DURHAM UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF
THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
2010 - 2011
USEFUL
INFORMATION
Further information about the Department of Theology and Religion is
available in the Postgraduate Section of www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion
CONTENTS
I. Postgraduate Degrees in Theology and Religion 3
II. Entry Requirements 3
III. Term Dates 4
IV. Tuition Fees and Charges 5
V. Visa Information 5
VI. Guidelines for Postgraduate Students 5
in the Department of Theology and Religion
(including the Taught MA Programmes in
Theology and Religion)
VII. Skills Training 10
VIII. Fields of Research 13
IX. Awards/Scholarships 22
X. Part-time Teaching Opportunities 29
XI. Becoming Part of a Community 29
XII. Contacting Us 31
XIII. Checklist 32
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I. POSTGRADUATE DEGREES IN THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
TAUGHT DEGREES
Programme Timescale Dissertation length
Graduate Diploma in Theology 9 months full-time 11,000 words
and Religion 21 months part-time
MA in Theology and Religion 12 months full-time/ 12-15,000 words
MA in Biblical Studies 24 months part-time
MA in Christian Studies
MA Catholic Studies
MA Anglican Studies
MA in Religion and Society
MA in Faith and Globalisation 12 months full-time or 15,000 words
24 months part-time
Doctor of Theology and Ministry 3 years full-time/ 60,000 words
6 years part-time
RESEARCH DEGREES
Programme Timescale Max thesis length
MA 1 year full-time/ 50,000 words
2 years part-time
MLitt 2 years full-time/ 70,000 words
4 years part-time
PhD 3 years full-time/ 100,000 words
6 years part-time
II. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The MA in Faith and Globalisation is run in collaboration with the School of
Government and International Affairs. Further details, including entry
requirements, can be obtained by visiting www.dur.ac.uk/faithglobalisation,
calling +44 (0) 191 3345560 or email faith.globalisation@dur.ac.uk.
For entry at MA level, you will normally be required to have a good honours
degree (either a first or a good 2:1 or equivalent) in Theology or Religious
Studies from a recognised university.
For the taught MA degrees we make two exceptions to this standard:
graduates of other disciplines with experience of Theology or Religious
Studies or a related subject at some level (for example, as a subsidiary
subject, or through ordination training)
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students from overseas universities who have reached a point in their
theological studies comparable with completion of an English BA Honours
degree (for example, on the German model, passing the Zwischenprüfung
or Kolloquium and studying at the Hauptseminar level for two semesters).
For entry at MLitt or PhD level you will normally be required to have a good
MA degree (i.e. average above 65% or equivalent) in Theology or Religious
Studies or another relevant discipline.
The normal entrance requirement to the DThM is a master‟s degree in
Theology and Religious Studies or a related subject. This should be at credit
level (average above 60%). M-level Graduates in other disciplines who have
studied Theology or Religious Studies to at least Certificate level (with marks
at credit or higher) may also be admitted to the programme. Further
information is available on the Departmental website or by contacting the
Programme Director.
English language requirement: Applicants for whom English is not their first
language, or who have not undertaken part or all of their earlier theological
education in the medium of English, must satisfy our English language
requirements prior to registering for a degree. These requirements are set out
below on pages 6 and 7.
III. TERM DATES
2010-11
Michaelmas: 6 October – 15 December 2010
Epiphany: 17 January – 18 March 2011
Easter: 25 April - 24 June 2011
2011-2012 (provisional)
Michaelmas: 5 October – 14 December 2011
Epiphany: 16 January – 16 March 2012
Easter: 23 April - 22 June 2012
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IV. TUITION FEES AND CHARGES
Information regarding tuition fees and living costs can be obtained from the
Finance Department: http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/costs
V. VISA INFORMATION
Points Based Immigration Information for those applying from overseas.
As a licensed sponsor under Tier 4 of the UK's Points Based Immigration
System (PBS), Durham University has a legal requirement to ensure that a
student entering the UK under Tier 4 enrols on their programme of study as
expected and attends as required. The University must inform the UK Border
Agency of any student who fails to meet these requirements, withdraws from
their programme of study or whose circumstances alter significantly (e.g. a
change in the duration of or a break in their studies) during the course of their
studies.
Further information is available in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/applying/
VI. GUIDELINES FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
(including the Taught MA Programmes)
Admissions Procedures
1. Applications should be submitted through the on-line application
system which is available at the following website link
http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/.
It is the applicant‟s responsibility to ensure that the two reference forms
supplied are sent to the referees, each with a first class stamped
addressed envelope (as directed in our covering letter) at the same
time as you submit your on-line application or before. Open letters
supplied by the applicant are not acceptable and we are, therefore,
unable to accept references uploaded via the online application.
Please follow the guidance on the reference form.
2. Prospective PhD candidates will normally be admitted directly to the
PhD programme, providing they have met the appropriate admissions
requirements. Applicants for the PhD may be advised by the
department that they will be admitted to the MA or MLitt programme,
with the possibility of subsequent re-registration for a PhD on the basis
of their progress.
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3. Applications and supporting documents will be considered by the
Postgraduate Admissions Tutor in consultation with the likely
supervisory team (which will normally consist of a principal supervisor
and a second supervisor). We are unable to consider an application
until all of the supporting documentation has been received. Once an
application is approved at the departmental level, it is signed by the
supervisory team and the Postgraduate Admissions Tutor, and then
forwarded to the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office. Once
approved by the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, a
formal offer is made to the candidate from the Student Recruitment and
Admissions Office.
4. All research applications require a comprehensive research proposal.
The shape and content of the proposal will vary according to the
nature of the topic, but the following advice for writing a research
proposal may be of use:
i. The proposal should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words in
length, annotated as appropriate.
ii. Identify your proposed topic or field of research and say why it's
important both intrinsically and in relation to the scholarly study
of theology and religion.
iii. Outline what you know of previous work on the subject and
indicate how your research might relate to that previous work.
iv. Identify methodological issues appropriate to the subject and
what method you may wish to follow.
v. Identify the relevant primary and secondary sources essential for
the research, in part to indicate your knowledge of the current
state of play in your field.
vi. Suggest if you can what line of argument you might wish to test
out.
vii. Offer an indicative bibliography (not included in the word count).
5. All applicants should submit directly to the Department of Theology and
Religion one piece of recent written work on a theological or
related topic undertaken as part of an earlier degree. (Please send
photocopies, not originals).
Applicants for the Taught MA programmes in Theology and Religion
should also indicate on the application form which five optional
modules (in order of preference) they would prefer to take.
