Religion, Theology and Spirituality BA (Hons)*
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Religion, Theology and Spirituality at Liverpool Hope University is a distinctive, contemporary course that explores religion as something lived, debated, questioned and experienced in today’s world. It is the first undergraduate degree in the UK to include “Spirituality” in its title, giving you the chance to study both traditional religions and the growing number of people who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious.
You’ll explore major world religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and African Indigenous religions, alongside themes such as sacred texts, mysticism, ritual, symbolism, suffering, evil, trauma, death and the afterlife. You’ll learn how religious traditions shape society and culture, past and present. The course also tackles urgent contemporary issues such as mental health, disability, gender and sexuality, religious violence, inter‑religious dialogue and the environment.
Teaching is research‑led and delivered by a passionate team of well‑published scholars. You’ll be encouraged to think critically, ask big questions, and engage respectfully with diverse beliefs and worldviews. Studying in Liverpool, a city shaped by global cultures and faith communities, gives real‑world depth to your learning and helps you understand religion’s role in society today.
Hear a warm welcome from Senior Lecturer Dr Lisa Nahajec.
Course structure
Year 1: 3 x 1- hour lectures; 2 x 1- hour seminars; 1 x 1-hour small group tutorial per week.
Year 2: 2 x 1- hour lectures; 2 x 1- hour seminars; 1 x 1-hour small group tutorial per week.
Year 1: 2 x 1 1- hour lectures; 2 x 1- hour seminars per week, plus regular research supervision (some in small groups, some one-to-one)
Assessment and feedback
Essays, presentations, vivas, exams (2nd and 3rd years) and textual analyses.
Year One
The first year lays the foundations for your studies by introducing you to some of the key ideas of the course.
Introducing Religions (30 credits)
In this module, you will explore what religion means and how it is studied through a comparative approach. You will look at questions raised by and about different religions, and how they continue to shape cultures, politics and societies today.
The module encourages you to examine religion, modernity and secularism in the West, and to compare Western approaches with the material expressions of religion in other cultures through art and ritual. You will also reflect on the political significance of religious movements around the world today.
Being Human: Spirituality and the Sacred (30 credits)
This module introduces the study of spirituality, including the growing identity of those who describe themselves as 'spiritual but not religious'. You will explore key themes and practices across different religious traditions, such as prayer and meditation, art and literature, spiritual struggle and new scientific approaches to spirituality.
The module also looks at mystical theology, philosophical approaches and psychological approaches to religious experience, near-death experiences, and the role of psychedelics or 'sacred medicine'.
Year Two
In the second year, you will build on what you have studied so far, going deeper into vital issues.
Religion, Ethics, and Society (30 credits)
This module explores ‘Religious Ethics and Spirituality’, asking whether religious traditions are ethical from a secular perspective, whether religion is centred on ethical living, and what role spirituality plays. It also considers how the problem of evil and suffering challenges religious ethics. You will compare the ethical and spiritual traditions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, and examine issues such as feminist ethics, the Holocaust, jihadist violence, and ecology and the environment.
Religion in an Age of Enlightenment (15 credits)
In this module, you will explore how Christianity has shaped the modern world, as well as the ways it has come into tension with Modernity. You will examine the flourishing of the Renaissance, the upheavals of the Reformation, and the challenges the Enlightenment , the ‘age of reason’, posed for religion.
Indic Religions (15 credits)
In this module, you will explore the relationship between religion and philosophy in Buddhist and Hindu contexts, and how these traditions continue to shape the civilisations of the Far East. You will also examine contemporary approaches to studying the religious wisdom found in these traditions.
Year Three
The third year takes you into some of the most important issues at play today in this field:
- The darkness of God
- Contemporary Eastern Theology
- Judaism in the Shadow of the Shoah
- Religion, Reconciliation and Conflict
- Fundamentalism, politics and secularism
- Virtual Religion and spirituality
- Research Project
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications.
Find out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth, by using the Tariff calculator. |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 points |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
A degree in Religion, Theology and Spirituality opens up a wide range of career paths that value critical thinking, religious literacy, communication skills and ethical awareness. Graduates go on to work in education, charities, journalism, social work, youth work, public policy and community organisations, where understanding belief, identity and values is essential.
Many students progress to a PGCE (Secondary Religious Studies), helping address the national shortage of qualified RE teachers. Others move into roles in the church and faith organisations, including ordained ministry and lay or pastoral roles. The course also provides a strong foundation for work in mental health and disability services, where understanding spirituality and belief can be crucial to care and support.
There is a clear pathway into postgraduate study, including MA by Research and progression to PhD research, with Liverpool Hope offering supportive routes into academic careers. Graduates have also progressed into journalism and media, where religious literacy is increasingly important for understanding global conflicts and social debates.
Whether your future lies in education, research, public service or community leadership, this degree equips you with skills that matter in a complex, multicultural world.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,790 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,790.
The tuition fees for the 2027/28 academic year will be £10,050 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £10,050
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Home students (UK)
*Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional costs
As well as your tuition fees, you also need to consider the cost of key books and textbooks, which in total will cost approximately £150.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £15,225.
The International Tuition fees for 2027/28 are £16,000
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is only available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects:
Course Enquiry
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