Course Overview

Your degree will give you a thorough grounding in the major characteristics of a wide range of world faiths. Taught by staff with international reputations, it will help you answer questions such as: What differentiates the world's major faiths? How do people use religion to find meaning in their lives? How is religious belief faring in the modern world? Where is religion declining and where is it growing and how do we make sense of these phenomena?

You'll begin your degree with the study of World Religions before moving on to more specialised subjects in your second year, where modules include Traditions and Transformation I: Asian Religions; Traditions and Transformations II: Abrahamic Religions; Religion and Society; Cross-Cultural Ethics, and Western Philosophy and Religious Thought.

In your final year, you'll be able to study subjects such as Indian Religious and Philosophical Thought; Modern Religious and Atheistic Thought; New Religions and Alternative Spiritualties; Reading Buddhism; Reading Islam, and Religion in Schools.

'I chose to study Religious Studies at Lancaster University because of its prestigious reputation for high quality research and having the first ever Religious Studies department. I have enjoyed learning about the four major world religions; Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.'

Career opportunities

Recent Religious Studies graduates have found jobs in sectors such as law, journalism and consultancy. Their ability to remain open-minded while carefully weighing up arguments makes them highly employable. The course also equips graduates with crucial communications skills that transfer well to the workplace. Pursuing further study through a postgraduate degree is also an option.