6. Applicants for whom English is not their first language, or who
have not undertaken part or all of their earlier theological education in
the English language, must fulfil a minimum acceptable English
language requirement prior to registering as students. The requirement
for this department is:
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Band 7.0 or above in the British Council/Cambridge University English
Language Testing Service Test (the I.E.L.T.S. test) or
TOEFL: paper score 600 (with a score of 5.0 or above in the Test of
Written English) or
TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test) 100 or above (with a score of 25 or
above in the Test of Written English)
or
a pass in English Language at the level of G.C.S.E. or „O‟ Level with a
grade of A, B or C.
Evidence that an applicant has achieved one of these standards must
be sent directly to the Department of Theology and Religion.
Registration and Re-registration
7. All candidates are required to complete online enrolment and module
registration forms each year:
Full-time candidates in their period of supervised study will have their
module registration forms supplied to them by their college;
Part-time candidates will receive their form from the Department‟s
Postgraduate Office. For administrative purposes research students
are also required to complete the module registration form.
Candidates on Continuation will be required to complete online
enrolment.
All candidates in their period of supervised study (i.e. not on
Continuation) must have their forms countersigned by the Postgraduate
Secretary. Forms should be returned to the Department‟s
Postgraduate Office for forwarding to Student Planning and
Assessment, in time to meet the deadline indicated.
8. The period of postgraduate study will normally begin at the start of the
Michaelmas Term. All taught courses begin at the start of the
Michaelmas Term.
9. Candidates must inform the Postgraduate Secretary of their changes
of address, and ensure that their supervisors are also informed.
10. Around the time of the 6 month review, an MA or MLitt candidate may
be re-registered for a PhD degree retrospectively to the start of their
period of registration after the candidate‟s written submission has been
considered and assessed by the Department (normally, the members
of the candidate‟s supervisory team and one other staff member). For
this purpose, candidates will be required to submit a draft outline of the
thesis project as a whole and substantial piece of work of about 10,000
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words in length. Applications for re-registration will be made on the
candidate‟s behalf by the supervisory team on the form for upgrading
and countersigned by the Head of Department/Director of
Postgraduates.
Progression and Accountability
11. (a) Research supervision should involve between 8 and 12 documented
supervisions per year. This will be scaled by 0.5 for part-time students.
A record of each supervision will normally be completed using the
standard proforma provided electronically. In situations where the
student is studying away from Durham, a series of email exchanges or
a written record of a telephone conversation may be used in place of
the record form.
(b) Full-time and part-time Taught MA candidates are required to attend
courses and fulfil academic engagements (including examinations,
written work, tutorials, and seminars) following the timetable
established by the Taught MA Programme Director in consultation with
module tutors [see further Taught MAs Handbook].
(c) If a candidate is absent from courses of instruction, or fails to keep
academic engagements or to present written work, the staff concerned
will contact the candidate at the earliest possible opportunity. It is
normal practice for academic staff to keep records of attendance at
their taught courses. An early informal warning may be given, avoiding
the necessity of issuing a formal warning under the Academic Progress
Notice (APN) Regulations.
A formal warning under the Academic Progress Notice Regulations is
issued when a student‟s performance does not improve after an
informal warning.
12. Students on research programmes are encouraged to complete their
theses in the time allowed for the relevant degree, e.g. one year full-
time (or two years part-time) for the MA by thesis, etc.. The
department encourages candidates to complete a plan for completion
of thesis form at regular intervals.
13. Student progress is monitored at regular intervals by the Director of
Postgraduates for the Research Committee of the Board of Studies
acting on behalf of the Graduate School. Supervisors of new research
students are required to report on their progress in the first six months
of their enrolment. For all research students there are annual reports,
which are completed online by both supervisors and their supervisees.
Instructions are sent via Durham email accounts.
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Models of Supervision
14. For research postgraduates, two main models of supervision are
possible depending on the particular needs of the research project and
the staff expertise available. A decision about which model to follow
should be made at an early stage so that expectations and lines of
accountability are clear from the outset. All candidates will be assigned
two supervisors who constitute the supervisory team.
In Model 1 there is a main supervisor and a second supervisor. The
majority of supervisory meetings will take place with the main
supervisor. The second supervisor may be drawn upon for advice and
guidance as appropriate and will assist in the review meetings (at 6
months, 12 months, and so on). The main supervisor will be
responsible with the student for the record-keeping and administration.
It may be that for given periods of the research project (e.g. when the
main supervisor is on research leave) it is appropriate for the second
supervisor to take over the main supervisory responsibilities.
In Model 2 there is full joint supervision where each supervisor in the
team is understood as a co-supervisor. In this arrangement, the student
will be assigned to two academic supervisors with complementary
expertise who will commit to jointly supervising the student and to
sharing fully in the record-keeping and administration. It may be that for
given periods of the research project (e.g. when one supervisor is on
research leave) it is appropriate for the co-supervisor to take over the
main supervisory responsibilities.
Approval of Title and Submission
15. It is the normal practice for the supervisor in consultation with a
candidate to decide on the final title of the thesis at the beginning of the
candidate‟s final year of supervised study, or at the beginning of the
third term of the full-time MA by thesis, and to send notice of this via a
pro forma through the Postgraduate Secretary to the Graduate School
for approval. Regulations for the approval of dissertation titles for the
Taught MA programmes are set out in the Taught MAs Handbook.
16. Well before a candidate‟s thesis is likely to be submitted for
examination, appropriate external and internal examiners for the thesis
must be recommended by the supervisor, using the appropriate pro
forma, to the Chairman or Chairwoman of the Department and sent via
the Postgraduate Secretary to the Deputy Dean of the Faculty for
approval.
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‘On Continuation’ and Completion of the thesis
17. The Graduate School Office and the University‟s Research Committee
have approved the following statement:
“After candidates have completed their approved periods of supervised
study, the supervisor has a major responsibility to ensure prompt
submission. Unless their thesis has already been submitted,
candidates will register on a Continuation Fee basis. Students in their
first year of „On Continuation‟ will receive no more than 5 hours of
contact and 5 hours of preparation time. Students will not receive
supervision in subsequent „On Continuation‟ years‟.
All research should have been completed during the period of
supervised study, and the supervisor‟s subsequent role should be to
provide guidance on the writing and preparation of the thesis, including
commenting on at least one draft. If a candidate and a supervisor are
of the opinion that substantial further research is needed, a
recommendation should be made by the Board of Studies to the
Graduate School Committee for a further period of full-time or part-time
supervised study, for which tuition fees will be payable. Otherwise,
each supervisor is expected to make every effort to ensure early
submission of the candidate‟s thesis.
