THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Religious Studies (MA Hons) (UTRELSTUDI1F)

Jump to: Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 2 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students must take a minimum of 80 credits in the School of Divinity (School B) or in a religious tradition offered by LLC (School G).

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Studying Religions
DIVI08018 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select between 0 and 20 credits in this group.

Religious Studies Year 2 Core Courses

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should take at least three of the courses below over Year 1 and 2.
Selected courses must be passed
Buddhism in Global Contexts
DIVI08004 20 credits
Religion in Modern Britain
DIVI08019 20 credits
Global Indigenous Religions
DIVI08021 20 credits
Jews and Muslims: Religions, Cultures, Histories
DIVI08022 20 credits
AND

Group B

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 8 courses in the School of Divinity

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 8 courses in the School of Divinity
OR

Courses from School G - IMES - Level 8

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Islamic History A: The Formation of the Islamic World
IMES08033 20 credits
Islamic History B: From the Crusades to the 'Gunpowder Empires'
IMES08034 20 credits
Modern Middle Eastern History A: Domestic Transformation and International Challenges
IMES08036 20 credits
Modern Middle Eastern History B: Postwar Independence and Conflict
IMES08037 20 credits
Introduction to Islam
IMES08050 20 credits
Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures
IMES08051 20 credits
AND

Group C

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Courses from School(s) G - Language Courses - Level(s) 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Sanskrit 2
ASST08012 40 credits
Arabic 2
IMES08006 40 credits
OR

Courses from School A - History of Art - Level 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
History of Art 2
HIAR08012 40 credits
OR

Classics Year 2 Courses

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Ancient History 2b: Themes and Theories in Ancient History
ANHI08013 20 credits
Ancient History 2a: Past and Present in the Ancient World
ANHI08014 20 credits
The Transformation of the Roman World, ca. 300-800: Towards Byzantium and the Early Medieval West
ANHI08015 20 credits
Roman Art and Archaeology
CACA08011 20 credits
Greek Art and Archaeology
CACA08012 20 credits
Classical Literature 2: Greek and Roman Epic
CLTR08008 20 credits
OR

Courses from School of History, Classics and Archaeology- Multiple UG Courses- Level 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Greek 2A
GREE08007 20 credits
Greek 2a Ex-Beginners
GREE08009 20 credits
OR

Courses from School of History, Classics and Archaeology- Multiple UG Courses- Level 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Latin 2A
LATI08011 20 credits
Latin 2B
LATI08012 20 credits
OR

Courses from School A - Music - Level 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Music 2D: Theory and Practice of Music Technology
MUSI08053 20 credits
Music 2A: Music and Ideas from the Middle Ages to Viennese Classicism
MUSI08060 20 credits
Music 2B: Music and Ideas from Romanticism to the Late Twentieth Century
MUSI08061 20 credits
OR

Courses from School E - History - Level 8

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Making and Breaking Medieval Britain: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales c.1100 - c1500
HIST08039 20 credits
Themes in Scottish History since 1560
HIST08042 20 credits
OR

Courses from School J - SPS

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students on this combined studies track should choose one first Semester course and one second Semester course with matching prefixes
International Cooperation in Europe and Beyond
PLIT08006 20 credits
Comparative Politics in a Globalized World
PLIT08008 20 credits
Social Anthropology 2: Into the Field
SCAN08004 20 credits
Ethnography: Theory and Practice
SCAN08005 20 credits
Sociology 2a: Thinking Sociologically
SCIL08012 20 credits
Sociology 2b: Researching Social Life
SCIL08013 20 credits
European Social Policy
SCPL08006 20 credits
Social Policy Enquiry
SCPL08009 20 credits
OR

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select exactly 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y
Notes:
You may select 40 credits of further courses in the School of Divinity, or select courses from outside the School

Year 3 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
During Year 3 students must prepare for their dissertation. Further information about this will be provided.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity

Select exactly 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity
AND

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity
OR

Religious Studies Asian Studies Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with Asian Studies to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Korean-Japanese Relations: Historical and Contemporary Issues
ASST10140 20 credits
Japanese Religions in the Modern Era
ASST10143 20 credits
The Buddhist Brush: Discursive and Graphic Expressions of Japanese Buddhism
ASST10144 20 credits
China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational Convergence
ASST10149 20 credits
Buddhism and the State in Early East Asia
ASST10159 20 credits
OR

Religious Studies IMES Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with IMES to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Mystical Islam (Sufism)
IMES10033 20 credits
Cinema and Society in the Middle East
IMES10035 20 credits
Modern Persian Literature and 'Modern' Iran
IMES10061 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Islam Through the Arts
IMES10074 20 credits
Of Wine, Love and Loss: Reading Iran through Classical Persian Literature
IMES10076 20 credits
The First Muslim Empire: The Islamic World before Sunnism and Shi'ism
IMES10079 20 credits
Gender and Media in the Arab World
IMES10085 20 credits
The Qur'an - Islam's Holy Book
IMES10086 20 credits
Islamic Movements in the 20th-21st Century
IMES10087 20 credits
Muslims in Europe
IMES10098 20 credits
History and Culture of Iran
IMES10099 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Globalized Muslim Politics
IMES10103 20 credits
The Seventh Century: The Transformation of East Rome and the Rise of Islam
IMES10104 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
Regional Perspectives in a Globalised Muslim World
IMES10107 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Muslim Africa in Global Perspective
IMES10109 20 credits
Gulf Histories, Cultures, and Societies
IMES10112 20 credits
AND

