Theology and Religious Studies

The Course
From the first, students are offered a broad choice of papers to choose from. Four or five papers are taken in each year.  Over the three years it is possible increasingly to specialise in Comparative Religion, Philosophy, Biblical Literature, Church History, Doctrine, or a blend of these areas. For one year all students must study Hebrew, Greek, Arabic or Sanskrit to give them access to some of the world’s sacred literature in the original language. In the final year it is possible to offer a dissertation on a subject of the student’s choice in place of one of the papers.

Full details of the course can be found on the Divinity School's website: www.divinity.cam.ac.uk

Studying Theology at Clare
Students apply to read Theology at Clare for various reasons. What they have in common is an interest in the religious dimension of human life, and the desire to study it in greater depth. Some have a religious faith they want to test and deepen, but this is by no means universal or necessary amongst Theology students. The Tripos is called ‘Theology and Religious Studies’ because it is intended to appeal to those interested in Jewish, Islamic or Christian Theology as well as those who are interested in comparative religion or the philosophy of religion. Some want to use a theological degree as a basis for teaching or ministry. Others have no particular career in mind, but are looking for an intellectually demanding course which will address issues they consider to be of fundamental importance.

It is the responsibility of the Director of Studies in Theology to arrange supervision for any paper in the Tripos that a student chooses. He supervises Clare students where he can, if students want to take papers in his area. The Cambridge system allows students to change subjects at the end of the academic year. Some Clare theologians have done a year or two of another subject, which may give them particular insights in areas like the borderland between Theology and Philosophy or Natural Science. Recent Clare Theology graduates have gone into publishing, teaching, accountancy, full-time work with refugees, and the world of professional music.

Admissions Requirements
It is not necessary to have done Religious Studies at school to apply for Theology. You will need the ability to write essays on the basis of wide and critical reading, willingness to study a language that will probably be new to you, intellectual curiosity, and good results at A2 level, or some equivalent qualification.

Interviews
There is no quota for admission to read Theology at Clare. Each application is assessed individually, and those invited for interview normally visit the College in the second or third week in December. Usually candidates are interviewed twice, and there is also a one-hour written aptitude test, for which candidates are not expected to do specific preparation. Candidates who have not yet taken A2 levels may receive a conditional offer at this point, which would typically be AAA (or equivalent in other systems).  Candidates who have already taken A2 level may, of course, receive an unconditional offer.

Fellows in Theology
Revd. Roger Greeves, Dean of Clare and Director of Studies (until September 2008).

Dr Douglas Hedley, Senior Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion.

Guide to Subjects

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