht en heeft een open, kritische en wetenschappelijke benadering van het werkveld van de geestelijke verzorging. De opleiding is geaccrediteerd door de SKGV (Stichting Kwaliteitsregister Geestelijke Verzorging).De Groningse opleiding is niet gebonden aan één specifieke religie of levensbeschouwing. Als je wilt gaan werken met een ambtelijke binding aan een levensbeschouwelijk genootschap, heb je aanvullende scholing nodig. |
Religion, Conflict and Globalization (track) How are religion, conflict and peace related? How does globalization affect local religious traditions? How do religious and secular actors interact in debates on migration and gender? Within the modern world, it is clear that religion has a major role in many conflicts occurring at multiple levels and locations. Yet religion is also one of the main ways in which people connect with each other across the globe. Despite this social and political significance, NGOs, governments and journalists alike often have misguided understandings of religion’s role in the modern world and the meaning that it holds for various peoples, relying on simplistic and outdated assumptions. This can contribute to disagreements, tensions and misunderstandings, with potentially serious consequences.The Religion, Conflict and Globalization Master’s track aims to address the pivotal place of religion within the dynamics of a globalized world, and how this relates to conflicts that shape modern societies. The course is interdisciplinary, wide-ranging, and broad; including political, social, psychological, cultural and legal dimensions. |
Religion and Pluralism, Ancient & Modern (track) What were the limits of tolerance and acceptance? Which roles did inclusion and exclusion play in the ancient world? How were notions of self and other shaped, and what were their mutual influences? This MA track studies the existence and coexistence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Exploring the impact of religious diversity on social identity formation in the Graeco-Roman and late antique periods until the rise of Islam, it analyses the role of tolerance and acceptance, of rejection and exclusion in their mutual relationships during the last two millennia. You will focus on a historical and philological analysis of the textual sources documenting the contacts among these religious traditions, approaching them from different angles and with diverse methods. Archaeology, codicology, paleography, epigraphy, textual analysis and interpretation illuminate each other in the scrutiny of the evidence concerning religious diversity in the ancient world. This MA track is unique due to both the interdisciplinary study of ancient Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions in one track, and the possibility of combining with a modern specialization. In it, students will encounter, firsthand, people from the ancient world and know how they grappled with religious diversity; they will envisage the varied religious roots of the modern world. |
Heritage and Religion (track) How and why do we creatively make use of the past to forge new identities in the present? What is at stake in the "musealization" of religion? Heritage and Religion is a unique interdisciplinary MA-track focusing on a major trend at the interface of religion, identity, politics, and heritage studies. It also addresses a gap in critical heritage studies, studying the shifting place of religion in heritage debates.In the coming years, 30-80% of religious buildings will lose their original function in the Netherlands. National and European budgets are dedicating millions of euros to the development of plans to address vacant religious heritage buildings. Tourism and pilgrimage to religious objects, sites, and festivals are booming, which raises questions about sustainability and impact. At the same time, heritage has become a significant subject in contemporary cultural debate. Large-scale migration and secularization are changing the religious identities of communities and the way they perceive the past. The demands of preservation of at risk material and intangible heritage in the face of war, displacement, population shifts, and climate change are great. How are preservation concerns balanced with local resources? This track challenges you to analyse and contribute your own voice to these debates. |
We have various exchange contracts with universities both inside and outside Europe, enabling students to follow part of their degree programme at a foreign university. Another option is to take an internship or to do part of the research work abroad. For an overview of our exchange partners, see: https://www.rug.nl/ggw/education/exchange-programme/partner-universities
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
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Arabic Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Arts and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Classics (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Hebrew Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Islam en Arabisch | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Middle Eastern Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Ancient Near Eastern Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Ancient Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Religious Studies | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Sociology | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Theology | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
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Theology | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding. |
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts (e.g. International Organizations, Middle Eastern Studies, Philosophy), Political Sciences or Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a premaster's programme. |
grade list |
An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses. |
language test |
An English language test for Dutch students is only required if you do not have a VWO-diploma. TOEFL: 90 internet; IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part). Exemption granted if:
If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. |
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
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Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts (e.g. International Organizations, Middle Eastern Studies, Philosophy), Political Sciences or Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a premaster's programme. |
grade list |
An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses. |
language test |
TOEFL: 90 internet; IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part) Exemption granted if:
If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. |
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
IELTS listening | 6 |
IELTS reading | 6 |
IELTS writing | 6 |
IELTS speaking | 6 |
TOEFL internet based | 90 |
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 2314 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 16000 | full-time |
Talent Grant available for non-EU students.
