Find out why students make our School their first choice. Theology has been taught at Edinburgh since the foundation of the University in 1583. Housed in the historic New College building near Edinburgh Castle, the School of Divinity is situated right in the city centre. It overlooks Princes Street and the Scottish National Gallery, and connects to the Royal Mile. Take a tour of New College We offer a welcoming and friendly setting to pursue the exciting and demanding study of theology and religious studies. Our community comprises 400 students (about 150 of them postgraduates) and over 40 full-time academic staff, making us one of the largest centres in the UK for the study of theology and religion. This means we can offer a great variety of degree programmes, course options and the chance to engage with cutting-edge research in a wide range of areas. We encourage an academic culture that is critical, constructive and friendly. Top-rated research, choice and innovation The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School first in Scotland and fifth in the UK for its research power in theology and religious studies. Our research activity is demonstrably world-leading across a wide range of activities, reflecting the vibrancy of the School’s research culture. We have the largest number of research-active faculty in Scotland, and the third largest in the UK.Our research environment is enhanced by research seminars: regular occasions enjoyed by academic staff and postgraduate students. The School also has a lively programme of visiting lectures by internationally-known scholars. Global Perspectives In our School, we encourage the internationalisation of study and research. We value equality and diversity in the School community and therefore welcome students and staff from all over the world, bringing together different perspectives, personal experiences, and religious and cultural backgrounds. Currently, our postgraduate community comprises around 150 students drawn from many parts of the world, a diversity mirrored in the School’s faculty. Our CommunityCommunity is what sets our School of Divinity apart. Time and time again students tell us that this is what drew them to New College and what they liked the most about studying here. From the start we try our very best to make you feel part of our community and help postgraduate students integrate into life at New College, the University, Scotland, and the UK. When you join the School, at the start of the academic year, you will be invited to Welcome Week, an intensive introduction to study and life in Edinburgh. Our community benefits from monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students which offer a supportive forum to discuss issues as diverse as work-life balance, publishing strategies, and dealing with writer’s block. We also have an active postgraduate student committee that organises regular social events.Postgraduates can also opt into our mentoring scheme, in which staff members are matched with students outside their area of specialism to offer career and pastoral support.Before I came here I had the image that post graduate study would be very isolated...but when I got here I made many friends and found that Professors and lecturers were supportive and friendly, and so I found a place I could call homeRae Fujimori – PhD graduateEveryone does something so amazing to make the place comfortable especially for an international student like me. I found it welcoming, affirmative and supportive Jessie Fubara-Manuel – PhD graduateIt’s not just a stiff academic environment but a place where you can flourish as a personJo Thor – PhD graduate Hear from our Graduates We interviewed some of our graduates to find out what they thought about studying at the School of DivinitySome browsers may have difficulty viewing embedded video files like these. If this happens to you, you can watch them on our Youtube channel instead. What our students think Wanda Meister graduated with an MSc in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relationss Rae Fujimori graduated with an MTh in Biblical Studies Hannah Cheslock graduated with an MSc in Religion and Literature Alex Muir graduated with a PhD in New Testament and Christian Origins This article was published on 2024-03-19
