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Undergraduate Degrees in Global Religions

Religious ideas and movements have always crossed borders and influenced social and political events. In a globalising world, religious traditions continue to develop and affect relations between states as well as ideologies and philosophical thinking. Identifying the boundaries between religion, politics and philosophy is now virtually impossible. Our Global Religions degrees examine these interconnections and enable you to understand the roles of religion in the modern world.

Explore the role played by religions in contemporary politics and the world of ideas. You’ll explore the latest research with leading experts in the field, and develop an interdisciplinary perspective on global problems, as well as the skills needed in a wide range of careers.

Religion in a world in transition

You’ll gain a grounding in the fundamental concepts and debates in international politics. You’ll learn to view religion in a global context, and explore how it influences the contemporary world. You’ll apply your knowledge to real-world issues which sit at the crossroads of religion and international relations, such as the tensions between tradition, modernity and globalisation.

You’ll study in our interdisciplinary Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion – the only one of its kind in the UK. bringing together expertise from across these fields to deliver a holistic perspective on complex global problems.

Our new Global Religions BA programmes

These degrees allow you to integrate the study of Religion with either Politics, International Relations or Philosophy. They give you the flexibility to explore your individual interests, and also placement or study abroad year options. They equip you with the intellectual and research skills to succeed in your future career – whether in business, government, teaching or non-governmental organisations.

Global Religions Degrees

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Meet the Global Religions Team

Our Global Religions team brings together a rich and diverse set of knowledge, experience and interests.

Bihani Sarkar

I am lecturer in Comparative Non-Western Thought. I work on classical Indian religious history, Sanskrit poetry and drama, and the comparative study of literary genres and ideas. My work has focused on Indian Goddess traditions, the poet Kālidāsa and the reinterpretation of tragedy. I am interested in the philosophical and historical aspects of poetry and mythology and the retelling of sacred narratives by poets. I am currently working on wild women and goddesses in early Indian myth and poetry.

Brian Black

I am Senior Lecturer in Indian philosophy and religion, with a focus on the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. I love reading and teaching ancient Hindu and Buddhist literature. My research investigates how narrative is used to convey religious and philosophical ideas. I am also interested in the gender and political dynamics of Indian thought. Additionally, I am interested in comparative philosophy and religion, particularly resonances between ancient Indian, Chinese, and Mediterranean thought.

Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad

My research has been funded by the Templeton Foundation, AHRC, ESRC and the Leverhulme Trust. My work is comparative, and draws on a variety of pre-modern Indian traditions. I have written on epistemology, metaphysics, phenomenology and other philosophical topics, as well as on gender, political thought, and religious life. I am currently working on emotions. I have enjoyed teaching and supervising across all levels, and especially on gender and religion, Indian philosophy, and reconceptualising International Relations.

Philippe Major

I am lecturer in Philosophy. I work on the history of Chinese philosophy, with a focus on Confucianism in the 20th century. I am also interested in Zen Buddhism, ancient Chinese philosophy, and Continental philosophy. My work explores topics such as authority, modernity, epistemic hegemony, and the exclusion of non-western thought from the philosophy curriculum. I am currently working on a project that looks at patterns of resistance to the hegemony of Euro-American philosophical knowledge production in modern Confucian philosophy.

Vanessa Higham

Our Alumni

Our alumni share their experiences, tips and advice, including how their degrees led them to their current jobs. They have taken up a wide range of careers, ranging from Media Relations Officer in Her Majesty’s Revenue to Customs and Government Affairs Manager at Vodafone.

Our Alumni