Supervisors are also responsible for administrative matters, such as
ensuring that the title of the thesis is approved, and that examiners are
recommended by the Board of Studies for appointment by the
Graduate School Committee. Supervisors should also be available for
consultation by the examiners. If the thesis is referred for revision or
resubmission, or if minor corrections to it are necessary, the supervisor
must provide advice and guidance on the examiners‟ requirements.”
18. Please note that all written work at every stage whether for taught or
thesis degrees must be submitted in English.
VII SKILLS TRAINING
The Department is currently making a major revision and improvement of the
skills training which we offer. Further details will be made available shortly.
The national research councils, including the Arts and Humanities Research
Council (AHRC) play an important role in setting standards and identifying
best practice in research training. The tables below set out a joint statement of
the skills that doctoral research students funded by the research
councils/AHRC would be expected to develop during their research training.
These skills may be present on commencement, explicitly taught, or
developed during the course of the research. It is expected that different
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mechanisms will be used to support learning as appropriate, including self-
direction, supervisor support and mentoring, departmental support,
workshops, conferences, elective training courses, formally assessed courses
and informal opportunities.
The research councils and the AHRC would also want to re-emphasise their
belief that training in research skills and techniques is the key element in the
development of a research student, and that PhD students are expected to
make a substantial, original contribution to knowledge in their area, normally
leading to published work. The development of wider employment-related
skills should not detract from that core objective.
(A) Research skills and techniques – to be able to demonstrate:
1. The ability to recognise and validate problems.
2. Original, independent and critical thinking, and the ability to develop
theoretical concepts.
3. A knowledge of recent advances within one‟s field and in related
areas.
4. An understanding of relevant research methodologies and techniques
and their appropriate application within one‟s research field.
5. The ability to critically analyse and evaluate one‟s findings and those
of others.
6. An ability to summarise, document, report and reflect on progress.
(B) Research environment – to be able to:
1. Show a broad understanding of the context, at the national and
international level, in which research takes place.
2. Demonstrate awareness of issues relating to the rights of other
researchers, of research subjects, and of others who may be affected
by the research, e.g. confidentiality, ethical issues, attribution,
copyright, malpractice, ownership of data and the requirements of the
Data Protection Act.
3. Demonstrate appreciation of standards of good research practice in
their institution and/or discipline.
4. Understand relevant health and safety issues and demonstrate
responsible working practices.
5. Understand the processes for funding and evaluation of research.
6. Justify the principles and experimental techniques used in one‟s own
research.
7. Understand the process of academic or commercial exploitation of
research results.
(C) Research management – to be able to:
1. Apply effective project management through the setting of research
goals, intermediate milestones and prioritisation of activities.
2. Design and execute systems for the acquisition and collation of
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information through the effective use of appropriate resources and
equipment.
3. Identify and access appropriate bibliographical resources, archives,
and other sources of relevant information.
4. Use information technology appropriately for database management,
recording and presenting information.
(D) Personal effectiveness – to be able to:
1. Demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn and acquire knowledge.
2. Be creative, innovative and original in one‟s approach to research.
3. Demonstrate flexibility and open-mindedness.
4. Demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to identify own training
needs.
5. Demonstrate self-discipline, motivation, and thoroughness.
6. Recognise boundaries and draw upon/use sources of support as
appropriate.
7. Show initiative, work independently and be self-reliant.
(E) Communication skills – to be able to:
1. Write clearly and in a style appropriate to purpose, e.g. progress
reports, published documents, thesis.
2. Construct coherent arguments and articulate ideas clearly to a range
of audiences, formally and informally through a variety of techniques.
3. Constructively defend research outcomes at seminars and viva
examination.
4. Contribute to promoting the public understanding of one‟s research
field.
5. Effectively support the learning of others when involved in teaching,
mentoring or demonstrating activities.
(F) Networking and teamworking – to be able to:
1. Develop and maintain co-operative networks and working
relationships with supervisors, colleagues and peers, within the
institution and the wider research community.
2. Understand one‟s behaviours and impact on others when working in
and contributing to the success of formal and informal teams.
3. Listen, give and receive feedback and respond perceptively to others.
(G) Career management – to be able to:
1. Appreciate the need for and show commitment to continued
professional development.
2. Take ownership for and manage one‟s career progression, set realistic
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and achievable career goals, and identify and develop ways to
improve employability.
3. Demonstrate an insight into the transferable nature of research skills
to other work environments and the range of career opportunities
within and outside academia.
4. Present one‟s skills, personal attributes and experiences through
effective CVs, applications and interviews.
Opportunity to identify requisite skills and training comes through discussion with
your supervisor using the Training Needs Analysis document issued at the
beginning of the academic year.
VIII. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
The Department of Theology and Religion offers postgraduate students the
opportunity to study in a world-class research centre. A strong team of
scholars is engaged here at the forefront of international research, and
postgraduate students can both learn from and contribute to this dynamic
research community.
The fields of research here explored are diverse but sufficiently coherent to
create many opportunities for cross-disciplinary (as well as single-disciplinary)
studies. The Department houses strong teams of scholars in Old Testament,
New Testament, Judaism in Antiquity, Christianity in Late Antiquity (Patristics),
Christianity in Early Modern and Modern Europe, Contemporary Theology,
Theology and Culture, Christian Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Sociology of
Religion, Anthropology of Religion, Religion and Film, Catholic Studies and
Anglican Studies.
The Department has strong international links, both in Europe, especially
with Tübingen University, and in North America, including a reciprocal study
arrangement with Duke University, North Carolina. This means students find
themselves in touch with current trends in scholarship at the highest
international level.
We currently have a postgraduate student body of about 33 Taught MA
students, 28 Doctor of Ministry students and about 144 students engaged in
research, most at PhD level and many from outside the U.K. There is thus a
diverse, vibrant and supportive research environment, in which students learn
much from each other, as well as from their research supervisors.
The library resources in Durham are very considerable. The University
Library is very well stocked, giving students access to a wide range of books,
journals and reference works within the areas of Theology and Religion. In
addition to the holdings in the UL, students are allowed access to the Sharp
Library and the Meissen Library both of which operate under the aegis of the
Chapter of Durham Cathedral. (The Sharp Library in the Cathedral cloister is a
substantial collection of English-language resources across the fields of
Theology and Religion; its holdings are listed on the main UL online
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catalogue. The Meissen Library is a substantial holding of German-language
theology housed in the Deanery.) A number of university colleges also have
collections in theology and religion.
