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  Research programmes in Theology and Religion at the University of Edinburgh – Masters by Research and PhDs


  School of Divinity

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 Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide)

About the Programme

The Graduate School is led by some of the UK's most respected and high-profile scholars of theology and religion, and has an international reputation as a research centre. We offer students the chance to engage with cutting-edge research in a wide range of areas, and we attract a diverse community of staff and students from around the world. 

Why study with us?

Our size and breadth of specialisms:

The School of Divinity is one of the largest centres for the study of Theology and Religion in the UK. We currently have around 450 students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and nearly 40 academic staff, including internationally respected scholars in a wide range of specialisms.

Top-rated-research/world-class rankings

Our school is led by some of the UK's most respected and high-profile scholars of Theology and Religion, who produce world-leading research.

The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the world's top 50 universities. We are 18th in the 2018/2019 QS World University Ranking.

Our diverse, welcoming and vibrant community

We welcome students from around the world, from religious and non-religious backgrounds and we are proud of our strong sense of community and our consistently high student satisfaction ratings.

We take a personal interest in our students' academic and professional development and offer a welcoming and friendly setting. Our students also benefit from a lively programme of social and academic events.


We offer Masters by research and PhD programmes in the following research areas:

Ethics & Practical Theology
Explore theoretical and practical approaches in areas such as environmental ethics, peace-building, and pastoral theology.

Hebrew & Old Testament Studies
Investigate the Hebrew Bible and its context: poetry and prophecy, theology and ethics, the Dead Sea Scrolls.

History of Christianity
Engage deeply with the Christian past - whether your interests lie in centuries long ago, or the near present.

Islamic Studies & Christian –Muslim Relations
Pursue interdisciplinary study of Islamic thought and practice, and of encounters between Christianity and Islam.

New Testament and Christian Origins
Undertake research in exegesis, historical-critical issues, textual and literary criticism, the relation between Christianity. and its religious and historical setting, the history of interpretation, and hermeneutical questions.

Religious Studies
Specialise in contemporary, historical or thematic research, in areas such as Asian Studies, History of Religions/New. Religions, and Jewish Studies.

Science & Religion
Bring together the two great truth-seeking disciplines and explore how they challenge and inform each other.

Systematic Theology
Undertake a critical and creative engagement with Christian thought, in a context of intellectual diversity.

World Christianity
Focus on Christianity in and from all parts of the majority world, and on African and Asian churches in the northern hemisphere.

Scholarships and funding

On average around 50% of Divinity postgraduate students are awarded some level of scholarship funding
• Scholarships are awarded on academic merit. Most are open to all, but some are ring-fenced for applicants from certain parts of the world.
• Awards are made for both Masters and PhD programmes.
• Typically, awards are for full or partial fee costs. Fully funded awards are exceptional and highly competitive.

Search our scholarship opportunities

Contact us
School of Divinity

New College
Mound Place
Edinburgh EH1 2LX
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 131 650 7227
Email: Divinity.PG@ed.ac.uk

Or visit our website 


Funding Notes

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Where will I study?

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