Research Master in Theology: Tilburg University

Course Description

The Research Master ’s programme offers variety and excellence in all areas of religious studies and theology, with an emphasis not only on Christian and Jewish traditions but also on other, non-western religious traditions, those of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism in particular, and non-institutional forms of religiosity and spirituality. The programme aims at highly talented and strongly motivated students.

Master's Programme

The research master's programme in Theology and Religious Studies consists of a major in one of the four key focus areas:

• Biblical Studies
• Systematic and Ethical Studies
• Liturgical and Ritual Studies
• Religious Pluralism

Each major consists of four courses of each 7,5 ECTS, followed by a master's thesis of 30 ECTS (see below).

Besides the major the programme consists of:

• A minor (15 ECTS). The minor courses are taken from one of the other majors, preferably the programme which is nearest to the student's major (Biblical Studies - Systematic and Ethical Studies/Liturgical and Ritual Studies - Religious Pluralism)
• A master colloquium (15 ECTS)
• Methodological skills, also including language proficiency (15 ECTS).
• Choice courses (15 ECTS)

Admission Requirements

Bachelor students should meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. While a bachelor in theology is not a prerequisite for admission to all fields of theology in the research master, additional course work may be required, depending on the field in which the student has graduated, and on the disciplinary field in which the student intends to specialise.
• An average score of 7.5 (out of 10) on their preliminary examinations in the second and third years of their completed Bachelor’s programme and a minimal score of 8 on their final Bachelor’s thesis, or equivalent scores for these study units in a non-Dutch higher education system.
• Sufficient talent, affinity and motivation with respect to doing scientific research, as demonstrated in the Bachelor’s thesis (or a comparable essay), or in a dedicated research proposal.
• Sufficient knowledge of the English language. If a student according to the Admission Committee can not show a sufficient command of English he/she has to pass the TOEFL, a language admission test, with a score of at least 577 on the paper-based version (IELTS equivalent: 6.5) and a score of 233 on the computer-based version of this test (internet-based 91).

Master students should meet the following requirements:

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline. While a master in theology is not a prerequisite for admission to all fields of theology in the research master, additional course work may be required, depending on the field in which the student has graduated, and on the disciplinary field in which the student intends to specialise.
• An average score of 7.5 (out of 10) on their preliminary examinations of their completed Master’s programme and a minimal score of 8 on their final Master’s thesis, or equivalent scores for these study units in a former or non-Dutch higher education system.
• Sufficient talent, affinity and motivation with respect to doing scientific research, as demonstrated in the Master’ s thesis (or a comparable essay), or in a dedicated research proposal.
• Sufficient knowledge of the English language. If a student according to the Admission Committee can not show a sufficient command of English he/she has to pass the TOEFL, a language admission test, with a score of at least 577 on the paper-based version (IELTS equivalent: 6.5) and a score of 233 on the computer-based version of this test (internet-based 91).