Bible and Theology with Foundation Year (BA Hons)
The Foundation Year is designed to provide a strong platform for academic and research skills, essential for success in higher education. It is common to all distance-learning degrees in the humanities and introduces students to various subjects within this field.
This year will help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge to progress confidently into the main degree programme.
During the Foundation Year, you will engage with a broad range of topics, gaining insights into different humanities disciplines. This foundational knowledge will be crucial as you move into more specialised studies in Bible and Theology. The year also focuses on enhancing your academic skills, such as critical thinking, research methodologies, and effective communication, ensuring you are well-prepared for the challenges of higher-level study.
The Bible and Theology degree at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø gives you the opportunity to explore the religious beliefs and traditions that have shaped both Judaism and Christianity.
You will examine the spiritual and written traditions of these two faiths, learning about their rich histories and how their sacred texts have developed over time. By studying these texts, you will gain a deep understanding of the inner logic and meaning behind these major world religions.
The course also looks closely at how religious identity and traditions influence the way people view the world. You will explore various denominations within Christianity and how their religious practices differ. Through your studies, you will engage with how both Judaism and Christianity fit into modern social, political, and spiritual debates. By the end of the degree, you will have a greater understanding of the impact of religion on modern life, especially in today’s world where religion and society often overlap in key issues.
Throughout the programme, you will learn how to approach theology from a critical and analytical perspective. You will be introduced to different methodological and analytical frameworks, helping you to engage with the texts and ideas in a structured way. By studying a variety of biblical texts, you will become part of academic discussions on themes that arise from contemporary theology. This will include how theology and ethics are intertwined, and how religious thought can influence important ethical debates.
The course also provides the chance to study under lecturers who are active researchers in the field of religion and theology. Their interests will help shape your learning and challenge you to think independently. You will be encouraged to reflect on your studies, develop your own ideas, and become a creative and independent thinker.
By the time you complete the degree, you will have gained not only a deep knowledge of religion and culture, but also important skills that can be applied in many careers. Whether you are interested in religious leadership, academia or roles where critical thinking and an understanding of religious influence on ethics are important, this degree will prepare you for a wide range of opportunities.
Course details
- Distance Learning
- Full-time
- English
Tuition Fees 25/26
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our Bible and Theology degree focuses on critical thinking, independent learning, and engagement with diverse perspectives. We offer a supportive environment that encourages you to explore key themes in religion and theology, using a variety of analytical frameworks to approach sacred texts, religious practices, and contemporary debates.
Foundation Year:
During the Foundation Year, you will engage with a broad range of topics, gaining insights into different humanities disciplines. This foundational knowledge will be crucial as you move into more specialised studies in Bible and Theology. The year also focuses on enhancing your academic skills, such as critical thinking, research methodologies, and effective communication, ensuring you are well-prepared for the challenges of higher-level study.
Year 1
In your first year, you will be introduced to the spiritual and written traditions of Judaism and Christianity, learning about their histories and sacred texts. You’ll explore how these religious beliefs shape identities and religious practices. Core modules will also introduce basic methodological frameworks for studying the Bible and theology, setting the foundation for deeper analysis in later years.
Year 2
Your second year builds on your foundational knowledge by diving deeper into specific denominations and religious identities within Christianity and Judaism. You will critically examine key texts and engage with contemporary theology and the impact of religion on modern life. This year also encourages deeper reflection on theology and ethics, focusing on their relevance to religion and society.
Year 3
In the final year, you will develop advanced analytical skills, engaging with current debates on the role of religious beliefs in social, political, and spiritual contexts. You will explore complex themes in theology through a critical lens and complete a research project, where you can specialise in areas of particular interest, preparing you for future study or careers.
This structure ensures a comprehensive and in-depth study of Bible and Theology, preparing you for various career paths and further academic pursuits.
Prospective students should be aware of the following:
- Not all optional modules are offered every year
- Optional modules are delivered subject to sufficient student numbers
- Language modules are optional/compulsory/core according to linguistic ability
- There are many Level 5 and Level 6 versions of the same module. Students can only take this module once; this depends on which year the modules are offered in.
Compulsory
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Compulsory
(20 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Compulsory
(40 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.
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Assessment will primarily be via coursework assignments.
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The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.
Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
Students are expected to submit 2 hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.
Optional Field trip:
The faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.
Fieldwork (depending on where the student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500
Individual trips: c. £5 - £50
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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You will develop powers of analysis, logical thought and argument within a supportive and encouraging environment. It will be these skills of communication, understanding, analysis and self-management that provide you with a passport into employment. Types of employment could include museum and archive work, journalism, law, banking, local politics, all types of administrative work, marketing and advertising, and teaching.