The Department does its best to make sure that the UL collection is kept up to
date and all research areas in the Department have a budget allocation that
allows them to order the latest titles within their specific field. When gaps are
identified, postgraduates (both taught and research) are welcome to make
requests and recommendations for specific items to their module tutors or
supervisors who will forward such requests to the departmental library officer.
Language instruction is available within the Department in Greek, Hebrew,
Aramaic, Syriac and Middle Egyptian (also, by special arrangement, Ethiopic
and Ugaritic). Other relevant languages taught elsewhere in the University
include Latin, Classical Greek and Akkadian, besides many modern
languages. The University‟s Archaeology Department has specialists in the
ancient Levant and Egypt, while its Oriental Museum has a small but
interesting collection of near Eastern antiquities.
The Department is located on a world-heritage site, right next door to the
magnificent Durham Cathedral, where St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede
are buried. (What more inspiration could a theological student want?!)
The main fields of research are:
OLD TESTAMENT
Professor Robert Hayward B.A., M.A. Durham, D.Phil. Oxford
(CTRH) c.t.r.hayward@durham.ac.uk
Professor Hayward teaches Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Hebrew texts, and the
intertestamental era, and his research interests include post-biblical Judaism,
the Targums, the Talmud, Jewish biblical exegesis, and Temple worship. His
recent publications have included The Jewish Temple: A Non-Biblical
Sourcebook, articles on The Priestly Blessing in the Targums and on Philo‟s
exposition of the name „Israel‟, and Interpretations of the Name of Israel in
Ancient Judaism and some Early Christian Writings.
Professor Walter Moberly M.A. Oxford, M.A., Ph.D. Cambridge
(RWLM) r.w.l.moberly@durham.ac.uk
Professor Moberly teaches the Old Testament, Hebrew texts, and biblical
theology, and his research interests include the theology of the Old Testament
and New Testament as Christian Scripture, and spirituality and hermeneutics.
His recent publications have included The Old Testament of the Old
Testament; The Bible, Theology and Faith, A Study of Abraham and Jesus,
Prophecy and Discernment and The Theology of the Book of Genesis.
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Dr Stuart Weeks M.A., M.Phil., D.Phil. Oxford
(SDEW) s.d.weeks@durham.ac.uk
Dr Weeks teaches the Old Testament, Hebrew texts, and the language,
literature and religion of ancient Egypt, and his research interests include, the
history and literature of Israel and of the ancient Near East, especially wisdom
literature, and Septuagint studies. His recent publications have included Early
Israelite Wisdom, Texts of Tobit (with Prof. Loren Stuckenbruck and Dr Simon
Gathercole), and Instruction and Imagery in Proverbs 1-9.
NEW TESTAMENT
Professor John Barclay M.A. PhD Cambridge
(JMGB) john.barclay@durham.ac.uk
Professor Barclay teaches the New Testament and Christian origins in the
Roman Empire, using methods of analysis derived from history, theology and
the social sciences; topics include New Testament theology and the social
formation of Christianity in its first four generations. His research interests are
in Pauline theology, the Pauline churches, Diaspora Judaism, Josephus, and
early Jewish and Christian apologetics. Recent publications include
Colossians and Philemon, Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora, and a
commentary on Josephus‟ apologetic work, Against Apion. He is currently
working on a project on gift and grace in Pauline theology.
Dr Lutz Doering D.Theol. Göttingen
(LD) lutz.doering@durham.ac.uk
Dr Doering teaches New Testament, advanced Greek, and Ancient Judaism.
His research interests include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the ancient Jewish
Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, law in ancient Judaism and early
Christianity, the historical Jesus, the Catholic Epistles, as well as ancient
Jewish and early Christian letter writing. His publications include a
monograph on Sabbath law and praxis in ancient Judaism and the New
Testament (Schabbat) and, as co-editor, Judaistik und neutestamentliche
Wissenschaft.
Dr William R. Telford M.A. B.D. Glasgow, S.T.M. Union Theological
Seminary (NYC), Ph.D. Cambridge
(WRT) w.r.telford@durham.ac.uk
Dr Telford teaches New Testament Introduction, New Testament Greek and
Exegesis, Jesus and the Gospel tradition, Jesus in Fiction and Film, The Bible
in the Cinema and the Gospel of Mark (in Greek). His research interests
include the historical Jesus, the Synoptic Gospels, esp. the Gospel of Mark,
methods of biblical interpretation, and the Bible and culture, esp. the New
Testament in literature and film. His recent publications have included The
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New Testament, The Synoptic Gospels (with J. Riches and C. Tuckett), The
Interpretation of Mark (ed), The Theology of the Gospel of Mark and Cinéma
Divinité: Religion, Theology and the Bible in Film (with P. Francis and E.
Christianson).
Professor Francis B. Watson M.A., D.Phil (Oxford)
(FBW) francis.watson@durham.ac.uk
Professor Watson teaches and supervises in the areas of New Testament,
hermeneutics, and history of interpretation. He has worked extensively in
Pauline studies, with a special interest in scriptural interpretation in Paul and
Second Temple Judaism. Current research on canonical and noncanonical
gospels is supported by the Leverhulme Trust, and will bring a range of
historical, hermeneutical and theological perspectives to bear on the question
what it is for a gospel to be canonical.
Dr Anthony Bash LL B (Bristol), LL M (Bristol), BD (Glasgow), PhD
(Cambridge)
Anthony.bash@durham.ac.uk
Anthony Bash's interests are in the New Testament. He has taught at Hull
University and now teaches on an occasional basis in Durham. He is College
Chaplain and Tutor for Postgraduates at Hatfield College. He co-ordinates the
postgraduate New Testament Greek reading group that meets weekly. His
research interests include issues to do with reconciliation and forgiveness. He
has published Ambassadors for Christ (1997) and Forgiveness and Christian
Ethics (2007) as well as articles to do with jurisprudence and spirituality.
Language classes in elementary Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac are
available for any postgraduate student who wishes or needs to acquire the
rudiments of these languages at any stage of her or his studies. Advanced
texts in Hebrew (Biblical, Qumran, and Rabbinic), Aramaic, and Syriac are
taught as option modules of the Taught MA programmes, and PhD students
are encouraged to join in the reading and study of these texts as relevant for
their purposes.
