Wisdom of Religious Arts

About the course

PhD in Wisdom of Religious Arts is the research degree for graduate students normally carried out over four years by distance learning, although it may take more time in certain circumstances. The major commitment of time will be to individual study and research. Examination for the PhD is by submission of a thesis and oral examination.

Supervision

As a student on this course you will have an identified supervisor who is interested in your research ideas and can closely monitor and advise on your research. A good supervisory relationship is crucial to research. The relationship between supervisor and supervisee can be a very personal one, therefore it is important that you ensure that your supervisor understands the research concepts and that there is agreement about the potential and the direction of the research. Both supervisor and supervisee must be able to make a commitment to the project that will span several years and must agree to regular meetings.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the URD and it is always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances, a supervisor may be found outside the URD. In such circumstances, a second internal supervisor may be appointed.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

course fees for entry in 2021-22

Total cost of the course:

PHD Research degree: $ 5000

Education-oriented PHD : $ 8000

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually; the increase will not exceed 6% each year. Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs.

How to apply

The set of documents you should send with your application to this course comprises the following:

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

CV/résumé

A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Research proposal

The research proposal is a crucial element of a PhD application. It should communicate, not so much your personal autobiography, as your academic commitment and seriousness. Assessors are looking to be persuaded that you know the field in which you propose to conduct research, and are committed to spending several years working in it.

Content:

Each proposal will be read and carefully evaluated by specialists, and should contain an outline of the research you plan to undertake and what you intend to achieve. All proposals should be submitted in English. A selective bibliography may be included.

You should explain, within your proposal:

the specific field in which you propose to conduct research;
how you intend to structure and undertake your research;
the questions, problems, issues and debates with which you expect to engage;
how you see the proposed research building on your previous study;
your knowledge of any languages required for your research project – if you are unsure which languages might be required, see the entry requirements or contact the faculty directly.

You may also wish to include a provisional title for your dissertation. While it is normal for plans to change in the course of developing a project, you should make your best effort to define your intended research, identify the focal question or problem to which it will constitute an answer or solution, specify a finite body of core texts or sources, and explain the methods involved.

Assessment:

This will be assessed for your reasons for applying, the coherence of your proposal, the originality of your project; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and your ability to present a reasoned case in English.

A research proposal is assessed in terms of the intellectual coherence and academic originality of the project; evidence of the applicant’s motivation and understanding of the proposed area of study; and the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (up to four years full-time).

The faculty will also assess your commitment to the subject beyond the requirements of the degree course, preliminary knowledge of research techniques, capacity for sustained and intense work, evidence of reasoning ability, and ability to absorb new ideas, which are often presented abstractly at a rapid pace.

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The “Apply Now” button below will take you to the Applicant Portal, where you can create and submit your application and supporting documents.

An application is only complete when:
you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal.