Master of Arts (MA) in the Religious Roots of Europe

A maximum of ten students will be admitted to the programme at the University of Copenhagen each year.

The selection of students is based on the fulfillment of the following admission requirements:

A Bachelor's degree in a field of study that is relevant to the programme (e.g., theology, religious studies, classical philology, Semitic languages, ancient history, classical archeology). The applicant must have, or anticipate getting, a Bachelor's degree from a recognized and internationally acknowledged university.

Documented proficiency in one or more "classical" languages (i.e., 15 ECTS in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, or Arabic - 10 in Latin and 5 in Greek is e.g. sufficient, etc.).

The selection of students is furthermore based on the relevance of the Bachelor's degree in terms of field of study, as well as on the grades achieved, and on the number of courses and ECTS-points that students have gained in relevant study areas (e.g., theology, religion, ancient history, culture and language).

Check which master’s programmes at UCPH your bachelor programme is pre-approved for admission to. Please note that the admission tool is only available in Danish.

To gain admission to a Master's programme at University of Copenhagen, applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish secondary school 'English level B' with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0.

We accept the following four ways of documenting this:

1) English level B with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0
 

Proof* of English language proficiency level B (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 or English level A (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 

2) English is your native language

The Faculty of Theology  accepts the University of Purdue view that if you are a citizen from the following countries, you do not need to present an English Language Proficiency exam:

• Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Irish Republic, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales and United States of America.

3) You have studied in English

Studies completed in the English language and/or in an English speaking country. For example, if you have studied your Bachelor’s degree in Australia, you are not required to complete an English language proficiency exam.

4) English is your second language (English proficiency test)

Applicants with English as their second language (except Scandinavians) must pass an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge English test before being admitted. We accept the following tests and scores:

• IELTS-test (British Council) with a minimum score of 6.5
• Computer-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 213 points
• Paper-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 560 points
• Internet-based TOEFL-test with a min score of 83 points
• Passed Cambridge English Certificate: minimum level C1, e.g. the CPE or CAE

IELTS and TOEFL language tests older than 2 years are not accepted (from the application deadline). There is no limitation for validity for the Cambridge tests.

* An official certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Official certified copies are usually a photocopy of the original document stamped, signed and verified by an official in your country. Each country varies in whom is qualified to certify documents, however generally speaking your university, lawyers and embassies can certify documents for you, so that we can verify that what we have is a true replica of the original (and therefore determine if you are eligible for the MA with us).

Application Procedure for EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens

• Make sure to check the admission requirements.
• Prepare relevant enclosures.
• From 15. January to 1. March you can send your application through the online application portal
• After the application deadline, your application will be evaluated by an academic admissions committee.
• You will receive a response no later than 15 June.

Late application based on availability
If the maximum student intake is not met after 1. March applications are processed, late application is available.

• The application portal opens: 10. June
• Application deadline: 20. June

Help with your application

Guide to the online application platform

Checklist for Documentation

In order to make sure we have all the information needed to evaluate your past achievements and future potential, you are required to submit the following items together with the application form:

Documentation of degree

• An original or certified copy* of your academic transcript from your Bachelor degree. If the transcript is in a language other than English or a Scandinavian language, please include an official English translation.
• A certified copy* of your Bachelor diploma. If you are yet to receive your diploma, please provide a letter from your university stating the date when the diploma will be issued.

Documentation of classical language and relevant courses

• Documented proficiency in at least one "classical" language (i.e., 20 ECTS in either Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Arabic; or 10 ECTS in two "classical" languages)
• Course descriptions of courses undertaken in your Bachelor degree relevant to the programme you are applying for. These can be in the form of photocopies from your university's academic handbook/course lists or print-outs from the university's website. They should describe what was required of you to complete the courses, what was studied and hours of study. These course descriptions allow us to understand exactly what you have studied in your prior degree, and help us to determine whether you meet the requirements and are eligible for the MA programme.

Statement of Purpose

• A Statement of Purpose (motivational letter). Explaining why you wish to apply for the proposed MA programme.

CV

• An updated version of your C.V. (curriculum vitae)/résumé.

Copy of your passport

• A copy of your passport. Should you have more than one passport (citizenship) please copy the passport with which you will use to travel to Denmark. 

English proficiency, level and grade

• 1) Proof of English language proficiency level B (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 or
• 2) Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Advanced English test scores no more than two years old (from the application deadline) or
• 3) Proof that English is your native language or
• 4) Proof that English was the language of instruction in your prior education at bachelor level.

See the full language requirements

* An official certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Official certified copies are usually a photocopy of the original document stamped, signed and verified by an official in your country. Each country varies in whom is qualified to certify documents, however generally speaking your university, lawyers and embassies can certify documents for you, so that we can verify that what we have is a true replica of the original (and therefore determine if you are eligible for the MA with us).

Application Procedure for Non-EU/EEA Citizens

• Make sure to check the admission requirements.
• Prepare relevant enclosures.
• From 15. November to 15. January you can send your application through the online application portal.
• After the application deadline, your application will be evaluated by an academic admissions committee.
• You will receive a response no later than 15 June.