As of academic year 2023-2024 all applicants with a non-Dutch qualification will have to pay an application fee.
Practical information for:
If you want to become a teacher of religion in secondary education you can additionally follow the Educational Master's programme. If you want to pursue an academic career, you can follow one of the tracks track as a specialization within the Research Master's programme.
With a degree in Theology and Religious Studies, you can work as an advisor or policymaker. You can find a job in the media and in journalism, or enter the field of education. You can also pursue a research career at a university or research institution. As a spiritual caregiver you can work in care facilities.
Check our alumni page to find out where our alumni ended up after graduating.
The programme directly benefits from cutting-edge research carried out within the three departments of the faculty:
The course units are taught by internationally recognized scholars. They will provide you with an up-to-date overview of the state of the art of the subjects you are studying, often drawing on their own research.
Much of the research connects with the activities of:
These centres and research groups regularly invite speakers and organise events where students, PhD students and staff engage in lively discussions.
Read moreSophisticated academic research made diverting and fun
I read Theology at the University of Durham in the UK for my Undergraduate Degree and following two years of working in the media industry in London I decided that I wanted to know more about the interplay of religious belief, modernity and theories of conflict- which has led me to study Religion, Conflict and Globalization here at the University of Groningen.
Religious choices and religious thinking are so close to the hearts of many millions of people around the world and religion’s interaction with modernity and secularism has formed the basis and breeding ground for many of the challenges faced by governments, international organisations and policymakers around the world. Religion is a very fluid concept, which almost always adapts to its contextual situation and so being taught its role within diverse modern societies and in relation to theories of conflict, intersectionality, culture and peacemaking is incredibly important when hoping to develop a better understanding of the world.
The course is multi-faceted, drawing in influences from the social sciences, religious studies and political theory (and much, much more!). The course designers have worked incredibly hard to ensure that all the readings for classes are relevant, interesting and appropriate to the topic. Most pertinently, academic theories are applied to real-world case studies and many of the teaching staff in the department are leading experts in applying theory to practice. The Theology and Religious Studies Faculty at UG has a brilliant teaching style, where independent study is encouraged but expert advice and support is only a short e-mail, coffee or chat away!
Religion, Conflict and Globalization has a diverse range of focus topics; I chose ‘Religion, Violence and Conflict Transformation’ and have really enjoyed the mixture of topics - having had tasters of the other focusses (migration and gender) I can quite happily state that all of the focusses are equally interesting and well-taught.
The University has a focus on the real-world application of your degree programme and part of that is and internship. I hope to undertake my internship within Groningen and work with one of the Non-Governmental Organisations that have clustered around the exceptional university.
As a place to live and study in, Groningen is unmatched. It is vibrant, everyone is very friendly and there is a vast array of things to see and do. There is a festival, or university-led event nearly every weekend and I hope to extend my time in Groningen further than my 1-year programme. I cannot recommend my course highly enough to anyone who would like to gain a more sophisticated understanding of our highly interconnected world, develop their thoughts on religion in the public domain and experience life at a renowned university in a beautiful city.
Read moreEncouraged to engage with professionals from both academic and non-academic disciplines.
