Theology & Religion has been taught at King's for almost 200 years, and our Department most recently ranked as the best research environment in the UK (REF2021).

Study at one of the largest and most wide-ranging departments of Theology & Religious Studies in the UK, and indeed the world. Our programme uniquely integrates humanities and social sciences into the study of religions in their cultural and social contexts, all within a supportive and diverse community of students and academics.

We offer supervision of doctoral projects focused on religion from a range of perspectives. Our research spans Religion and the Arts, Philosophy and Ethics, Biblical Studies, Theology, History, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies, Buddhist Studies, Anthropology, Politics, and Sociology of Religion. Depending on your particular field of study, you can be awarded a PhD in that area, for example, in Sociology of Islam or in Religious Studies.

Our research environment was ranked first in the UK in the most recent Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF). Our lively research-oriented culture includes various research groups and grant-funded projects led by academic staff at the cutting edge of their disciplines. As a PhD student you will have access to a wealth of seminars and events which profile the research of top scholars in the field as well as to London’s vast religious and cultural diversity right on your doorstep.

REF rankings: The Department ranked 3rd in the country according to the ‘power’ metric, which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity, and received an outstanding score for the impact of its research. It ranked 1st in the country for its research environment in the most recent REF, which assessed the quality of research taking place between 2014 and 2020 in UK higher education institutions.

Current number of academic staff: 20

Current number of research students: 45

Our partnerships and collaborations range from the National Gallery and the Courtauld Gallery to Inform, the world’s leading research organisation on new religious movements which is based in the Department. Our connections and outreach stretch far wider to universities, networks, and advocacy organisations across Asia, North America, and the world.

The Department represents a broad range of overlapping research areas. Students can pursue areas of study including theology and biblical studies, the social-scientific study of religion (sociology, anthropology, and politics), philosophy of religion, the world of Jews in modern Europe, Islamic thought, and Asian religions. Staff are engaged in research and publishing at forefront of their areas of study, with several editing leading academic journals and monograph series.

Students pursue their research by working with a supervisor, and the Department's graduate seminars and day conferences offer excellent opportunities for interaction with other staff and students, including the chance to try out research papers on a friendly audience. We have successfully placed PhD graduates at excellent academic and research posts across the world. We pride ourselves on the quality of our research training at every level.

King’s College London’s Doctoral College provides exceptional support for PhD students, fostering academic excellence and personal development. With expert supervision, interdisciplinary opportunities, and tailored training, it equips researchers to excel in their fields. Its vibrant community and global networks empower students to make meaningful contributions to academia, industry, and society.

Contact: Professor Paul Joyce-  paul.joyce@kcl.ac.uk