Help with your application 

Guide to the online application platform

Checklist for Documentation

In order to make sure we have all the information needed to evaluate your past achievements and future potential, you are required to submit the following items together with the application form:

Documentation of degree

• An original or certified copy* of your academic transcript from your Bachelor degree. If the transcript is in a language other than English or a Scandinavian language, please include an official English translation.
• A certified copy* of your Bachelor diploma. If you are yet to receive your diploma, please provide a letter from your university stating the date when the diploma will be issued.

Documentation of classical language and relevant courses

• Documented proficiency in at least one "classical" language (i.e., 20 ECTS in either Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Arabic; or 10 ECTS in two "classical" languages)
• Course descriptions of courses undertaken in your Bachelor degree relevant to the programme you are applying for. These can be in the form of photocopies from your university's academic handbook/course lists or print-outs from the university's website. They should describe what was required of you to complete the courses, what was studied and hours of study. These course descriptions allow us to understand exactly what you have studied in your prior degree, and help us to determine whether you meet the requirements and are eligible for the MA programme.

Statement of Purpose

• A Statement of Purpose (motivational letter). Explaining why you wish to apply for the proposed MA programme.

CV

• An updated version of your C.V. (curriculum vitae)/résumé.

Copy of your passport

• A copy of your passport. Should you have more than one passport (citizenship) please copy the passport with which you will use to travel to Denmark. 

English proficiency, level and grade

• 1) Proof of English language proficiency level B (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 or
• 2) Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Advanced English test scores no more than two years old (from the application deadline) or
• 3) Proof that English is your native language or
• 4) Proof that English was the language of instruction in your prior education at bachelor level.

See the full language requirements

* An official certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Official certified copies are usually a photocopy of the original document stamped, signed and verified by an official in your country. Each country varies in whom is qualified to certify documents, however generally speaking your university, lawyers and embassies can certify documents for you, so that we can verify that what we have is a true replica of the original (and therefore determine if you are eligible for the MA with us).

Danish Citizens/ EU/EEA Citizens with a degree from a Danish or EU/EEA University

Application Deadlines
Second round of applications
10 - 20 June

(for admission 1 September)

Applicants with citizenship from outside EU/EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee of 750DKK (approx. 100 EUR) when applying for one or more Master’s degree programmes. Click here for exemptions and further information. The fee will be deducted from the tuition fee if the application is successful.

If you hold a citizenship from outside EU/EEA/Switzerland, you are covered by the rules of tuition fee.

The tuition fee applies per year and is DKK 53,500 per year.

Please note that tuition fees are not refunded once your study has commenced.

Scholarships and loans

The Faculty of Theology only has a very limited number of Danish Government Scholarships available – generally less than four per year. The Scholarship is only granted as partial tuition fee waivers, and not as an amount that covers basic living costs.

General information about scholarships and loans at UCPH

Faculty specific information about Danish Government Scholarship

Associate Professor Martin Ehrensvärd, PhD, PCC, is the academic coordinator of the programme. You can ask him about most things related to the programme such as:

• Academic requirements
• Study environment
• Programme structure

E-mail: meh@teol.ku.dk

Academic officer Anja Mee Foldberg is admission officer of the programme. You can ask her about:

• Admission requirements
• Application
• Study start

E-mail: admission@teol.ku.dk

Learn more about the programme in the Study Plan for the Master's Degree in the Religious Roots of Europe

See the course catalog for the current semester.https://kurser.ku.dk

• International experience.
• Advanced knowledge about the religious traditions at the root of European culture in their formative periods.
• A deep understanding of the formative processes of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the parallels and differences between the three traditions, and the interaction of their followers.
• The ability to understand, describe and apply relevant scholarly theories and methods.
• Skills to communicate about the subject matter and about theoretical insights, and skills to transmit the acquired methods to others, both orally and in writing.
• The tools to evaluate critically the role of the three religions in contemporary society.

The importance of expertise in religion and in its role in society and culture is increasingly recognised. As a graduate of this programme you will be qualified for scholarly work, e.g. in PhD-programmes, as well as for teaching. You will also be able to enter into specialised occupations in government institutions or organisations dealing with culture, integration, diplomacy etc. and in private companies for example with business relations with the Middle East.

Very many different jobs. So far about 20 % of our alumni have gone on to doing PhD work. 

Here are some areas where RRE graduates work:

Public administration, university administration, mission organisation, other NGOs, social and integration work, ministry, diplomacy, recruitment agency, partner in HR, private company.

Some numbers:

By September 2018, 109 students graduated. And here is the list of places where 27 RRE-graduates have been or are doing PhD-studies:

• Lund University
• University of Ghana
• Aarhus University
• University of Heidelberg
• Norwegian School of Theology, Oslo
• Faculty of Theology, Oslo
• University of Helsinki
• Texas A&M University
• University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
• Martin Luther Universität, Halle, Wittenberg
• Humboldt Universität, Berlin
• University of Sheffield
• University of Edinburgh
• Yale University
• Oxford University
• International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Saint Petersburg University
• Lvov University
• University of Michigan
• Bergen University

In addition, five RRE graduates teach at university level: University of Florida, Seton Hall in New Jersey, Norwegian University of Science and Theology, Trondheim, and the University of Southern Denmark.