Theology and Religious Studies
Fellows
- Dr James Aitken (Director of Studies)
Details and statistics
- Number of students admitted per year (average over 2008-2010): 2
- Entry requirements: no specific A levels
- Typical offer: A*AA
- Interview arrangements: usually 2 interviews; candidates are asked to submit a piece of written work before the interviews .
- Course details: a course guide is available on the Faculty of Divinity website.
Brief Outline of the Course
The Theology and Religious Studies degree at Cambridge offers the opportunity to study all aspects of religious thought and life from a wide variety of perspectives. It is suitable for people of any faith (or none), and of many different academic backgrounds.
The course is divided into three one-year sections, Part I, Part IIA and Part IIB.
Part I is designed to offer a general introduction to Theology and Religious Studies, with a high degree of flexibility. Students take a language (Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, or Sanskrit), a Biblical paper, and three others chosen from a range of options.
In the second year (Part IIA), students choose four papers covering a range of subject areas including: Church History; Doctrine; Languages and texts; New Testament; Old Testament; Philosophy and Ethics; the Study of Religion; World Religions (separate papers on Indian religions, Islam and Judaism).
In their final year (Part IIB), students again offer four papers, including one ‘special subject’ and one interdisciplinary paper. At this level it is possible to continue with a broad grounding in Theology and Religious Studies, or to develop a specialism in a particular field. The large number of papers includes: Advanced Languages; Body, Self and Society; Imagination; Jesus and Early Christology; Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust; Islam; Metaphysics; Religion, Power and Political Society; Self and Salvation in Indian and Western Thought. A dissertation on an approved topic may be submitted in place of one of the four taught papers. For further detail, see the Faculty of Divinity website.
Organisation of Teaching
Students of Theology and Religious Studies at all the Colleges follow the same degree course and sit the same university examinations. Most papers are taught through lectures and classes organised centrally by the Faculty of Divinity, with supervisions in Colleges (organised by the Director of Studies). Colleges rarely have more than one or two teaching officers in this relatively small subject area, so it is normal to be supervised by staff in a number of different places. Supervisors see students regularly in pairs or singly. They set and mark essay work, providing individualised teaching to complement that provided in lectures and classes. Assessment is by three hour examination or by written assignments (essays).
Theology and Religious Studies at Girton
Girton has long provided an encouraging atmosphere supportive of Theology and Religious Studies. In addition to the Faculty funds, students may benefit from College general funds to support travel etc. associated with their studies. The Director of Studies, Dr James Aitken, specialises in biblical languages, the Hebrew Bible and the study of Ancient Judaism. Girton’s Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite, provides supervision in aspects of Christian theology and literature.
Care is given, and this translates into good results for our students. For several years, virtually all students in all parts of the Tripos have gained at least a 2i. A good proportion of graduates embark on higher degrees.
The College admits two undergraduates regularly, and these are joined less frequently by Year Abroad (learners who spend a year in Cambridge as part of their degree programme elsewhere) and postgraduate students. The small community of Theology and Religious Studies is supportive and friendly, with support across the years.
The Faculty of Divinity, where lectures take place, occupies and award winning building on the Sidgwick site. This is about 2 miles for Girton’s main site (there are regular buses, and a cycle lanes from the College to the city centre) and just a few minutes from Wolfson Court (where many second and third year undergraduates live). It’s a small and friendly Faculty with a real sense of community among the students from different Colleges.
Applying to Read Theology and Religious Studies at Girton
Girton pioneered women’s education at Cambridge and retains a strong commitment to equal opportunities and widening participation. This is reflected in our approach to Theology and Religious Studies. We are looking for academically gifted people from all cultural, educational, national and socio-economic backgrounds, who possess intellectual flexibility, self-discipline, and an ability to argue a case logically.
Girton interviews all serious applicants. Theology and Religious Studies candidates normally have one subject interview and one general interview. In line with Faculty of Divinity policy, they are also interviewed by a second College.
Our typical conditional offer is A*AA at A2 level (or equivalent). Candidates do not have to have taken Religious Studies at A2 level, although this is helpful. A GCSE level qualification (or higher) in an ancient or modern language is also useful.
The Director of Studies is happy to meet with intending applicants, or to provide further information about the subject by phone or email. He may be contacted via the Admissions Office, to whom general queries about the procedure for admission to Girton may be directed.