Doctor of Professional Studies in Theology and Religious Studies

Program Overview

The DProf in Theology and Religious Studies empowers professionals to conduct practice-based research in their field, exploring ethical, theological, and cultural dimensions. With interdisciplinary expertise and a supportive cohort, students develop critical reflection skills and advance their research profiles, enabling them to make a meaningful impact in their professional or organizational contexts.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Our DProf in Theology and Religious Studies is an exciting opportunity to pursue research rooted in an area of your profession or organisation. Explore the ethical, theological, religious, cultural and spiritual dimensions of your practice or work. Use practice-based research to question the ethos, world-views, religious cultures and values of your context. We have a longstanding track record of interdisciplinary expertise in teaching, research, and supervision in the field. Since 2009, we have enabled students to enhance and transform their professional or organisational context through a range of approaches and methods for practice-based and work-based research. Whether you are working in a faith-based or secular community or setting, our staff have a range of expertise in Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Biblical Studies, contemporary spiritualities and religious movements, and Christian theology. We can support you to deepen your critical reflection on the values, ethics, worldviews embedded in your professional or organisational context and its practices, and to develop your thinking about cultural and religious literacy, equality and diversity in relation to your employed or volunteer work or vocation.

Outline:

Year 1

One of the unique features of a professional doctorate is that you take a series of modules that introduce you to the different stages of the doctoral journey, therefore building the necessary theoretical, practical, and reflective skills you need to undertake an advanced research project. You work with your cohort, and with a specialist supervisory team to guide and mentor you. This format, and being part of a community of researching professionals, supports your studies and helps you pass through the programme according to manageable deadlines.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Home Students

The tuition fees for home students studying Doctor of Professional Studies in Theology and Religious Studies in 2024/25 are £6,665 per year.

International/EU Students

The tuition fees for international students studying Doctor of Professional Studies in Theology and Religious Studies in 2024/25 are £14,644 per year. The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter. For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section. Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Additional Costs

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Bursaries and Funding

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.