Bible and the Contemporary World (MLitt) 2021 entry
The MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World is a course that connects biblical and theological studies with other disciplines in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Bible and the Contemporary World is also offered as a part-time distance learning programme.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)
Course dates
- Start date: 30 August 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year full time
Entry requirements
- A good 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree. You do not need to have a degree in Theology in order to apply for a place on this programme; however, all applicants will be expected to have sufficient knowledge to equip them for postgraduate level of study in the field of theology. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £9,900
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
30 June 2021. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- personal statement (200 to 300 words)
- sample of academic work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
What our students say
"The program offers a wide variety of specialised subjects but also gives the opportunity to learn from fellow students from diverse backgrounds as well. The online platform gives you the opportunity to continue conversations that started during the residential study week. The programme has been set up as a distance course which means communication channels work exceptionally well."
Hendrika, Hong Kong - 2020
Course information
The MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World is a one-year taught programme run by the School of Divinity.
Find out more about studying Bible and the Contemporary World.
Highlights
- Gain an understanding of how public issues and culture both shape and are shaped by Christian theology, biblical interpretation and practice.
- Combines campus-based and virtual learning modules.
- Join an international and interdenominational group of students in relating the Christian traditions to a host of public issues.
Teaching format
Each semester begins with a residential study week held at St Mary's College, the School of Divinity. A typical residential study week, which is shared with the distance learning part-time students, includes lectures, seminars and other learning activities. Attendance is required at each study week from Monday through Wednesday, but students are encouraged to stay for the remainder of the week. You will need to pay for your own travel and accommodation costs to attend these mandatory study weeks.
After the study week, students take one or two residential modules and two virtual learning environment (VLE) modules, which are shared with students on the part-time, distance learning version of this programme.
Each VLE module comprises 15 weeks of study (typically divided into four units) and focuses on independent learning. In each unit of a module, students are supplied a number of scholarly articles and extracts from books which are supplemented by two written lectures available online in digital format; you will also have access to the library's extensive online subscriptions of journals and ebooks. Instead of seminars, you will participate in online bulletin board discussions with your peers (not held in real time). Students will have one personal tutorial with a tutor (usually via online video messaging or telephone) per module.
Assessment comprises four essays for each VLE module and a combination of essay and written examination for the campus-based module.
The taught portion is followed by a 15,000-word dissertation written over three months during the summer and submitted mid-August. Students are assigned a supervisor who gives guidance on the topic and provides academic support during the research and writing phases.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2020–2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 30 August to Friday 3 September 2021
In the first semester, students take one compulsory VLE module:
- Surveillance, Theology, and the Bible: thinking critically about multiple forms of 21st-century surveillance (such as big data in online advertising and policing, CCTV in shops and churches, and our mutual watching through social media).
Students will also take one or two additional modules from other Divinity MLitt programmes, such as 'Systematic and Historical Theology' or 'Biblical Languages and Literature' (students may not be eligible for all modules; see the module catalogue)
In Semester 1, you will also complete a short research project (different to the main dissertation which is taken in Semester 2).
With permission, credit may be taken from other postgraduate taught modules offered by the School.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
Residential study week in St Andrews: Monday 10 to Friday 14 January 2022
- The Book of Revelation: its biblical, historical and contemporary contexts.
Students will begin research for the 15,000-word dissertation early in Semester 2, but will focus particularly on researching and writing from May through to submission in mid-August. Dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
The School of Divinity regularly hosts international conferences and smaller symposia on themes across the field of biblical and theological studies.
Funding
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
After the MLitt
Research degrees
Many Divinity graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews.
Careers
Students on this programme have gone on to work in the charitable sector and to further studies. Previous students have held professional occupations in:
- education
- law
- business
- administration
- charities
- ministry.
Regular workshops, both general and subject-specific, in areas such as publishing, conference presentations, and job searches are offered by the School and the University.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
"St Mary's College has given me the opportunity to study with leading scholars in an interactive academic atmosphere.. The research and writing skills I've developed while studying here have enriched my vocational effectiveness as a minister."
- Oklahoma, USA
Contact
School of Divinity
St Mary's College
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JU
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2841
Email: divinitydistance@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.