MPhil

MPhil in Theological and Religious Studies

Course Code: TRM2

The MPhil in Theological and Religious Studies is a nine-month Masters course.

Course content

The following are the current requirements:

1. Attendance at a course of seminars relevant to the area of study in which you are working.

2. An essay of not more than 5,000 words in length, on a subject falling within one of the following areas of study:

  • The Old Testament
  • The New Testament
  • Issues and Methods in the History of Christianity
  • The Christian God
  • The Philosophy of Religion
  • Psychology and Religion
  • World Religions
  • Issues and Themes in World Christianity

3. Two pieces of written work chosen from the following:

  • a three-hour examination on a language studied during the year (the list of languages is given out at the beginning of the year);
  • a second language from the same list;
  • an 'exercise' assessed by one essay of not more than 5,000 words (the list of exercises is given out at the beginning of the year)
  • an essay of not more than 5,000 words on a subject chosen from a list available in the Faculty Library.

4. A thesis of between 15,000-20,000 words (inclusive of footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography), on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Divinity.

How to apply

Information about all postgraduate degrees of the University of Cambridge can be found via the admissions page of the Board of Graduate Studies, the central body which deals with all graduate applications for the whole University. You should submit your application to the Board of Graduate Studies following the guidance on that admissions page. Please click here to download the Faculty of Divinity's Graduate booklet.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.  This is particularly important for applicants seeking Gates or Cambridge funding, who should note the following deadlines.

USA applications for Gates Scholarships: deadline 14 October 2011

Non-USA applications for Gates Scholarships: deadline 1 December 2011

Applications for CCT and COT scholarships: deadline 1 December 2011

The final deadline for receipt of  all applications is 20 January 2012.

When you apply, make sure that you specify the details of your research proposal or the subject area of your thesis; and your first and second choices of seminar course, which must be relevant to the subject area of your thesis.

All applicants must submit a sample of written work. USA and Canadian applicants must submit GRE scores.

Minimum entry requirements

A 1st class or 2.1 honours degree with marks of at least 67% or a GPA of at least 3.8; or performance at an equivalent level in an honours degree.

Further information

Further information is available by looking at the current MPhil handbook and the Faculty's graduate booklet.

 

Forms for current students

Choices of essay, exercise and/or language should be submitted to the Faculty Office by Friday 21 October 2011.  Please click here to download the form.

The thesis title should be submitted to the Faculty Office by Friday 18 November 2011.  Please click here to download form.

 

Marking Scheme

The M.Phil. degree has a new marking scheme which came into effect from 1 October 2010.  The mark ranges are as follows:

Distinction       100-75

Pass                  74-60

Fail                    59-0

Classifications for the degree

The M.Phil. degree is split into two parts, each accounting for 50% of the final mark: i) three pieces of work (Essays, Exercises and Language Papers, in various possible combinations), and (ii) a thesis. Both parts must be passed for the Degree to be awarded, except that a marginal fail in Part (i) may be compensated by a high mark in the thesis.  In order to awarded a distinction the candidate must achieve a mark of 75 or above for their thesis and achieve a distinction in Part (i).

Please click here to download the assessment criteria, marking and classing document.