- Buddhism and its literature in India and the West
- Contemporary Christian Theology
- Contemporary Islam in the West
- Early Christian Literature, History and Culture
- Hindu Traditions: Ancient, Medieval and Modern
- History of Biblical Exegesis
- History of Buddhism
- Islam in the UK
- Method and Theory in the Study of Religion
- Narrative Traditions of South Asia
- Pastoral and Practical Theology
- Patristics and Late Antiquity
- Sikh Traditions of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century
- Sociology of Religion.
Programme aims
To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in research (in academia, the media, public sector), teaching in higher education, or a range of allied professions valuing a humanities postgraduate degree. The interdisciplinary nature of Religious Studies, in particular, provides a broad background combined with a clear focus.
Distinctive features
- Experienced supervisors and a successful and rewarding research programme
- A strong and active tradition of language and textual expertise
- Regular research seminars with visiting speakers
- Regular subject-specific and skills seminars.
Programme Structure
Range of expertise:
- Buddhism and its Literature
- Byzantine History
- Culture & Religion
- Chaplaincy
- Contemporary Islam in the West
- History and Culture
- Hindu Traditions
Admission requirements
Academic requirements: GPA Upper Second Class
English requirements: TOEFL iBT 90, PTE Academic 69, IELTS 6.5
Other requirements:
General requirements
- Suitable for graduates in a wide variety of Humanities disciplines and Social Sciences. A first or upper-second class UK Honours degree or equivalent is required.
- If you do not have a 2.1 degree, your application may be considered on the basis of a combination of your existing higher education qualification(s) and your professional experience. Please provide additional evidence to support your application such as signed and dated employer references.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
International: Non-residents: 50,857 AUD / year ≈ 26,700 GBP / year
Domestic: Citizens or residents: 9,535 AUD / year ≈ 5,006 GBP / year
Additional Details: Part-time tuition fees: £2,503
Living costs
Cardiff, United Kingdom: 1,196-2,030 AUD / month
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Scholarships
Available scholarships for Religious and Theological Studies:
- Fulbright-Cardiff University scholarship - Merit-based - Deadline 07 Oct 2026 (Cardiff University)
- Cardiff University Marshall Scholarship - Merit-based - Deadline Not specified (Cardiff University)
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program - Deadline 07 Oct 2026 (U.S. government)
- ACES Scholarships - 3500 USD - Deadline 15 Nov 2026 (ACES Education Fund)
- ServiceScape Scholarship - 1000 USD - Deadline 30 Nov 2026 (ServiceScape)
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility - Merit-based - Deadline Not specified (OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation)
- Scholarships for PhD Students - 19000 GBP - Deadline Not specified (Junhua Li)
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship - Various benefits - Deadline 28 Feb 2027 (Boustany Foundation)
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship - 1000 USD - Deadline 31 Oct 2026 (IvyPanda)
- Women Scholarship for International Students - 5000 USD - Deadline 28 Aug 2026 (educations.com)
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship - 1000 USD - Deadline 01 Mar 2027 (Voice Talent Online)
- The PhD Prep Fellowship - 10000 USD - Deadline 01 Sep 2026 (Admit Lab)
- Dream Chaser Scholarship - 1000 USD - Deadline 13 Jan 2027 (Salvado Law)
- Scholarship for students with disabilities - 3000 USD - Deadline 31 Dec 2026 (Anonymous Hope Fund)
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids - 22500 GBP - Deadline Not specified (UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO))
- Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria - Various benefits - Deadline 31 Dec 2026 (Leopold Figl Foundation)
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship - 1500 USD - Deadline Not specified (IELTS from 6 to 9)
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme - 12000 USD - Deadline 11 Jan 2027 (The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme)
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