What is the typical RRE student like?
Our students are a wonderfully diverse group and the programme is defined by a wealth of different experiences and perspectives. RRE students come from all over the world. This year in Oslo we have students from Kenya, Norway, USA, Spain, Bangladesh, and Finland.?
RRE students also tend to be very diverse with regard to age. We have students in their 20s, who have just completed their first bachelor's degree, and we have mature students, who are pursuing a second or third degree. Typically, RRE students come with a background in religious studies, theology, art history, classical philology and/or archaeology.
What does it mean for the students that this is a joint master's degree programme?
I usually say that you get three for the price of one. Students are enrolled in the program through either Oslo, Lund or Copenhagen, but because it is a joint program, you get to meet students and researchers from all three institutions, and you also spend time at all three institutions during the compact seminars. In this way, RRE students experience three different universities and three different cities, and their courses are taught by scholars from three top universities instead of just one.
What types of career paths do graduates of this programme typically pursue?
Many of our graduates pursue careers in teaching, in NGO work, and as consultants and experts on interreligious relations. Almost half of our RRE graduates pursue a career in research and go on to write PhDs and work at research institutions around the world. This is quite a high number for any MA program and something that we are rather proud of. It means a lot that we can educate and inspire new generations of scholars of religion through the program.
What advice would you give to students who are considering applying to this programme?
The program is a bit unusual in the sense that the courses are based on a combination of distance learning and in-person compact seminars. This gives students lots of freedom and flexibility, but it also requires a certain level of self-discipline and planning skills. I would advise potential students to consider whether this type of study is right for them and also encourage them to look at our website to get an impression of the courses and the program structure.
Lastly, I would certainly encourage anyone with an interest in the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to apply. You will learn a lot and you will become part of a dynamic and inclusive network of fellow students and teachers.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me. My email is akgudme@teologi.uio.no