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Professor Jeff Astley M.A. Cambridge, Ph.D. Durham
(JA) jeff.astley@durham.ac.uk
Professor Astley is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Department, and
Director of the North of England Institute for Christian Education. He teaches
philosophical theology, Science and Religion, and issues in Christian
formation and practical theology. His research interests include the
philosophy and theology of Christian education, moral and religious enquiry,
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and 'ordinary theology'. His recent publications have included Ordinary
Theology: Looking, Listening and Learning in Theology, and the introductory
texts Choosing Life and Exploring God-Talk. He is the co-editor of a number
of collections of essays and readers both on theological themes and on topics
in practical theology such as Christian formation, faith development, the
theology of music and the psychology of prayer.
Professor Lewis Ayres M.A. St. Andrews, D.Phil. Oxford
(LA) l.o.ayres@durham.ac.uk
Professor Ayres teaches Philosophy and Theology, both Christian and pagan,
in late antiquity, basic questions of Christian belief in all periods and Catholic
Theology. His research interests include the development of Trinitarian and
Christological belief, the development of Christian exegesis and the nature of
Catholic theology. His publications include Nicaea and Its Legacy and the
forthcoming Augustine and Trinity.
Dr. Krastu Banev B.A. Sofia, M.Phil., PhD. Cambridge
(KB) Krastu.banev@durham.ac.uk
Dr Banev teaches the history and theology of the Greek speaking Church:
from Nicea (325AD) to Chalcedon (451AD) and beyond; his research interests
include patristic anthropology; early Christian asceticism and later Orthodox
spirituality; Byzantine hymnography; the cultural and religious links between
Byzantium and the Slav world. His forthcoming book is on the use of classical
rhetoric in the Byzantine homiletic tradition.
Dr Gillian Boughton B.A. Durham, PGCE Oxford, PhD Durham
(GEB) g.e.boughton@durham.ac.uk
Dr Boughton has taught the Literature and Religion course regularly since
1996. Her research interests in English Literature centre on the minor
Victorian novelist Mrs Humphry Ward (1851-1920) who engaged with mid-
Victorian religious doubt in her 1888 novel Robert Elsmere, anticipating
theological modernism. The interface between literary creativity and
spirituality is a preoccupation which has found expression in a series of
academic conferences run jointly with colleagues at Moscow State University
and Durham, the most recent of which took place in Abbey House and St
Mary's College, where Dr Boughton works as Vice-Principal, in July 2008.
Dr Colin Crowder B.A. Durham, Ph.D. Wales
(CC) c.g.crowder@durham.ac.uk
Dr Crowder is Deputy Head of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Director
of Combined Honours in Arts and Social Sciences. He has taught modules in
17
the philosophy of religion, systematic theology, and religion, film and culture,
and is currently contributing to modules which reflect his interests in the
relations between religion and the cinema.
Professor Carol Harrison M.A., D.Phil. Oxford
(CH) carol.harrison@durham.ac.uk
Professor Harrison teaches the history and theology of the Early Church,
church and society in late antiquity, the life and work of St Augustine, and
medieval spirituality; her research interests include St Augustine, Latin
patristics, art, aesthetics, music and Christian Spirituality. Her recent
publications have included Christian Truth and Fractured Humanity: Augustine
in Context, and Rethinking Augustine’s Early Works: An Argument for
Continuity
Dr Chris Insole B.A., M.Phil., D.Phil. Oxford
(CI) christopher.insole@durham.ac.uk
Dr Insole teaches in the areas of philosophy of religion, theological and
philosophical ethics, and political theology. His main research interest is the
relationship between philosophical theology, metaphysics and ethics, with
particular reference to Kant. His recent publications have included, The
Politics of Human Frailty: A Theological Defence of Political Liberalism, and
The Realist Hope: A Critique of Anti-Realist Approaches in Contemporary
Philosophical Theology. He is currently working on Divine Mind: the
Theological Premise to Kant's Philosophy.
Professor Gerard Loughlin B.A., M.A. Wales, Ph.D, P.G.C.E.
Cambridge
(GPL) gerard.loughlin@durham.ac.uk
Professor Loughlin teaches on religion and film; gender and culture; modern
theology and Christian mysticism. He has research interests in theology and
contemporary culture, with reference to sexuality and cinema. His most recent
book is Alien Sex: The Body and Desire in Cinema and Theology.
Professor Mark McIntosh B.A. Yale, B.A. Oxford, Ph.D. University of
(MM) Chicago
mark.mcintosh@durham.ac.uk
Professor McIntosh, the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity, teaches systematic
theology and Christian spirituality, and is a residentiary canon of Durham
Cathedral. His research interests centre in the intersection of mystical thought
and central Christian doctrines. More recent publications include Divine
Teaching: An Introduction to Christian Theology, Discernment and Truth: The
Spirituality and Theology of Knowledge, and Mystical Theology: The Integrity
of Spirituality and Theology. He is currently at work on a new study of John
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Henry Newman, and a monograph examining the constructive potential of the
divine ideas tradition in Christian theology and mysticism.
Professor Paul D. Murray B.A., M.Litt. Durham, PhD. Cambridge
(PDM) paul.murray@durham.ac.uk
Professor Murray teaches in the areas of philosophical and systematic
theology and his current research interests include the sources and dynamics
of theology, ecumenism, ecclesiology and the study of the church. His MA
module is entitled „Conceiving Change in Contemporary Catholicism‟. He is
founding Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies. Recent publications have
included Reason, Truth and Theology in Pragmatist Perspective and (ed.),
Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning: Exploring a Way for
Contemporary Ecumenism. He has also had essays published on the
theology of Karl Rahner, the work of Donald MacKinnon, Nicholas Lash,
Roman Catholic theology after Vatican II, and the relationship between
science and theology.
Dr Marcus Pound Ph.D. Bristol
(MJPP) m.j.p.pound@durham.ac.uk
Dr Pound is Research Fellow in Contemporary Catholic Studies. He is co-
director of the Research Project on Receptive Ecumenism (with Professor
Paul Murray) and assistant director of the Durham Research Centre for
Catholic Studies. He teaches Catholic theology, with a particular interest in
Ressourcement theology and critique of culture. His Ph.D explored the
interface between theology and psychoanalysis. He has published on
Kierkegaard and Lacan, and has published a book on Slavoj Žižek. His
research interests engage Catholic theology, critical theory and philosophy.
Professor Alec Ryrie M.A., D.Phil. Oxford
(AR) alec.ryrie@durham.ac.uk
Professor Alec Ryrie teaches the period of the Reformations, both in the UK
and in Europe, with a particular interest in the Protestant Reformation in both
England and Scotland. His research includes the history and development of
Puritanism; religion and politics in the Reformation era, including themes such
as moderation and religious violence; and worship and piety of the period. He
teaches an MA module on Worship and Reform in England 1530-1662. His
recent publications include The Gospel and Henry VIII: Evangelicals in the
Early English Reformation, The Origins of the Scottish Reformation, The
Sorcerer's Tale and The Age of Reformation.
