Religious Roots of Europe - Master's Programme

Religious Roots of Europe (RRE) is a two-year master’s programme, taught in English, and offered in collaboration between Lund University, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Oslo. The programme focuses on how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam emerged during Late Antiquity and influenced each other.

During the programme, you will gain in-depth knowledge of how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam emerged and developed – both individually and in relation to one another. You will study the religions’ texts, ideas, and traditions from a comparative perspective and see how they have been used historically and in contemporary society. In addition, you will have the opportunity to study languages such as Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Arabic and read texts in their original language.

The programme combines various teaching methods to provide both flexibility and a sense of community. You will join peers from around the world and various religious backgrounds, becoming part of an international research environment. You will participate in digital learning through e-learning platforms, working with assignments and materials online. At the same time, you will attend supervised seminars at your home university, where you can receive support and engage in discussions with teachers and fellow students.

A key component of the programme is the compact seminars, where students and teachers from all the participating universities meet for joint course sessions. These seminars are held in different locations in the Nordic countries as well as abroad, for example at the Swedish Institute in Rome. Funding is always sought for travel and accommodation, but if not available, students may need to cover these costs themselves – estimated at approximately €3,500 for the entire programme.

You will practice analysing religious texts, interpreting sources, and understanding complex ideas from multiple perspectives. Throughout the programme, you will also develop your ability to write and present academic texts in English, while learning about research methods and theories in religious studies and theology.   

In today’s Europe, religion plays an increasingly significant role, and society is becoming more religiously diverse. This creates a need for individuals with a deep knowledge of how religions have developed and influenced history, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After graduation, you will have a profile suitable for work in government agencies, NGOs, or companies dealing with culture, integration, or international affairs. The programme also provides a solid foundation for those wishing to pursue doctoral studies.

Prerequisites

A degree of Bachelor of Arts specialising in theology, religious studies, classical languages and literature, classical archaeology and ancient history, classical archaeology, history or the equivalent. In addition, applicants must have at least 15 credits in classical languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic). English 6

Selection criteria

Based on a letter of intent, and a CV is also required.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 270,000
First payment: SEK 67,500

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship

Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities. 

ARUA Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarship: Global professionals

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden. 

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website 

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students.

Country-specific scholarships

External scholarships

In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries. 

External scholarships