Welcome to the Department of Religion Studies!

Religion plays a major role in society, for better and worse, and in both beautiful and challenging ways. Thus, understanding religions in the lives of individuals, communities and society matters. It has the potential to shape a more just and diverse future.

As a small but vibrant department, our vision is to be a diverse academic community that focuses on researching and teaching living religions in Africa centring engaged knowledge and social justice. The importance of understanding the social world through the eyes of people of faith informs much of the work done in the department. The empirical and textual research conducted by staff and postgraduate students alike explores living faiths in their societal context, focusing on Christianity and Islam in (South) Africa.

The Department of Religion Studies offers degrees from Honours level to PhD level, with a strong focus on the study of Islam and Christianity, two of the major religions impacting Africa today. Additionally, we offer Short Learning Programmes that allow those members of the public who are not prepared to enrol for a degree to study with us for a limited time.

Study at the Department of Religion Studies at UJ in 2024!

Religion plays a major role in society, for better and worse, and in both beautiful and challenging ways. Thus, understanding religions in the lives of individuals, communities and society matters. It has the potential to shape a more just and diverse future – and it can equip you in reimagining the future in different career paths.

The Department of Religion Studies at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) offers prospective students a closeknit academic community that focuses on researching and
teaching living religions, especially Islam and Christianity. Social justice, on the one hand, and the importance of understanding the social world through the eyes of people of faith, on the other, inform much of the work done in the department.

The Department offers postgraduate programmes from Honours level to PhD level. Our BA Honours in Religion Studies allows a student to focus on either Christianity or Islam as they delve into debating, reading and writing on topics related to liberative theologies, critical contemporary issues and so on. Each student also conducts a research project of one’s own under the guidance of a supervisor. At Masters level, we invite applications for two programmes: MA in Biblical and Christian Studies for those interested in conducting research on a topic related to Christianity and MA in Semitic Languages and Cultures for students interested in studying Islam. Similarly at the PhD level, we offer a PhD in Biblical and Christian Studies and a PhD in the Study of Islam.

Applications are open! Please apply online at https://www.uj.ac.za/admission-aid/postgraduate/

Deadline for applications is 31 October 2023 at 12:00

More information: Head of Department Prof Elina Hankela (elinah@uj.ac.za) or

Departmental Administrator Ms Charlene Louw (clouw@uj.ac.za)

Departmental website with information on acceptance criteria and more: https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/humanities/departments-2/religion-studies/