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Dr Robert Song M.A., D.Phil. Oxford
(RJS) robert.song@durham.ac.uk
Dr Song is Head of Department and teaches contemporary theology, theology
and ethics, Christian ethics and contemporary society, and theology, ethics
and medicine, and his research interests include bioethics, theology and
technology, and social and political theology. His recent publications have
included Human Genetics: Fabricating the Future.
Dr Medi Volpe B.A. Occidental College, M.A. Fuller Theological
(MV) Seminary, PH.D. Duke
m.a.volpe@durham.ac.uk
Dr. Volpe teaches systematic theology with an emphasis on basic doctrine,
theological ethics and feminist theology. Her research interests include
theological method, ecclesiology and the relationship between doctrine and
practice, with a focus on the retrieval of early Christian theology. She is
currently finishing a book that brings themes in contemporary theology into
conversation with Gregory of Nyssa.
Rev Dr David Wilkinson B.Sc., Ph.D. Durham, M.A. Cambridge, Ph.D.
Durham F.R.A.S.
(DAW) daw@xiancomm.org.uk/david.wilkinson@durham.ac.uk
Dr Wilkinson is Principal of St. John‟s College and teaches contemporary
theology, science and theology, and his research interests include the
contemporary dialogue of science and religion, eschatology, and religion and
pop culture. His recent publications have included Creation and God, Time
and Stephen Hawking. With Dr Barton he co-edited a collection of essays
called Reading Genesis After Darwin (2009).
Dr. Jonathan Willis M.A., PhD. Warwick
(JW) j.p.willis@durham.ac.uk
Dr. Willis is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the department and is
working on a project entitled „The Ten Commandments and the English
Reformation‟. His doctoral research focussed on the relationship between
music and religious identity in Reformation England, and his research
interests encompass the religious and cultural history of Tudor England, and
the history and theology of late medieval and early modern Europe more
broadly. Recent publications include the monograph Church Music and
Protestantism in Post-Reformation England: Discourses, Sites and Identities
(2010).
20
STUDY OF RELIGION
Professor Douglas J. Davies B.A. Dunelm, Ph.D. Nottingham, M.Litt.,
D.Litt. Oxford, Dr. Theol. Uppsala (Honorary)
(DJD) douglas.davies@durham.ac.uk
Professor Davies teaches the postgraduate Belief, Symbolism and Ritual
module and undergraduate modules on The Study of Religion; Death, and
Emotion. Wider research interests in the anthropology-sociology of religion
and the interplay of social sciences and theology currently find their narrower
focus on Mormonism, death and funerary rites, and changes in religious
identity. Recent books include The Theology of Death (2008), Bishops, Wives
and Children (2007 with Mathew Guest), The Encyclopaedia of Cremation
(2005 with Lewis Mates), A Brief History of Death (2004), Introduction to
Mormonism (2003) and Anthropology and Theology (2002).
Dr Mathew Guest B.A. Nottingham, M.A., Ph.D. Lancaster
(MJG) m.j.guest@durham.ac.uk
Dr Guest teaches the sociology of religion, focusing on Christianity and
western culture, religion in contemporary Britain and religious innovations in
the modern age. His research interests include the sociology of
evangelicalism in late modern western cultures; Christianity in western
university contexts; evangelical influence across the Atlantic; the evangelical
movement and the conditions of globalization; and the sociology of institutions
that shape inter-generational transmission of religious values. He has co-
edited Congregational Studies in the UK: Christianity in a Post-Christian
Context and is the author of Bishop, Wives and Children: Spiritual Capital
Across the Generations (with D. J. Davies) and Evangelical Identity and
Contemporary Culture: A Congregational Study in Innovation.
Dr Sonya Sharma B.G.S., Simon Fraser,
(SS) M.Res., Ph.D. Lancaster
sonya.sharma@durham.ac.uk
Dr Sharma is Postdoctoral Research Associate on the AHRC/ESRC funded
project „Christianity and the University Experience in Contemporary England.‟
Her research interests include religion, gender and sexuality, religion and
intersectional analysis, and the religious identities of young people. Her
doctorate was a qualitative exploration of women's experiences of sexuality
and church life. She has co-edited Women and Religion in the West:
Challenging Secularization.
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IX. AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
1. ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL
Block Grant Partnership
All UK and EU applicants may apply for the AHRC scholarships under the
Block Grant Partnership scheme. These scholarships are highly competitive
and the department refers all applications to a committee which recommends,
on the department‟s behalf, which students it wishes to put forward to the
Faculty for the block grant. Candidates should discuss their applications
for these scholarships with their proposed supervisors. The department
will keep both candidates and supervisors well informed of the requirements
of the application at its various stages.
Further information regarding the application process and submission
deadlines will appear on the department‟s website and on the University‟s
Postgraduate Study web pages later this year.
http://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/
http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/results/.
Applicants are advised to check the website regularly for updated information.
2. DURHAM DOCTORAL STUDENTSHIPS
Each year the Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers a small number of fully
funded Durham Doctoral Studentships to new PhD candidates of the very
highest calibre.
These studentships are tenable for three years and will annually provide
award-holders with a tuition fee waiver at either the Home/EU or International
rate and a tax-free maintenance grant set at the UK Research Councils'
national rate, which in 2009/10 was £13,290.
Candidates of any nationality are able to apply and these awards are open to
both full and part-time applicants.
To apply for a Durham Doctoral Studentship you must complete and submit
an online admissions application form. Part of this form asks you how you
intend to finance your studies and in response to this question you must enter
that you wish to be considered for a Durham Doctoral Studentship.
Within your online application form, you must provide a summary of your
proposed research project. This should be up to 500 words in length and
address the following questions:
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What is the research question or problem that you will be addressing?
What is the research context in which the question or problem is
located?
What contribution to knowledge and understanding do you hope to
make?
What is the methodology that you will be employing to address your
research question/problem?
What sources will you be using during your research, where are they
located, and how will they be accessed?
If you have already submitted your online application form and did not enter
that you wish to be considered for a Durham Doctoral Studentship you must
notify the Department.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as
possible. The departmental deadline by which you must submit your
application by is Monday 31 January 2011. Supporting documentation must
be received in the department by Monday 14 February 2011. Please note
that this deadline may be earlier than that published on the University web
pages. This reflects the large number of applications received every year and
is to allow the department to make full and careful consideration of each
applicant.
