Master's Programme in Religion and European Public Life

60 credits

How is European society shaped in an era of polarisation, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity and increasing tension within and without the EU's borders? What role does religion play in those processes? The Master's Programme in Religion and European Public Life is aimed at those who wish to understand, analyse and contribute in a practical way to a sustainable European society where religious traditions play a significant role.

Expand the information below to show details on entry requirements, programme-specific documents, selection criteria and tuition fees.

Autumn 2026 Autumn 2026, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English

Location

Uppsala

Pace of study

100%

Teaching form

On-campus

Instructional time

Daytime

Start date

31 August 2026

Language of instruction

English

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university in a subject relevant for the programme (principally humanities and social sciences).

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Selection

Students are selected based on an overall appraisal of previous university studies.

Tuition fee-paying students and non-paying students are admitted on the same grounds but in different selection groups.

Fees

If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees.

First tuition fee instalment: SEK 57,000
Total tuition fee: SEK 114,000

About the programme

The Master's Programme in Religion and European Public Life provides you with an in-depth understanding of social change in historical and modern Europe. The focus is on current challenges such as polarisation, social and ethnic diversity, and the stresses on national identity. It covers the development of modernity, rights issues, social cohesion and contemporary social change.

The programme is interdisciplinary and combines history, religious studies, political science and law. You will be trained in planning and implementing research and development projects as well as in communicating your results to both academic and non-academic audiences.

The programme prepares you for qualified tasks in public administration, civil society organisations, research, international environments and policy work.

The programme offers:

breadth through our interdisciplinary courses that tackle modern European society from a historical, political, legal and religious studies perspective,
knowledge of current issues such as EU law, the European Convention, freedom of association and religion, and administrative law in practice,
Methods that make a difference, including Policy analysis, qualitative methods, project planning, stakeholder mapping and impact assessment.

Student profile

We welcome students who are curious about contemporary issues in Europe and wish to turn analysis into action. They may have a background in religious studies, political science, sociology, law, history or European studies. Some will seek a position in policy-making, public administration, research or civil society whilst others will look to the media, culture or international work. All are united by an interest in Europe and its past, present and future.

Degree

The programme leads to the degree of Master of Theology (60 credits) with Religion and European Public Life as the main field of study.

Content

The Master's Programme in Religion and European Public Life runs over two semesters and consists of courses which offer perspectives from different fields such as history, religious studies, political science and law.

In the first semester, you will take courses offering historical, religious, political and legal perspectives on Europe plus a practical module covering academic writing and career issues.

In the second semester, you will engage critically with debates on European society, take a course on project management and write your Master’s thesis.

Courses within the programme

Semester 1

Religious and Historical Perspectives on Europe, 13 credits
Legal and Political Perspectives on Europe, 12 credits
Professional and Academic Skills: Communication, 5 credits

Semester 2

Research Seminar, 10 credits
Professional and Academic Skills: Project Management, 5 credits
Thesis, 15 credits

Learning experience

This is a campus-based, full-time programme, which means around 40 hours of study per week. It is not possible to study this programme part-time or as distance learning. The language of instruction is English.

Teaching consists of seminars, case studies and lectures. You will also receive continuous supervision and clear feedback on both academic and socially oriented writing.

Swedish academic culture is fairly informal. This means that university lecturers are considered more like partners in students' educational and learning processes. Less time is dedicated to traditional classroom lectures and more to personal reading and individual and group tasks. The aim is to give students a balanced workload between taking part in lectures, reading the assigned course materials, critical consideration of the readings, and group discussions, all of which are important parts of the advanced learning experience.

Career

The Master's Programme in Religion and European Public Life prepares you to work in government agencies, regionals and municipal administrations, in civil society and faith-based sectors, international organizations, think tanks and the media.

There is a growing need in these fields for professionals who can understand the basis of cultural exchanges and conflicts. This is emphasized by the prominent role that issues of religion and European society play in current public debates.

The Master's Programme is relevant for those interested in working with:

diplomacy,
analysis and policy,
collaboration and dialogue,
education,
project management,
media,
cultural work.

The programme also provides a stable platform for postgraduate study.

Career support

During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career.