Religious Studies, Master 2 subject

  • How do religious texts originate?
  • Is religion becoming less and less important in the modern age?
  • Which role does religion play in the migration process?
  • Are some religions really more dangerous than others?
  • What is religion actually?
Anna Kira Hippert

To me, it’s been important to study contemporary religious matters and forms – and Religious Studies meets these requirements fully.

– Anna Kira Hippert, Bachelor's degree

Profile

Degree
Master of Arts
Start
Winter- and summer semester
Duration
4 semesters
Classroom language
English
Admission
Not restricted, application at the faculty required
Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Application information for international applicants

Application information for international applicants

What's it all about?
This degree programme is unique, because ...
Bochum’s Centre for Religious Studies (CERES) provides an excellent and research-focused infrastructure for the Master’s degree programme, as it is closely affiliated with the numerous related disciplines united therein and integrated into an interdisciplinary research network.
It provides the opportunity to specialise in the following fields ...
  • Material history of religion (including six elective religious traditions)
  • Systematic religious studies
  • Religious research
  • Applied religious studies
Who is suited?
Those who wish to enrol in this degree programme,
has: a B.A. degree, language competencies in a source language relevant for religious studies (e.g. Hebraic, Korean or Sanskrit), basic understanding of socio-empirical methods

enjoys: a research and practice-oriented degree programme, in-depth discourse of religion or of individual religious traditions in the past and/or present, active participation in comprehensive research contexts

struggles through: challenging literature, source texts in the original languages, exhausting field research
This degree programme is suited for graduates in the following subjects
  • Religious studies
  • related subjects such as cultural science, history and social studies
Graduates from this degree programme frequently work
  • as political consultants
  • in education and research
  • in libraries, museums and archives
  • in the media and PR industry
  • in the field of development aid
And else?
An internship ...

is recommended. It is done during the degree course.
Duration: 1 month

Studying abroad ... is recommended. It is done from the 2nd or 3rd semester.
Duration: 1 semester
Where do I find help?
Academic advisory office

Studienberatungskommission Religionswissenschaft
Building, Room: Universitätsstr. 90a
Email:
Website academic advisory office

Contact students

Fachschaft Religionswissenschaft
Building, Room: Universitätsstraße 90a, Raum 0.10
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-26490
Email:
Website Fachschaft

Internet

Degree programmes' website

Other degree programs in the subject

Anna Kira Hippert
Anna Kira Hippert is a third-year student of Religious Studies. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree, 2-subject programme. Anna Kira’s other discipline is Art History.

What made you choose this degree programme?

I’ve always been interested in religions, but not from a theological perspective. The Religious Studies degree programme provides the option to study religions objectively.

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

To me, it’s been important to study contemporary religious matters and forms – and Religious Studies meets these requirements fully.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

Studying new religious currents. Moreover, religious studies is a very interdisciplinary programme, i.e. you also attend history, social sciences and theology classes, to name but a few.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

You’ve got to be aware that, if you want to complete the master’s degree in religious studies, you will have to learn a religion-relevant foreign language. For me, that language is Arabic, as I want to specialise in Islamic Studies in my Master’s degree. I attend Arabic classes in the Department of Oriental Studies, and they are often very difficult. So, I would consider Arabic my biggest challenge.

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

I would like to work in politics or in corporate consultancy. But I can also imagine remaining in academia. 

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

You should read up in advance which foreign languages will be eligible for you. I would also recommend attending more classes in the first semester than required. Thus, you will find your curriculum in later semester easier to handle, especially if you’ve got to catch up on your Arabic proficiency certificate or the Latin proficiency certificate.