Double Degree Master in Religion and Pluralism
Groningen, Netherlands
DURATION
18 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 18,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students
** for Non-EU|for EU/EEA EUR 2,530
Introduction
Double MA Degree in the Religious Origins of Modern Society at University of Groningen (UG) and Córdoba University (UCO): Identity, Exclusion, Integration, and Coexistence from Antiquity to Modernity.
The religious origins of modern society are richly diverse. For centuries, Greco-Roman religion, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam actively contributed to the construction of modern culture, attitude and character. This DD MA delves into the history of these four religious traditions’ coexistence.
UG focuses on Judaism and Christianity in the Greco-Roman World and the rise of Islam in (late) antiquity. The historical and philological analysis of their testimonies highlights the difficult first contacts, the lapses and relapses of their relationships and the resulting construction of the self and the other.
UCO explores the cultural contacts among them during the Middle Ages and beyond, their cohabitation in the Iberian Peninsula, and the tensions and eases of their coexistence. Most importantly, it analyzes the role of Judaism and Islam in the absorption and transformation of ancient knowledge, and its transfer to the Christian West, hereby contributing to the early modern and contemporary world.
Why study this programme in Groningen?
- Integrated approach to religious pluralism, politics, and their many global interfaces.
- Taught by internationally recognized experts in the field.
- You can pursue your own research interests.
- Expertise in various religions taught at non-denominational universities.
- Opportunity to study religious pluralism throughout history until the present day.
- Experience international student life in two different cultures.
Admissions
Curriculum
Year 1
You start the programme either in Groningen (UG) or Cordoba (UCO). Below, you will find an overview of the course units taught in Groningen, variant Ancient. The course units taught in Cordoba are listed under Year 2.
The core modules 'Religious Diversity in the Graeco-Roman World' (10 ECTS) and 'Historical Methods in Early Christianity' (5 ECTS) are compulsory. You can choose three electives of 5 ECTS each from either the Ancient or Modern variant.
Courses
- Core module: Religious Diversity in the Graeco-Roman World (UG) (10 EC)
- Texts of Terror (UG) (5 EC, optional)
- Core module: Historical Methods in Early Christianity (UG) (5 EC)
- Othering in Early Islam (UG) (5 EC, optional)
- Reception and Re-Use of Authoritative Texts (5 EC)
- Internship (UG/UCO) (10 EC)
- Master's Thesis + thesis seminar (UG & UCO) (20 EC)
Year 2
You do your second year either in Cordoba (UCO) or in Groningen (UG). Below, you will find the course units taught in Cordoba, an overview of the UG courses is listed under Year 1.
Courses
- Internship (UG/UCO) (10 EC)
- Master's Thesis (UG & UCO) (20 EC)
- From Athens to the West: the Transfer of Greek Knowledge to Renaissance Europe (UCO) (4 EC)
- From Baghdad to Cordoba: The Cultural Contribution of Al-Andalus Judaism (UCO) (4 EC)
- From East to West: The Reception of Knowledge in Al-Andalus (UCO) (4 EC)
- Religious Minorities on the Iberian Peninsula from the15th to the 18th Century (UCO) (4 EC)
- The Structure for Knowledge Transfer (UCO) (4 EC)
- Sources for the Research on ethnic-religious Minorities in the Iberian Peninsula during 15th to 18th (UCO) (5 EC)
- The Universalism of Scientific Knowledge. The Arabic and Jewish Philosophy and Science in the Latin World (UCO) (5 EC)
Study load
40 hours of class and self-study per week on average
1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains 60 ECTS. You will have on average 6 hrs. of lessons per week at the Faculty, the rest of the hours is reserved for the preparation of the classes and studying.
Curriculum
The course units of the programme in Groningen are taught in Semester 1 (September - February). The course units of the programme in Cordoba are taught in Semester 2 (February - July). You will write your thesis (20 ECTS) and do an internship (10 ECTS) either as part of the Groningen or Cordoba programme. Please note: you need to be enrolled in both programmes at the moment of graduation.
Programme options
- Master's Honours Programme (honours program)
Study abroad
- Study abroad is optional
- Maximum of 10 EC
You can do your internship abroad. In the past, our students worked at the Dutch embassy with the Vatican, in Israel and Argentina. You can also opt for an internship at an NGO, like the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI), Amnesty International, or the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Or at the UN, for instance with the High Commissioner for Human Rights or the United Nations Development Programme (country offices).
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
If you want to become a teacher of religion in secondary education you can additionally follow the Educational Master's programme (in Dutch).
Job prospects
As a graduate, you can become an adviser and policymaker on interreligious issues and multicultural society. You may work in cultural organisations and companies in the public sector. In addition, you can work in the media. You can become a teacher of religion or philosophy. If you want to pursue an academic career, you can follow this track as a specialization within the Research Master's programme.
Job examples
- Consulting & Policy. You are able to provide well-founded advice on interreligious issues and multicultural society. You can use this expertise in an advisory position at cultural organizations, in companies or in the public sector. Your knowledge equips you for policymaking positions in this field.
- Media & Journalism. The current debate often refers to perceived historical realities. Your expertise in Judaism, Christianity and Islam enables you to ask critical questions concerning modern-day claims about these religious traditions. You can use your knowledge and skills as an editor at a publishing company, broadcasting company, newspaper or news and current affairs magazine. You could also work as a freelancer.
- Education. Once you have completed this Master's programme you will have enough knowledge of the subject to become a secondary school teacher in the subject of Religious Studies and Philosophy or Social Studies. You could also opt for a position in higher vocational education, for example teaching Theology at a university of applied sciences. As you also need didactic skills as a teacher, it is advisable to do a Master's in Education after you have completed your regular Master's programme.