Theology

Overview

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 degree from the University of Oxford 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.

Supervision

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.

Graduate destinations

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.