Religious studies and research
Ph.D. program in “ًReligious studies and research” is a comprehensive, specialized, educational package in line with the regulations and decisions made by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran. The program studies religion from anthropological, phenomenological, psychological, sociological, and theological perspectives in addition to the philosophy of religion. Today, research on religious studies is one of the most interesting areas of study for researchers.
Since there are various dimensions in religions, it should always be noticed from what perspective and approach the religion is viewed in research. Religions can be analyzed either in whole or in part. Different questions raised in various areas of religious thoughts have resulted in an evolution in religious studies and the creation of new fields related to religion. Some of the new fields in this area are a psychology of religion, sociology of religion, history of religions, comparative study of religion, anthropology, philosophy of religion, new theology, the phenomenology of religion, literature and religious art, the mythology of religion, and religious epistemology. The Ph.D. program in “religious studies and research” tries to review these different areas of education and research.
The graduates of this field can both teach at the academic institutes and do research on miscellaneous subjects of religious studies. In addition, they can be effective in providing critical infrastructure in humanities for the purpose of localization, review, and adaptation with Islamic and Shiite areas.
Holding a master’s degree or an equivalent is sufficient for enrollment in this program. The previous degree of the applicant must be verified by the consulate of Iran in the issuing country. Also, matching the applicants’ previous field of study with the current program is not necessary. Upon establishing the applicants’ scholarly competency and the committee’s agreement, the applicants are eligible to study in this program regardless of their previous field of study. Previous publications including books, research papers, and journal articles can positively influence the committee’s judgment.
This Ph.D. program takes 4 years, which equals to 8 academic semesters. The semesters are scheduled as follows: 4 semesters dedicated to the coursework, 1 semester dedicated to the comprehensive examination, and the last 3 semesters are dedicated to writing the thesis. The students pass the prerequisites during the first semester, followed by the core and elective courses during the upcoming semesters. The Ph.D. program in “religious studies and research” includes 48 units: 18 units of core courses, 12 units of prerequisites, and 18 units for thesis. Among the core courses offered in this program are “reality of religion”, “types of religiosity”, “religion and mental health”, “religion and secularism”, “historical typology of religion”, “values used in judgment of religions”, and “religion and wisdom”. Some of the prerequisites are a “phenomenological approach to religion”, “religion, human’s right, and global ethics”, and “religious hermeneutics, Christian theology from Kant onwards”.
- Total cost of the course for Iranian students who are admitted through the national entrance exam or internal university exam (2021-2022): 125 million tomans (The fee covers the student’s educational costs and does not include living expenses such as food and accommodations.
- Total cost of the course for Iranian students who are admitted through the national entrance exam or internal university exam (2021-2022): 9 thousand dollars (The fee covers the student’s educational costs and does not include living expenses such as food and accommodations.
The applicants must submit the following documents to apply to the (combined coursework and research) PhD programs at the University of Religions and Denominations:
- A completed application form.
- An electronic copy of the passport or a valid residence permit.
- An electronic copy of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees or their equivalent and a certified Persian, English, or Arabic translation of the transcripts.
- The original bachelor’s and master’s degrees or their equivalent and a Persian, English, or Arabic translation of the transcripts.
- A recently taken photo of the applicant, size 30x40mm.
- Applicant’s CV indicating education and work experience.
By clicking on the “Apply now” button next to each program, you will be transferred to the registration portal, where you can upload and submit your application documents. Your application will not be complete until all the required items are submitted.