Theology and Religious Studies

The admission requirements for the different tracks are as follows:

• Master of theology and religious studies with specialization in theology requires a Bachelor in theology with at least 20 ECTS in Greek. Hebrew (20 ECTS) is required for one of the OT electives.
• Master of theology and religious studies with specialization in religious studies requires a Bachelor of religious studies, a Bachelor of theology, or a Bachelor of Arts with at least 90 ECTS in theology/religious studies.
• Master of theology and religious studies with specialization in Bible translation requires a Bachelor in theology or a Bachelor of Arts with Greek (20 ECTS) and/or Hebrew (20 ECTS), and exegetical studies based on the biblical languages, or a more general Bachelor of Arts which includes—or to which is added—corresponding competence of languages and exegesis.

Please be sure to visit our page How to apply for a full degree programme at VID for a full checklist of supporting documents that must be submitted with your application.

Application deadline

December 1st: International applicants from outside EU/EEA and Switzerland not already residing in Norway (all applicants who need to apply for a student visa).

April 15th: Applicants from EU countries and domestic applicants, who currently hold a Norwegian national ID number (applicants who do not need to apply for a student visa).

Download the application form. This must be included in your online application.

Please visit our page How to apply for a full degree programme at VID for a full checklist of supporting documents that must be submitted.

If you're a student from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, the tuition fee for Master in Community development and social innovation at VID Oslo is 65 920 Norwegian kroner per semester. International students do not qualify for support from Lånekassen.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires international students to document that they have sufficient means for self-subsistence during their studies. More information about this can be found on our page How to apply for a full degree programme at VID.

We do not offer scholarships.

The master’s program in theology and religious studies at VID Stavanger is designed for those seeking strong competence in the field of theology and religion. The program has a missional and global perspective, with international students on campus. In addition to studying core theological disciplines like biblical studies, systematic theology, and church history, you will also engage with contextual theology. In the third semester, you can choose a subject such as missiology, eco-theology, or practical theology.

With further training in practical pedagogical education (PPU) at another college or university, you can qualify to teach religious studies and Christianity, as well as provide church education.

The program is taught in English. One semester can be spent at a theological institution abroad, and your 30-credit master’s thesis will focus on the theological discipline that interests you most. The first semester is common to both specializations, with courses in contextual theology and interreligious perspectives, values in professional practice, philosophy of science, and methodology.

Specialization in Theology

The program requires a bachelor's degree in theology, with 20 ECTS in Greek and New Testament studies based on Greek. The second semester includes a mandatory in-depth course in the New Testament and systematic theology. In the third semester, you delve further into key theological disciplines with the option of an elective course, such as Hebrew 3. You will write your master’s thesis in the fourth semester.

Specialization in Religious Studies

This specialization requires a bachelor’s degree in theology, religious studies, or a Bachelor of Arts with a significant focus on theology/religious studies. The second and third semesters offer opportunities to deepen your knowledge in the academic field of religious studies through obligatory and elective courses, preparing you to write your master’s thesis in the fourth semester.