PhD Religions and Theology

University of Manchester

Our full-time and part-time Religions and Theology PhD programme involves substantial original research in Religions and Theology, leading to the production of a thesis (of up to 80,000 words) that constitutes a significant contribution to knowledge. We offer research supervision across a wide range of areas in Religions and Theology, including: Biblical studies and early Christianity (Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish and Graeco-Roman contexts, linguistic approaches, Bible and gender, early Christianity; Papyri and other manuscripts in the John Rylands Library) Jewish studies (Rabbinics, Jewish thought, Jewish-Christian relations, Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations) Islamic studies (Islamic philosophy and science, Islamic medicine, Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations) Christian theology (Political theology, Christian doctrine, Philosophical theology, Practical theology, Ecotheology, Theology and technology) Religion, philosophy and ethics (Religion and philosophy, Existentialism, Hermeneutics, Ethics, Phenomenology) Religion and contemporary society (Contemporary Christianity, Religion and science, Religion and politics, Religion and gender) Research may also draw on the extensive archives, papyri and manuscript collections of the John Rylands Library and on the archival resources of local non-University partners (e.g., the Manchester Jewish Museum). We offer interdisciplinary projects with high level expertise in two disciplines. For instance, recent PhD students have had supervision jointly between lecturers in Biblical studies and Roman social history, theology and music, and theology and philosophy. Within Religions and Theology, our doctoral students also participate in a thriving disciplinary research culture. There are regular research seminars and events in Religions and Theology, Biblical Studies, and Jewish Studies.