Religious Roots of Europe: Thesis Colloquium

This course offers a focused and structured introduction to the craft of academic writing, designed to prepare you for your upcoming master’s thesis. With an emphasis on clarity, depth, and scholarly precision, you will explore key components of thesis work, such as theory, method, previous research, and the formulation of research questions.

The course focuses on approaches at the intersection between religious and historical studies, introducing historical method and theory. Through guided reading and group discussions, you will engage with selected academic texts and reflect on the structure and style of existing theses. You will also examine how to interpret and reference ancient source material and develop a critical understanding of academic conventions.

In addition to collaborative learning, the course includes independent study and the presentation of primary texts. A central outcome is the creation of a written plan for your future thesis, including a well-structured introductory chapter.

This is a course for those who value thoughtful preparation and wish to build a strong, confident foundation for their academic journey.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The course combines flexible online learning with focused in-person engagement. Instruction is delivered via Canvas, complemented by a compact seminar held in Lund and tutorials at your home university. Active participation in the online forum is mandatory, as is the completion of four written assignments.

You will work through a curated reading list independently, guided by weekly introductions and tasks available on Canvas. To prepare for the seminar, you may also be asked to engage with additional material.

The assessment is based on written assignments as well as active participation in seminar, where you will explore topics or questions provided by the instructor.

This structure is designed to support thoughtful, self-directed learning while offering meaningful opportunities for dialogue and reflection.

This course is part of the master’s programme The Religious Roots of Europe, but it is also available as a stand-alone course. It is designed for students who want to deepen their academic skills and prepare for the challenges of writing a master’s thesis.

Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree with a major in theology, religious studies, classical philology, classical archeology, history or the equivalent; a minimum of 20 ECTS credits in one or two of the following ancient languages: Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Arabic; and a minimum of 50 ECTS credits within the The Religious Roots of Europe master's programme.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

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 22,500
First payment: SEK 22,500

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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.