Graduate students engaged in research on various aspects of religion form a vital part of the life and work of our Programme, and work closely with teaching staff.
There are several options for postgraduate study – including by distance and part-time. Which option is right for you will depend on your previous study and your aim in undertaking research.
Read the postgraduate study options below and then discuss your plans with the Postgraduate Co-ordinator for Religion (bottom of page).
For details of research interests and preferred areas of supervision for each member of staff, view the list of academic staff list:
Academic staff in the Religion Programme
Master of Arts in Religious Studies
The University of Otago offers two pathways within the Master of Arts (Coursework), a 180-point coursework option, and Master of Arts (Thesis), available to those with an Honours degree or a PGDipArts .
Master of Arts (Coursework) in Religious Studies
The Master of Arts (Coursework) programme is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary grounding for Humanities students in a range of subjects as preparation for further study or future employment. The MA(Coursework) programme will take either 12 months or three semesters of full-time study to complete. The programme can also be studied part-time over a period of up to five years.
The MA(Coursework) in Religious Studies requires that you take two 30-point papers in Religious Studies, two further 30-point Humanities papers, and complete a 60-point dissertation (RELS 590 or 591). The list of papers on offer in 2024 is below.
Learn more about the MA(Coursework)
Buddhist Studies is also an option for the MA(Coursework). This requires that you take four taught papers (chosen from RELS 521, 522, 523, 531 and HUMS 501–503) and complete a 60-point dissertation.
RELS papers at Masters level offered in 2025
February short course / Semester 1
- RELS 521 Readings in Religious Texts
Semester 2
- RELS 523 Key Debates in Religious Studies
Full year
The dissertation, which may be up to 20,000 words, should be undertaken over a full twelve months, but can be written either alongside the other taught papers during the year, or be started after one semester of taught papers and completed in the six months following the second semester of taught papers. In this case, the degree is completed over 18 months, and the dissertation paper code is RELS 591.
HUMS papers at Masters level
For the MA(Coursework) in Religious Studies, you should choose two HUMS papers from those listed below.
For the MA in Buddhist Studies, you may choose to include up to two of these papers.
With the permission of the Heads of Programme concerned, a candidate may substitute for one required paper a paper of another subject at the same level.
Master of Arts (Thesis) in Religious Studies
If a student has an Honours degree in Religious Studies or has done a PGDipArts , they may proceed to an MA by thesis alone.
The MA(Thesis) is 40,000 words, written over a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years part-time. Supervision is provided for by the Programme.
Students do not have to be in Dunedin to do these degrees, but where they are outside of Dunedin satisfactory supervision arrangements must be agreed.
Information about the Master of Arts (MA)
Doctoral research
The Programme also offers the PhD degree in Religious Studies. This is by thesis only, with the thesis being 100,000 words. Students do not need to be in Dunedin, but satisfactory supervision arrangements must be made.
Students interested in PhD study should first check the research interests of academic staff in the Religion Programme, in order to confirm whether any coincides with their proposed PhD topic.
Postgraduate scholarships
The University of Otago offers a range of scholarships for students from New Zealand and overseas.
Further information
Contact
To discuss your options for graduate study in religion at Otago, contact:
Deane Galbraith
Postgraduate Co-ordinator for Religion
Email deane.galbraith@otago.ac.nz