MA Divinity and Classics

UCAS code: VQ68

Duration: 4 years

Delivery: Full-time

School: Divinity

College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Study abroad

Introducing MA Divinity and Classics

Divinity and classics overlap in many significant and substantial ways, with regard to both:

the historical period covered
the Greek and Latin heritage of Christianity in Europe and North Africa

By the time you graduate from this programme, you will have:

expertise in handling the complex and diverse approaches to reading classical cultures
skills in assessing classical cultures' continued contributions to contemporary society

What you will study

Year 1

You will choose a balanced range of courses from those offered in the fields of classics and theology and religious studies.

You can also choose a course from other subject areas across the University. For example, you might choose a course:

in a subject that complements your two programme subjects
that helps you to study a language
that simply interests you

Year 2

As with Year 1, you will choose a balanced range of courses from those offered in the fields of classics and theology and religious studies.

You can also choose a course from other subject areas across the University. For example, you might choose a course:

in a subject that complements your two programme subjects
that helps you to study a language
that simply interests you

Year 3

In Year 3, you will take advanced level courses in both classics and theology and religious studies.

Year 4

In Year 4, you will continue to take advanced level courses in both classics and theology and religious studies.

You will also write a dissertation on a subject of your choice in either of the two fields, with academic supervision.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2024/25)

Where you will study

Our facilities

Your classics teaching will be in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and in other lecture rooms and classrooms around the University's Central Area. The school building is home to a student research room and subject collections.

Most of your divinity teaching will be in New College. This city landmark in the centre of Edinburgh has its own historic library, study space, hall and garden.

You will also have access to many other study and student support facilities in the Central Area, including:

the University's libraries
computing facilities

The city of Edinburgh also contains many museums, galleries and cultural sites. These offer opportunities to broaden and deepen your learning.

Collections

New College Library holds one of the largest theology and religious studies collections in the UK. Its special collections include:

historical archives
manuscripts
printed books
objects

Current collections support the teaching and research activities of the School of Divinity in:

biblical studies
the history of Christianity
religious studies
theology and ethics
world Christianity

The collections continue to develop in new and evolving areas such as science and religion, Christian-Muslim relations, Buddhist and Jewish studies, and religion and literature.

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Divinity and the School of History, Classics and Archaeology on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Explore our facilities and campus:

Take a virtual tour of the School of Divinity

Take a virtual tour of the School of History, Classics and Archaeology

Study abroad

You will have a range of opportunities to spend time abroad. For shorter periods, these include summer programmes and working abroad.

During Year 3, you will have the chance to study abroad on exchange for up to a year at a wide selection of leading global universities. These include two institutions the School of Divinity has ongoing relationships with:

Radboud University Nijmegen
Dartmouth College

Going abroad expands your horizons and is great fun. It also offers academic and career benefits.

What are my options for going abroad?

Learning and assessment

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of:

lectures
tutorials
seminars
digital learning

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including:

examinations
coursework
participation in seminars
presentation of your work
an honours dissertation

Career opportunities

Our graduates leave with transferable skills that can be applied to careers in a wide range of areas such as:

finance
management
banking
the civil service
the voluntary sector
human resources

This programme can also serve as the basis for further study at postgraduate level in both classics and theology and religious studies.

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
A Levels: ABB.
IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
A Levels: ABB.
IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

SQA: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.
A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

SQA National 5 at C
GCSE at C or 4
Level 2 Certificate at C
IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)