MA Mathematics/Theology & Religious Studies

About this course

Mathematics and theology or religious studies might seem an unlikely pairing, but both disciplines reward careful and sustained reasoning, and the combination produces graduates with a genuinely unusual breadth of intellectual experience. Mathematics develops abstract thinking, the capacity for rigorous proof, and quantitative skills that underlie science, technology, finance and economics. Theology and religious studies approaches the most fundamental questions about human existence, the nature of the divine, the interpretation of sacred texts, the ethics of belief, and the role of religion in history and contemporary society, using the methods of philosophy, history and literary analysis. At the University of Glasgow you will study this part-time programme, developing both disciplines alongside each other at a pace that allows you to balance study with other commitments. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you access to different scholarly traditions in both fields and the opportunity to encounter religious and mathematical cultures beyond the UK context. In theology and religious studies, Glasgow's department offers the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of courses in the honours years, tailoring your study to your specific interests. The ambassador scheme associated with the programme gives students the chance to spend time in schools, developing workplace skills alongside academic study. Graduates of mathematics and theology bring a distinctive combination to the labour market. The mathematical training opens doors in finance, data analysis, actuarial work, education, and any quantitative professional role. The theology and religious studies component is valued in education, social care, chaplaincy, the civil service, journalism, international development, interfaith organisations, and the wide range of contexts where understanding religion and its role in society matters. Teaching is a particularly natural destination for graduates who combine both subjects, and many pursue postgraduate training in education. Research in philosophy of religion, mathematics education, or theology is another path.

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