PhD in Theology and Religious Studies
Course Code DV21
How to apply:
Applicants apply on-line via the postgraduate study website. The deadline for those seeking funding is 2nd December 2025 and the final deadline is 14th May 2026.
Entry Requirements: Master's degree with marks of at least 67% or a GPA of at least 3.7 in the US system or the equivalent to a high pass. Students continuing from the Faculty's MPhil degree should achieve a mark of at least 71 for their dissertation and an overall average of at least 71%. Master's degrees in the following subjects are acceptable Theology, Religious Studies or one with a substantial theological component or Anthropology for those wishing to do a PhD in Anthropology of Religion.
You will need the following when applying:
- Academic transcripts
- CV
- The names of two referees
- Research Proposal: should be no more than 1,000 words; it should include the following points: the topic that you propose to research: this should be consist of a clear outline of the research you wish to do; the research context: relate your proposed research to other work in its field or related fields and indicate in what way your research will differ; the contribution that your work will make to the field: this is your chance to show how you have arrived at your position and recognised the need for your research and what it is that makes it both new and important; the methodology and methods to be used in your study: this section should describe the methods and methodology you propose to employ as well as a justification for suitability of these methods in addressing your research topic; fit with the Faculty and potential supervisor: explain how your research fits in with the Faculty's research interests and your potential supervisor
- Name of your potential supervisor; in advance of your application, you must contact a potential supervisor regarding your dissertation. See the 'People' pages for information on our academic research interests.
- Sample of written work; essays or part of a thesis which have been previously submitted for degree work and should total no more than 12,000 words.
Programme Information
The PhD is normally a three-year course of full-time study, culminating in a thesis of no more than 80,000 words, based on original research on a focused topic. It is also possible to pursue the degree part-time over five years.
The Faculty of Divinity is one of the largest centres for theological research in the UK. There are 22 University Teaching Officers, covering six core areas: Christian Theology, History of Christianity, New Testament, Old Testament, Philosophy of Religion and Religious Studies.
The Faculty's research environment is internationally respected and admired, supporting a balance of individual research initiatives and larger-scale collaborations. It provides an ideal setting, rigorous and supportive, for research to flourish. It has close links with external research institutions, including the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH), Tyndale House, the Von Hügel Institute, and members of the Cambridge Theological Federation, including research centres such as the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide, the Faraday Institute, and the Woolf Institute.
The faculty’s research culture is focused around a range of senior seminars, which meet regularly during term time. Here, academics from Cambridge and elsewhere read and discuss papers. There are nine senior seminars, covering the six subject areas listed above, plus Hebrew, Jewish and Early Christian Studies, Patristics and World Christianity.
Alongside these seminars there is also a wide range of informal reading groups. A list of reading groups can be found under the 'Research' section of the main menu. The faculty also has a number of endowed lectures which see leading academics visiting the faculty.
The University has exceptional research collections. The nearby University Library (UL) has more than eight million print items and numerous unique archives. The colleges each have their own collections and archives, often housing manuscripts of national and international importance. The library of Tyndale House contains a collection of relating to contemporary Biblical Studies of international renown.
Study for a PhD involves working closely with an individual supervisor. Prospective students should consult the list of University Teaching Officers. Some members of the wider academic community in theology at Cambridge also supervise PhDs.
Part-time Study
The Faculty expects part-time research students to attend for at least 45 days per year. We would prefer students to be in Cambridge for 15 days per term to cover two meetings of their senior seminar, or supervisions. However, students can make two short trips to the Faculty to fulfil this requirement. Supervisions can also be conducted online if agreed with the supervisor. Students can also make visits outside of term to use the library or other facilities. During the first five terms, we expect students to be reading, researching and preparing for their first-year registration examination which will take place at the end of fifth term. The next 10 terms we will expect students to continue with their research, writing and preparation for submission of their thesis.
Detailed Plan for First Five Terms
- First Michaelmas Term: The student should attend our induction day at the beginning of term to learn about the Faculty and Library. The student should visit for fifteen days either to attend their senior seminar or supervisions as described above. They should begin their research and reading.
- Second Lent Term: The student should visit for fifteen days either to attend the senior seminar or supervisions as described above. They should continue their research and reading. They should also start work on their 10,000 word chapter for their first-year registration examination.
- Third Easter Term: The student should visit for fifteen days either to attend the senior seminar or supervisions as described above. They should continue to work on their initial chapter and research proposal and the drafts should be sent to their supervisor.
- Fourth Michaelmas Term: The student should visit for fifteen days either to attend the senior seminar or supervisions as described above. They should continue to work on their portfolio of work for their first-year registration examination and discussing these with their supervisor.
- Fifth Lent Term: The student should visit for fifteen days either to attend the senior seminar or supervisions as described above. They should get their portfolio of work ready for their first-year registration examination and submit this to the Faculty Office. There will be meetings arranged between the student and their assessors to discuss their submitted portfolio and plans for the future.
Along with identifying provisional dates for the visits that you will make to Cambridge during your first five terms of part-time study, please draft a description of the work you plan to undertake each term. This proposed attendance schedule, agreed in consultation with your potential supervisor, will form an important section of the Part-Time Interview Report Form that will accompany your application should it progress to interview.
Funding
There is information about sources of funding here.
Further Questions
If you have any questions about the application process and the course contents then please contact the Graduate Studies Co-ordinator.