Theology

This 21-month course offers extensive graduate education in a specialist field of theology. It includes a thesis of up to 30,000 words based on independent scholarly research, which may contribute to a future research degree, three written examination papers, and three short essays or one long essay.

Two units, amounting to 40% of the course, will be assessed in the first year, with the remaining units, including the dissertation, assessed in the second year. The precise units assessed in the first year will be determined by the subject stream the student is studying. The choice of essays and dissertation topics is decided by the student, subject to advice from the supervisor and final approval by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Faculty of Theology and Religion. Your supervisor, in most cases, will be the course coordinator for the specific subject stream of the MPhil in Theology on which you are enrolled. They will provide support, guidance and an overall direction for your studies.

The Faculty of Theology and Religion runs graduate seminars in different subjects, which offer a space for all those doing graduate work to meet regularly and to share aspects of your work with your peers. The seminars are an important way of staying in touch with peers and presenting your research at various stages of development.

Students on the MPhil in Theology work in one of the following areas:

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Christian Doctrine, specialising in one of the following sections:
  • History of Doctrine: Patristic Theology (c. AD 100-787)
  • Issues in Theology with special reference to Patristic Theology
  • Issues in Theology with special reference to theology from 1780 to the present day
• Ecclesiastical History (AD 200-600, AD 400-1100, AD 1000-1500, AD 1400-1800, AD 1800-the present)
• Christian Ethics

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Theology and Religion and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Theology and Religion. In such circumstances, a second internal supervisor may be appointed.

Students who leave the University of Oxford with graduate degrees in theology enter a variety of careers all around the world.

Over half of those who gain an MSt or MPhil degree proceed to further, usually doctoral study. Most of the others secure employment as, for example, school teachers, civil servants or parliamentary research assistants, or go on to work with non-governmental organisations or in the media and journalism.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Theology and Religion

Applied Theology MTh

Applied Theology PGDip

Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World MPhil

Philosophical Theology MPhil

Philosophical Theology MSt

Study of Religions MSt

Theology MPhil

Theology MSt

Theology BTh

Theology and Religion DPhil

Theology and Religion PGDip

Next
Entry requirements