The information above may be revised for entry in 2011-12 and full details will
be posted on our web site in October/November 2011. Applicants are advised
to refer to the departmental web pages, or the Finance section web pages
(http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/), at that time. For further
information please contact the Student Financial Support Office on 0191 334
6143 or email financialsupport.postgraduate@durham.ac.uk.
3. MA SCHOLARSHIPS
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers a number of scholarships to new
MA candidates who are applying to join either taught or research masters
programmes in the arts and humanities and who intend to progress to a PhD.
Award-holders receive a tuition fee waiver at the Home/EU rate for one
academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates of any nationality can apply for an MA Scholarship. Awards are
only open to full-time applicants who are applying to join either a taught or
research programme commencing in October 2011.
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Application Process
To apply for a MA Scholarship you must complete and submit an online
admissions application form. Part of this form asks you how you intend to
finance your studies and in response to this question you must enter that you
wish to be considered for an MA Scholarship.
Within your online application form you must detail the different elements of
the course that you plan to study. This should be up to 500 words in length
and address the following questions:
What is the pathway that you will be following?
Which modules, compulsory and/or optional, are you planning to take?
What research project are you intending to undertake for your
dissertation?
How do the different elements of your programme fit together to
provide the foundation for a future PhD?
If you have already submitted your online application form and did not enter
that you wish to be considered for an MA Scholarship you must notify the
Department.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as
possible. The departmental deadline by which you must submit your
application by is Monday 31 January 2011. Supporting documentation must
be received in the department by Monday 14 February 2011. Please note
that this deadline may be earlier than that published on the University web
pages. This reflects the large number of applications received every year and
is to allow the department to make full and careful consideration of each
applicant.
The information above may be revised for entry in 2011-12 and full details will
be posted on our web site in October/November 2011. Applicants are advised
to refer to the departmental web pages, or the Finance section web pages
(http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/) at that time. For further
information please contact the Student Financial Support Office on 0191 334
6143 or email financialsupport.postgraduate@durham.ac.uk.
4. PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT LOANS
UK Students on most postgraduate programmes will be eligible for such a
loan, even if they are not strictly vocational. Further information about
Professional and Career Development Loans can be found at:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/pcdl/
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5. USA STUDENT LOANS
Further information regarding USA student loans can be found at
http://www.dur.ac.uk/student.finance/usastudents/.
6. DURHAM SANTANDER STUDENTSHIPS
In partnership with Banco Santander, Durham University will be awarding a
number of postgraduate scholarships to outstanding candidates from Latin
America.
Each scholarship is worth £5000 and will be open to students applying to
study a taught masters degree in any discipline.
All eligible applicants will automatically be considered for the scholarship.
Further details will be available on the University web page:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/international/postgraduate/fees/taughtscholarships
7. BARRY SCHOLARSHIPS IN DIVINITY
Full or part time postgraduates are eligible to apply at the beginning of each
academic year for an award from the Barry Trust. Candidates must be engaged
in study for a degree in a theological subject at postgraduate level only and be
active members of the Church of England or a Church with which it is in
communion. Candidates for the MA in Theology & Ministry or who hold an AHRC
or comparable award are not eligible. Application forms will be available from the
Postgraduate Admissions Secretary‟s office at the beginning of October.
8. CENTRE FOR CATHOLIC STUDIES BURSARIES
The Centre for Catholic Studies is currently able to award two bursaries of
£1,000 apiece (one courtesy of The Newman Association) on an annual basis.
These bursaries may be held jointly and are each open both to full-time and
part-time students registered for a postgraduate degree within the Department
of Theology and Religion with a clear focus on Catholic theology and/or
Catholic studies. Application forms will be available from the Postgraduate
Secretary in the Department early in October. In the case of there being
multiple deserving applicants, the total sum available might be allocated in a
number of smaller awards.
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9. BURSARIES IN BORDERLANDS STUDIES
Full-time postgraduate students for Degrees of Durham University
Candidates must engage in study for a higher degree in theology or in another
subject with theological implications and demonstrate an understanding of the
mission of the Church in the modern world. Candidates will be members of St
John‟s College and be expected to participate actively in the intellectual life of
the College and the Borderlands Projects.
The committee will consider academic performance, religious commitment
and financial need when making the awards.
Further information and application forms are available from:
The Principal
St John‟s College
3 South Bailey
Durham, DH1 3RJ
For closing date for applications and receipt of references please contact St
John‟s College. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that references are
returned by that date.
10. THE LINDSAY SCHOLARSHIP
The Ralph Lindsay Scholarship, established in 1845, is for full-time
postgraduates under the age of 25 on 1 October at the start of each year of
award, who have attended a Durham School or were born in the diocese of
Durham or Newcastle or are related to the founder, Ralph Lindsay. Subject to
satisfactory progress and the age limit, tenure may be extended to a
maximum of three years. In appropriate cases, the Scholarship may be held
in conjunction with another award.
If you fulfil the above criteria, please contact the Postgraduate Secretary in the
Department for further information and an application form.
11. DURHAM CATHEDRAL CHORAL SCHOLARS AND LAY CLERKS
Durham Cathedral Choir consists of 20 boy Choristers, 20 girl Choristers
and 12 men –7 Choral Scholars and 5 Lay Clerks. In addition to the daily
Cathedral services during Choir term the Choir performs a wide, exciting and
varying repertoire extending from plainsong works written in Durham eight
centuries ago to works written in the present century, including works
commissioned especially for the Cathedral. It also appears regularly in
26
concerts both in the Cathedral and elsewhere. It tours roughly once every two
years.
Choral Scholarships (£1,515 in the first year, £1,820 in the second year and
£2,125 in the third and any subsequent years) are awarded annually by the
Chapter of Durham Cathedral in conjunction with the University. Choral
Scholars, who are required to be members of the University pursuing a full-
time course, are members of the Cathedral Choir, which sings daily services
in the Cathedral (three services on Sunday and Evensong at 5.15 p.m. each
weekday, except for Monday which is a rest day). Further information may be
obtained from the Registrar and Secretary, Old Shire Hall, Durham DH1 3HP
or from Mr James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and Organist, 6 The
College, Durham DH1 3EQ (Organist@durhamcathedral.co.uk).
Lay Clerkships are appointed by the Chapter of Durham Cathedral, but
undergraduate students are not eligible for a Lay Clerkship. Duties are as
indicated for Choral Scholars, except that Lay Clerks sing for the Cathedral in
September.
