Ancient Religions (Part-time) (MA)
The Ancient Religions (MA) offers students whose interests centre on this field the opportunity to take a specialist higher degree tailored to investigating evidence for religious practices and beliefs in diverse cultural contexts: Neolithic southwest Asia, Bronze Age Mediterranean, Celtic, Egyptian, Jewish, Graeco-Roman, and ancient China.
The part-time structure of the course means you can balance your studies with other commitments, making it an ideal option for those already working or with other responsibilities. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of ancient religious traditions or to develop skills in research and critical thinking, this course offers an engaging and comprehensive route into the study of ancient religions. You’ll come away with a clearer insight into how ancient peoples understood their world, and how their religious beliefs continue to resonate in modern thought today.
The programme enables students to gain a clearer understanding of the interrelations of religion and society in a cross-cultural perspective and so better enables them to understand multi-religious worlds. Moreover, students will gain a wider understanding of the cultural economic and social forces underpinning the ancient world and these ancient ideas and practices in particular. It draws upon a variety of methodologies and theoretical perspectives taken from Archaeology and Anthropology as well as from the textual traditions of ancient China, the Classical world and Old Testament studies.
The scheme allows you to study a wide range of modules covering a wide range of ancient religions, giving you a choice to shape the programme to your interests.
All our modules in the Ancient Religions (MA) are taught by internationally renowned specialists and active researchers from different disciplines, notably notably Archaeology, Classics, Egyptology, Theology, Religious Studies, Cultural Astronomy, Celtic Studies and Chinese Studies. The influence of our research on our teaching offers our students the opportunity to learn from the best in the subject and follow the latest scholarly trends and discoveries.
The MA Ancient Religions is available to both on-campus students and distance learners. Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a live forum through which students and staff can interact, through which students are better able to revise and explore difficult topics and access the electronic resources available in the virtual world.
Course details
- Distance Learning
- Part-time
- English
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
In the MA Ancient Religions (Part-time), you will explore the fascinating beliefs, rituals, and sacred spaces of ancient cultures. The course takes you on a journey through the religious practices of various civilisations, such as Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China. You will investigate how these societies interacted with their gods, viewed the afterlife, and used magic and divination to make sense of their world.
You’ll encounter modules like Theory and Methodology for the ÃÜÌÒ´«Ã½ of the Ancient World. This core module helps you develop essential research skills and introduces the main theories and methods used to study ancient cultures. You will have the opportunity to dive into specific religious traditions. For example, in Ancient Egyptian Religion, you will learn about the gods, temples, and rituals that shaped Egyptian society, examining how religion influenced both daily life and beliefs about the afterlife.
Another fascinating area you will study is Aspects of Greek and Roman Religion, where you will explore the roles that religion played in Greek and Roman society, including festivals, oracles, and the political significance of religious rituals. You will also engage with topics such as Cosmology, Magic, and Divination, where you will discover how ancient peoples used magic and astrology to understand the cosmos and communicate with the divine.
In addition, you will explore Religions in China, tracing how religious ideas shaped politics and society from the early dynasties to the introduction of Daoism and Buddhism. As you progress, you will examine sacred landscapes in Sacred Geography, where you will learn how natural and man-made spaces were considered holy, and how people interacted with these sacred sites through pilgrimage and religious ceremonies.
As a part-time student, you will typically take 30-60 credits per year, balancing your studies with other commitments. You will work on a dissertation in your final stages, researching a specific topic related to ancient religions that interests you. This will allow you to develop your skills in independent study and critical thinking, preparing you for further research or careers requiring deep analytical abilities.
By the end of this programme, you will have a well-rounded understanding of ancient religious traditions and the ways in which they influenced society, culture, and politics across different civilisations.
Compulsory
(30 credits)
(60 credits)
(30 credits)
Optional
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
* These modules alternate with each other on an annual basis.
Course Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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2:2 honours degree 
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or UWTSD recognised equivalent.
Alternative entry routes 
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree.
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Admissions Advice and Support 
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements 
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements 
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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An MA degree in Ancient Religions involves a wide range of assessment methods.
In addition to traditional essays, you will be assessed through bibliographic exercises, presentations – oral and PowerPoint-based, creation of abstracts and encyclopaedia articles, in-house conference papers, article reviews, creation of project plans and, of course, the final 15,000-word dissertation.
This variety of assessment helps develop skills in presenting material in a clear, professional and a lucid manner, whether orally or in writing.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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The programme provides a broad foundation for postgraduate work by laying particular emphasis on the methodologies and research tools needed for independent advanced study, thus acting as training for students who intend to undertake an MPhil or PhD.
The course also provides a professional qualification for teachers or others seeking Continuing Professional Development. In addition, the programme will be attractive to students who wish to study out of personal interest.