“Studying the Bible at this level was challenging and life-enhancing at the same time. The online-learning option for this program offered something hard to find: the concentration I wanted in the format I needed. ”
- Tennessee, USA
Entry requirements
The School of Divinity encourages applications from those who have an undergraduate degree in any subject, and recognises that in some cases this may have been attained a number of years ago.
A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree is normally expected, but if your degree classification is lower, you should indicate more recent, perhaps informal, learning in your letter of intent. You do not need to have a degree in Theology or Biblical Studies in order to apply for a place on this programme; however, all applicants will be expected to have sufficient knowledge to equip them for postgraduate level of study in this area. Prospective applicants who are unable to offer a 2.1 Honours degree are invited to have discussions in advance with the course director: email divinitydistance@st-andrews.ac.uk.
If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
- personal statement (200 to 300 words)
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed references (academic or professional)
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The PGDip and MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World is a part-time online programme aimed at both lay people seeking personal development and clergy seeking continued professional development.
Find out more about studying Bible and the Contemporary World.
Highlights
- Gain an understanding of how public issues and culture both shape and are shaped by Christian theology, biblical interpretation and practice.
- Join an international and interdenominational group of students, most of whom are lay people.
- A residential study week in St Andrews starts each module with lectures and seminar discussions and allows you to meet your fellow participants and tutors.
- Opens possibilities for future doctoral work in fields such as practical theology or for those who seek to deepen their critical thinking in careers (often in the voluntary sector) that have a religious dimension.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
The course runs across three semesters, starting in January and ending in May or starting in September and ending in December, depending when you start the course.
Each module typically comprises:
- online lectures and seminars
- 100% coursework assessment
Students will take the modules in different orders depending on their point of entry.
Semester 1
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 20 to Friday 24 January 2025
- The Bible and Contemporary Issues: explores a variety of approaches to interpretation to make connections between the Christian scriptures, events, trends and cultural assumptions.
Semester 2
Residential study week: Monday 1 to Friday 5 September 2025
- Theology and the Arts: an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of theology and the arts, concentrating attention on key articles of the Christian faith and their relationship with a broad range of different art forms (such as literature, music, and the visual arts).
Semester 3
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 19 to 23 January 2026
- Surveillance, Theology and the Bible: thinking critically about multiple forms of 21st-century surveillance (such as Big Data in online advertising and policing, CCTV in shops and churches, and our mutual watching through social media).
Semester 1
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 1 to Friday 5 September 2025
- The Bible and Contemporary Issues: explores a variety of approaches to interpretation to make connections between the Christian scriptures, events, trends and cultural assumptions.
Semester 2
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 19 to 23 January 2026
- Theology and the Arts: an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of theology and the arts, concentrating attention on key articles of the Christian faith and their relationship with a broad range of different art forms (such as literature, music, and the visual arts).
Semester 3
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September 2026
- Surveillance, Theology and the Bible: thinking critically about multiple forms of 21st-century surveillance (such as Big Data in online advertising and policing, CCTV in shops and churches, and our mutual watching through social media).
MLitt students take a fourth module for their dissertation, and attend its associated study week in St Andrews. Dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of 15,000 words must be submitted at the end of the course.
Those on the PGDip programme will finish their studies after the third semester, and suitably qualified candidates will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.
Teaching
Each semester begins with a residential study week held at St Mary's College, part of the School of Divinity at the University of St Andrews.
A typical residential study week includes lectures, seminars, sessions on using the Moodle and MMS internet platforms, and study skills training. It is also a good opportunity for you to meet your online peers and tutors in person.
Attendance is required at each study week from Monday through Wednesday, but students are encouraged to stay for the remainder of the week. You will need to pay for your own travel and accommodation costs to attend these mandatory study weeks.
Both MLitt and PGDip students take three taught modules over the course of their programme. Each module comprises 15 weeks of study (typically divided into four units) and focuses on independent learning.
In each unit of a module, students are supplied a number of scholarly articles and extracts from books which are supplemented by two written lectures available online in digital format; you will also have access to the library's extensive online subscriptions of journals and ebooks. Instead of seminars, you will participate in online bulletin board discussions with your peers (not held in real time).
The MLitt programme is followed by a 15,000-word dissertation submitted at the end of two years of study. Students are assigned an individual supervisor for their dissertation, and meetings with supervisors are normally held via online video messaging or telephone.
Students typically write four essays for each module (one for each unit) and receive written feedback.
Students will have one personal tutorial with a tutor (usually via online video messaging or telephone) per module where they can discuss their recent essay.
Events
The School of Divinity regularly hosts international conferences and smaller symposia on themes across the field of biblical and theological studies.
Fees
January 2025 entry
- Home: £2,595 per module, £3,895 MLitt dissertation module
- Overseas: £5,750 per module, £8,630 MLitt dissertation module
September 2025 entry
- Home: £2,670 per module, £4,010 MLitt dissertation module
- Overseas: £5,750 per module, £8,650 MLitt dissertation module
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
Students on this programme are often already in employment. Others have gone on to work in the charitable sector and to further studies. Previous students have had professional occupations in:
- education
- law
- business
- administration
- charities
- ministry
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many Divinity graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews.
Postgraduate researchContact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2841
- divinityonline@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Divinity
St Mary's College
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JU