Group B

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity
OR

Religious Studies Asian Studies Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with Asian Studies to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Korean-Japanese Relations: Historical and Contemporary Issues
ASST10140 20 credits
Japanese Religions in the Modern Era
ASST10143 20 credits
The Buddhist Brush: Discursive and Graphic Expressions of Japanese Buddhism
ASST10144 20 credits
China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational Convergence
ASST10149 20 credits
Buddhism and the State in Early East Asia
ASST10159 20 credits
OR

Religious Studies IMES Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with IMES to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Mystical Islam (Sufism)
IMES10033 20 credits
Cinema and Society in the Middle East
IMES10035 20 credits
Modern Persian Literature and 'Modern' Iran
IMES10061 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Islam Through the Arts
IMES10074 20 credits
Of Wine, Love and Loss: Reading Iran through Classical Persian Literature
IMES10076 20 credits
The First Muslim Empire: The Islamic World before Sunnism and Shi'ism
IMES10079 20 credits
Gender and Media in the Arab World
IMES10085 20 credits
The Qur'an - Islam's Holy Book
IMES10086 20 credits
Islamic Movements in the 20th-21st Century
IMES10087 20 credits
Muslims in Europe
IMES10098 20 credits
History and Culture of Iran
IMES10099 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Globalized Muslim Politics
IMES10103 20 credits
The Seventh Century: The Transformation of East Rome and the Rise of Islam
IMES10104 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
Regional Perspectives in a Globalised Muslim World
IMES10107 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Muslim Africa in Global Perspective
IMES10109 20 credits
Gulf Histories, Cultures, and Societies
IMES10112 20 credits
OR

Level 10 courses in Schedules A to R, T and W

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to R, T and W
Notes:
Students may choose courses following on from combined studies subjects taken in years 1 and 2. Courses chosen are subject to the approval of the owning School. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.

Year 4 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students a MUST pass DIVI10001 Theology & Religious Studies: Final Dissertation in order to be awarded an honours degree.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Theology and Religious Studies: Final Dissertation

Must be passed

DIVI10001 40 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity
OR

Religious Studies Asian Studies Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with Asian Studies to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Korean-Japanese Relations: Historical and Contemporary Issues
ASST10140 20 credits
Japanese Religions in the Modern Era
ASST10143 20 credits
The Buddhist Brush: Discursive and Graphic Expressions of Japanese Buddhism
ASST10144 20 credits
China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational Convergence
ASST10149 20 credits
Buddhism and the State in Early East Asia
ASST10159 20 credits
OR

Religious Studies IMES Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
A list of available courses is made available before the beginning of each semester, and students will be able to choose from among these courses in consultation with IMES.
Mystical Islam (Sufism)
IMES10033 20 credits
Cinema and Society in the Middle East
IMES10035 20 credits
Modern Persian Literature and 'Modern' Iran
IMES10061 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Islam Through the Arts
IMES10074 20 credits
Of Wine, Love and Loss: Reading Iran through Classical Persian Literature
IMES10076 20 credits
The First Muslim Empire: The Islamic World before Sunnism and Shi'ism
IMES10079 20 credits
Gender and Media in the Arab World
IMES10085 20 credits
The Qur'an - Islam's Holy Book
IMES10086 20 credits
Islamic Movements in the 20th-21st Century
IMES10087 20 credits
Muslims in Europe
IMES10098 20 credits
History and Culture of Iran
IMES10099 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Globalized Muslim Politics
IMES10103 20 credits
The Seventh Century: The Transformation of East Rome and the Rise of Islam
IMES10104 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
Regional Perspectives in a Globalised Muslim World
IMES10107 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Muslim Africa in Global Perspective
IMES10109 20 credits
Gulf Histories, Cultures, and Societies
IMES10112 20 credits
AND

Group B

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Divinity
OR

Religious Studies Asian Studies Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with Asian Studies to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Korean-Japanese Relations: Historical and Contemporary Issues
ASST10140 20 credits
Japanese Religions in the Modern Era
ASST10143 20 credits
The Buddhist Brush: Discursive and Graphic Expressions of Japanese Buddhism
ASST10144 20 credits
China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational Convergence
ASST10149 20 credits
Buddhism and the State in Early East Asia
ASST10159 20 credits
OR

Religious Studies IMES Level 10 courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should check with IMES to find out which of the courses will be running, and if there is any quota in place. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
Mystical Islam (Sufism)
IMES10033 20 credits
Cinema and Society in the Middle East
IMES10035 20 credits
Modern Persian Literature and 'Modern' Iran
IMES10061 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Islam Through the Arts
IMES10074 20 credits
Of Wine, Love and Loss: Reading Iran through Classical Persian Literature
IMES10076 20 credits
The First Muslim Empire: The Islamic World before Sunnism and Shi'ism
IMES10079 20 credits
Gender and Media in the Arab World
IMES10085 20 credits
The Qur'an - Islam's Holy Book
IMES10086 20 credits
Islamic Movements in the 20th-21st Century
IMES10087 20 credits
Muslims in Europe
IMES10098 20 credits
History and Culture of Iran
IMES10099 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Globalized Muslim Politics
IMES10103 20 credits
The Seventh Century: The Transformation of East Rome and the Rise of Islam
IMES10104 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
Regional Perspectives in a Globalised Muslim World
IMES10107 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Muslim Africa in Global Perspective
IMES10109 20 credits
Gulf Histories, Cultures, and Societies
IMES10112 20 credits
OR

Level 10 courses in Schedules A, E, I and J

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A, E, I and J
Notes:
Only students on combined studies should choose this option, in consultation with the outside School. The School of Divinity cannot guarantee places on outside courses.
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