MA Indian Religions


This master’s degree programme brings together a range of themes relating to socio-religious traditions which have their origins in the Indian sub-continent. It is intended specifically to provide interested individuals with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of these traditions by engaging with scholarship on the subject in an academic environment.

The programme is designed primarily for study at home. We also offer you opportunities to join us at our beautiful Lampeter campus to participate in residential sessions when you can attend lectures and workshops, interact with fellow students, and meet your tutors to discuss your progress.

Our modules explore both textual and popular aspects of Indian religious traditions, and, as part of the programme, we invite you to join us on a fieldtrip to India when you can experience some aspects of Indian traditions at first hand!

The course structure

The MA consists of two parts. The first part is the taught element, and the second part is the dissertation.

  • The taught element involves the successful completion of six modules, four of which you can choose from our (expanding) list of options. For each chosen module, you will be assessed on the basis of a 5,000-word essay or equivalent.
  • The dissertation, part 2 of the MA, is a piece of original research, 20,000 words in length, on an aspect of religious traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent that may be of interest to you. The topic for the dissertation needs to be formally agreed with the programme director before students embark on their research.
  • You can enrol for the MA either as a part-time or full-time student.
  • For full-time students, the taught part of the MA is a one-year programme, with a further year in which to write-up the dissertation.
  • Part-time students usually take about two to three years to complete the taught elements and a further two years to complete the dissertation.

Choice of Modules (20 credits each)

Compulsory modules

TRDL7038 Study Skills for Theology and Religious Studies

TRDL7039 Theory and Methodology in Interdisciplinary Study of Religions

Optional Modules

TRDL7041 Advaita Vedanta, Samkhya Yoga

TRDL7040 The Bhagavad Gita and its Commentators

TRDL7043 The Body in Ayurvedic Tradition

TRDL7042 Trantra and Sexuality in Hindu Religion

TRDL7044 Studying Religion on the Internet

TRDL7045 Empirical Research Methods

TRDL7046 Independent Study

Compulsory Modules

TRDL7068 Dissertation 60 credits

Diploma and Certificate

In case you do not wish to complete the entire MA, but prefer instead to enrol only for a few of the modules available, you have the following two options: You can complete 60 credits worth of modules (three modules of 20 credits each) and qualify for a Certificate in the Study of Religion. Alternatively you can complete 120 credits worth of modules (six modules of 20 credits each), and qualify for a Diploma in the Study of Religion.

Awards available

  • MA (180 credits)
  • PG Diploma (120 credits)
  • PG Certificate (60 credits)

Study mode

  • Full-time
  • Part-time

Programme delivery

  • Distance learning with residential sessions

Start dates

  • October
  • February

Contact Details

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in this study programme, please contact the programme director at the address below.

Dr Bettina Schmidt

School of Theology, Religion and Islamic Studies
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Lampeter Campus
Ceredigion
SA48 7ED
E-mail: b.schmidt@trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk

Phone: +44 1570 424913
Fax: +44 1570 424987

Fieldtrip