Who Studies Theology?

Students in the School of Divinity (also known as St Mary's College) come from diverse backgrounds and with very different goals in mind.

While some wish simply to explore questions of worldview and consider the shape of religious belief and practice in our society, others hold faith commitmentsof many different types. You will be encouraged to express and to develop your own ideas.

A mixture of pre-suppositions, outlooks and interests amongst both students and staff fosters lively debate and enables you to gain respect for others and to understand the views of others. Whatever perspective you come from these programmes are guaranteed to encourage lively intellectual reflection upon prior assumptions and upon theology's engagement with culture.

Career Outcomes

Graduates with qualifications in the theological and biblical disciplines are highly attractive to potential employers looking to fill people-oriented positions. Accordingly, employment prospects are usually wide ranging.

Recent graduates from the School of Divinity include a journalist with the Roman Catholic diocese of Copenhagen, a recruitment consultant with the Cornell Partnership, a data collection assistant with ChurchesAction, an officer in the accounts department of Nexus Communication, a policy officer with the Scottish Executive, a teacher, a trainee accountant with KPMG, an assistant minister with the Church of Scotland and a Youth Pastor with the Free Church of Scotland.

Previous graduates have become lawyers, a corporate banker, a marketing manager, a social worker, a language therapist, even a wine taster, as well as vicars, chaplains and school teachers. Graduate-level employers have included the BBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, IBM, The Body Shop, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals and Standard Life Assurance. Many graduates also go on to do further study.

Our Diverse Student Body

If you come to study at St Mary's College you will be part of a diverse group of people.

School leavers from the United Kingdom form the majority of undergraduates and typically arrive having achieved their A-levels or Highers very recently.

Each year we also welcome a number of international students - some spend four years with us whilst others come for a semester as part of their undergraduate programme in their home institution. We welcome North American students and Non-Graduating students from Europe and elsewhere who wish to study with us for one year as a 'Study Abroad' component of their degrees.

You will also meet mature students, most of whom are preparing for Christian ministry in the Church of Scotland or other denominations such as the Scottish Episcopal Church or the Church of Ireland.

The University Careers service is developing a series of wikis giving more information about the career profiles of former students and how you might identify skills you learn with us that would be appealing to prospective employers (ideal for helping you write letters of application when the time comes). You will find the wiki for the School of Divinity here.