After I finished a placement at a museum, I was certain of my choice to follow the Master's degree programme track in Religion and Cultural Heritage. I greatly valued the emphasis on forming a strong theoretical foundation on the one hand, while simultaneously putting acquired knowledge into practice during excursions and seminars on the other. By visiting museums and conferences, we as students were encouraged to engage with professionals from both academic and non-academic disciplines.
This, along with various relevant guest lectures, significantly contributed to the broadening of my career prospects.
For my Master’s thesis, I conducted field research on exhibitions of human remains in museums. More specifically, this was a comparative study of the ethical aspects surrounding such exhibitions in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. What does the law say about displaying human remains in the Netherlands? And how does that differ compared to regulations in the United Kingdom? As well as holding in-depth interviews with museum curators, I observed how human remains were displayed. What I found was that the United Kingdom has a more strict and extensive policy regarding these type of exhibitions, whereas the Dutch law seems significantly less comprehensive on this topic. In my conclusion, I wrote a piece of advice on how the Netherlands could implement a more expansive policy. My supervisors were very enthusiastic and at the moment, we are looking for ways to bring my thesis to the attention of policymakers.
Finally, what I loved during both my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degree was the atmosphere at our beautiful faculty. The fact that it’s a small faculty contributes to a positive study experience as a whole, as both staff and students are very dedicated to their course units and to one another!
Read moreOne of my interests in religions is how they help in the formation of identities
I chose the program at the University of Groningen for two reasons: The historical and social approach that the program has (other universities have a more theological approach), and the opportunity of studying the three monotheistic religions (other programs are focused on Christianity or Islam). Also, I like the courses on texts studies.
My master’s thesis is about the split between Jews and Samaritans. Both religious communities share several beliefs, texts, practices, origins, and yet they are not the same. I chose this topic because one of my interests in religions is how they help in the formation of identities. For my internship, I will work at a historical research agency concentrating on museum design and exhibitions. They are currently working on the exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Groningen, and I will help with research. I will be a comparative study on several Jewish museums based in synagogues and how the religious aspect of the building might influence its use for cultural activities.
I did my bachelor's in History at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City, and besides the cultural shock and the evident differences regarding the weather, living in Groningen has been a marvelous experience. The international environment in such a small city and its student essence makes studying at Groningen a great experience.
After graduation, I would like to do research and teach at a university. The field of Religious Studies in Mexico is far from being developed and accepted at the universities. I want to help this to change. Also, as a former worker at a Research and Documentary Center of the Jewish Community, which also organizes cultural events, I want to collaborate on the planning of courses and activities for promoting an inter-religious society.
If you do not have a bachelor's degree in either the Humanities or Behavioural and Social Sciences, you will first need to complete a pre-master's programme before you can enter this master's programme. Below, you will find the complete programme. There are various electives from which you can choose, depending on your preferred specialization within the master's programme.
1st semester (30 ECTS)
2nd semester (30 ECTS)
If you have followed minor courses in Theology or Religious Studies, it might be possible to follow a shorter premaster's programme. Please contact our student advisors to see what the options are.
For the pre-master's programme, you will pay a so called compensation in stead of regular tuition fees. This compensation is the same for both EU and non-EU students.
If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also be interested in:
Master's students are expected to show a large degree of independence. If necessary you can make use of various forms of study supervision and study support. For example, you can contact a mentor or your study advisor. While writing your thesis, you will receive personal supervision from one of the lecturers.
Immediately after arrival, students who gained their Bachelor's degree at a different faculty or university as well as international students will be allocated a mentor who will help them get to know the Faculty. You can also go to the study advisor if you have doubts about your abilities or for whatever reason run the risk of study delay. You will receive intensive supervision while writing your thesis. The Master's programme includes a thesis seminar, where attention is paid to how to tackle writing a Master's thesis, and where the progress of the process is monitored closely. You will also receive structural supervision from the lecturer who is the specialist in the field of your thesis.
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