The salary for a Lay Clerk is currently £6,205 in the first year, rising to £6,770
thereafter; the appointment is normally for five years, and is renewable.
Further information may be obtained from Mr James Lancelot, Master of the
Choristers and Organist, 6 The College, Durham DH1 3EQ
(Organist@durhamcathedral.co.uk).
12. DURHAM CATHEDRAL ORGAN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM OCTOBER 2008
The Chapter of Durham Cathedral offers an Organ Scholarship at the
Cathedral. The Scholarship is normally held by a student member of Durham
University (undergraduate or postgraduate); election may be for one, two or
three academic years. The value of the Scholarship is £1,515 in the first year,
£1,820 in the second year and £2,125 in the third and any subsequent years,
and it is partly funded by a grant from the Michael James Music Trust. The
duties of the Organ Scholar are to assist the Organist and the Sub-Organist in
the performance of their duties.
Applications, supported by a curriculum vitae and the names and addresses
of two referees, one of whom should be a professional musician, should be
sent to James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and Organist, 6 The College,
Durham DH1 3EQ, to arrive by Wednesday 8th December 2010.
13. OVERSEAS RESEARCH AWARD (ORS)
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will not be able
to fund ORSAS after 2009. This change applies to England only; other UK
Funding bodies have yet to make a decision about the future of the ORSAS
awards in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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14. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN RESIDENCE
Scholarships for Students in Residence are no longer available. However, the
Department is now offering a range of paid Teaching Assistant and Research
Assistant positions as part of the overall training we provide. Further details
will be released shortly.
15. FURTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Information regarding additional financial assistance can be found on the
following web site, although most sources are open to full-time students only.
http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/search/
Your college may also have bursaries available and you are advised to refer
to their website regularly.
http://www.dur.ac.uk/colleges/
Applicants from countries in:
Eastern Europe Australasia
Middle East North and South Pacific regions
Africa South and Central America
Asia Caribbean;
are advised to apply for the financial assistance competitions listed in the
scholarships information sheets but also to contact organisations listed below
for details of any further financial assistance that may be available to them.
1. The applicant‟s own Church denomination at national or international
level.
2. The Scholarships Secretary (If your own Church
World Council of Churches denomination is affiliated to the
150, Route de Ferney World Council of Churches.)
PO Box 2100
1211 Genève 2
SWITZERLAND
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/progr
ammes/education-and-
ecumenical-
formation/scholarships.html
28
3. The Council of Churches for Britain
and Ireland (Scholarships)
Inter Church House
35 - 41 Lower Marsh
London
SE1 7RL
4. Educational Grants Advisory
Service
501/5 Kingsland Road
London
E8 4AU
6. Africa Educational Trust If you are from an African country.
18 Hand Court
London
WC1V 6JF
http://www.africaeducationaltrust.org/index.php
Candidates need to be aware that the competition for all scholarships is
fierce, and they should NOT assume they can rely on Durham’s
scholarship funds to make up for any shortfalls in their funding.
X. PART-TIME TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities to gain experience in undergraduate teaching and related
administration are recognized in the Department as an important way to
prepare research postgraduates for an academic career. Such opportunities
are available to full-time and part-time PhD students in their second or third
years (or the part-time equivalent). They relate to undergraduate modules at
first or second (but not third) level. At the appropriate point in the academic
year, postgraduates will receive an invitation and proforma from the
Postgraduate Secretary to apply for part-time teaching. Any application must
be made in consultation with a student‟s supervisors and with the relevant
module co-ordinator.
XI. BECOMING PART OF A COMMUNITY
An important part of postgraduate life is the opportunity to become part of a
community of scholars in the study of theology and religion within the wider
context of the university, the cathedral, and the city of Durham and its
environs. This has formal and informal aspects.
29
The formal aspects revolve around:
1. class, seminar and tutorial commitments
2. supervision sessions
3. study days
4. induction and training sessions
5. research seminars and conferences
The informal side of things is equally important, and everyone is encouraged
to take advantage of what is on offer as it suits their circumstances, including:
1. the Theology Society which is open to undergraduates, postgraduates
and staff and provides a regular programme of events during term-
time
2. the kitchen and common room facilities in Abbey House (e.g. for lunch
times and afternoon teas)
3. research seminar socials
4. departmental socials and outings
5. entertaining visiting scholars
6. activities organized by the colleges
7. clubs and societies of the Students‟ Union
Postgraduates are represented more formally on three departmental
committees: the Board of Studies, the Postgraduate Learning & Teaching
Committee and the Staff-Student Consultative Committee. The election of
postgraduate representatives takes place at the beginning of the academic
year.
Durham has a network of Diversity Contacts and Harassment Contacts in
most departments and colleges. The contacts from both of these networks
can assist students with enquiries and provide information on University
policies and sources of help and support. Information about the contacts is
available from the Diversity Office: tel: 0191 334 6530
email: diversity.equality@durham.ac.uk
or
Diversity website: http://www.dur.ac.uk/diversity.equality/
30
XII. CONTACTING US
For further information and enquiries please write to:
The Postgraduate Admissions Secretary
Department of Theology and Religion
Abbey House
Palace Green
Durham
DH1 3RS
United Kingdom
or
Telephone: (0191) 334 3929 or from outside the UK + 44 191 334 3929
Fax: (0191) 334 3941 or from outside the UK +44 191 334 3941
E-mail: theo.pgadmissions@durham.ac.uk
Student Recruitment and Admissions Office
Telephone: (0191) 334 6063 or from outside the UK +44 191 334 6063
Email: pg.admissions@durham.ac.uk
International Office
Telephone: (0191) 334 6328 or from outside the UK +44 191 334 6328
Fax: (0191) 334 6326 or from outside the UK +44 191 334 6326
Email: international.office@durham.ac.uk
31
Durham University
Department of Theology and Religion
XIII. CHECKLIST – APPLICANTS FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
Before submitting your application please make sure you have:
1. Submitted the on-line application form
2. Completed, where necessary, and sent the Confidential Reference
Forms to your Referees
3. Included evidence of your proficiency in English
TOEFL/IELTS Certificates (see page 6
4. Provided Academic Transcripts (see page 6)
5. [Degrees by Research]
(i) Submitted your Research Proposal
(ii) Submitted one or more pieces of written work on a theological or
related topic undertaken as part of an earlier degree (see page 6)
6. [Taught MA Degrees]
(i) Indicated which modules you would prefer to take
(ii) Submitted one or more pieces of written work on a theological or
related topic undertaken as part of an earlier degree (see page 6)
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33