RELIGION &

THEOLOGY
DISTANCE LEARNING
FAQs

Why should I choose Oxford Brookes University to study Religion and Theology?
Religion is a vibrant subject at Oxford Brookes University with excellent teaching, resources and an
exciting, contemporary and flexible programme of modules. The Department of History, Philosophy &
Religion is a thriving and innovative department with active researchers who are international leaders
in their respective fields of interest. You will already know that Oxford Brookes University has
consistently been rated the top new University by The Times newspaper. Furthermore the Quality
Assurance Agency (QAA) gave Religious Studies and Theology the prestigious score of 23/24 in
teaching quality and provision. Our distance learning programme is established as one of the most
successful of its kind, and combines the expertise of our course team with diverse and challenging
approaches to all aspects of study in Religion and Theology.

Do you have to be religious to study religions?

You do not need to be religious. People of all faiths and none become scholars of religion. You need
to be interested in religions in the same way an historian is interested in history. The study of religions
is amenable both to religious insiders and those who profess no personal religious beliefs. The
course is built on three core strands of study: Religion, Theology & Philosophy of Religion. This
allows you to approach your studies from a variety of viewpoints and contexts.

What is the difference between the on-

campus course and the programme that can Contact Information:
be studied at-a-distance?
The programme has been designed to be
For general enquiries about course
available to study either on-campus or at-a-
distance. The academic content and academic
content please contact the
regulations of the two programmes are identical. Programme Administrator on +44
Both programmes offer the same choice of (0)1865 488381, or
modules and the same academic module dltheology@brookes.ac.uk
leaders. The only differences between the two
programmes are in terms of the application For questions relating to the
process, the overall costs, the nature of your admissions process or to an
enrolment status and, of course, the mode of
study. application please contact the
Admissions Office on +44 (0)1865
483040, or
admissions@brookes.ac.uk
How does the programme work at a distance?
Our module content is delivered online, via the Brookes Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
(otherwise known as Moodle). Here you will find texts, videos, podcasts and links to websites to
support your learning. For each module you will be assigned a module leader who will answer any
questions you have, and give feedback on your assignments. You will need to sign up to modules on
a semester-by-semester basis, but the module content is available for flexible study whenever suits
you, including over the summer.

Who would be my point of contact for all queries while I am a student?

• You will be allocated an Academic Advisor who is a useful first point of contact for you in relation
to your programme and your academic progress.
• The Subject Coordinator is Dominic Corrywright who can deal with any programme related
issues: dcorrywright@brookes.ac.uk
• You will also have a Module Leader to deal with any module related questions.
• Holly Axford is the Programme Administrator who is responsible for dealing with general
programme related queries, assignments, and residential school bookings:
haxford@brookes.ac.uk

Will there be online tuition for this programme? Will the programme allow me purely
independent study of the textual resources provided?
There is no formal online tuition whereby you are expected to be online at a certain time. Tuition will
take place via email and possibly on the phone, and there is some tutor engagement with the
discussion boards on the VLE; otherwise you are expected to engage with the study material and e-
resources.

Residential Schools
There are two residential schools per year, in April and September. These typically last for three days
(Wednesday – Friday / Friday-Sunday), and students can attend for some or all of that time. At the
present time, there is no additional cost for these schools, apart from travel, accommodation and
subsistence; there is no cost to attend or for the teaching.

Access to the Virtual Learning Environment

You will be given access to the VLE on enrolment in September or January. This site is password
protected and this password is only issued once you have signed your enrolment forms (the contract
by which you agree to adhere to all the University procedures and regulations) and payment has
been taken. You will be sent enrolment forms in early-mid September or January.

Library access and access to e-learning resources

You will have access to online library resources on the completion of enrolment. UK and Ireland
mainland students have some access to postal delivery of books. There are no postal library services
for overseas students, but we do have a lot of e-journals and e-books that you will get access to.

Can I focus my studies in just one of the strands, Religion, Theology or Philosophy of
Religion?
The degree is designed so that you will have some grounding in all three areas: Religion, Theology
and Philosophy of Religion. It is possible to choose modules and select subject areas that more
closely align with your interests. So, for example, if you are interested in Theology you will be able to
select modules that focus on this area of study and, in discussion with tutors choose topics within
independent studies that relate to Theological issues.
How are the modules assessed?
There are no examinations - all modules are assessed through course work which must be submitted
in accordance with university deadlines. All deadlines are final, unless you have grounds to apply for
mitigating circumstances, i.e. something happened beyond your control (like a medical issue) which
prevented you from meeting the deadline.

Can I study full-time or part-time?

The course is available to study both full-time and part-time. This will depend on how many modules
you are able to take each year. You should decide in advance which mode you wish to study when
you apply, but it is possible to change modes part-way through the course. If you are returning to
study after a break, or are working alongside studying, we suggest you begin with the part-time
programme. If you are interested in taking just one or two modules from the course, please do
enquire with the course team.

How long is the course?

To qualify for a BA Hons you will need to complete 24 modules in total.
If you are studying in part-time mode, you will take up to five modules per year, so the degree can be
completed in five years. As a part-time student it would be more usual to take six years to complete
the degree and the absolute maximum allowed is eight years.
If you are studying in full-time mode you will take eight modules per year and the degree should take
three years to complete.
All students register for the full honours degree, but it is also possible to exit with a lower award (such
as Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education) if your circumstances change.

How many hours should I allocate to my study on a daily basis or weekly basis over these
years?
Students are advised that they should set aside a minimum of 15 hours a week for part-time students;
full-time students would need to set aside 30 hours per week, minimum. Each single module is
designed to be 150 learning hours.

As a part-time student, would I be free to complete my study as quick as possible?

The minimum amount of time a full-time student can complete the course in, starting in Year 1, is
three years. There is some room for flexibility and we do assist our students who wish to progress
quickly, but there are certain regulations that have to be adhered to - for example, the university has a
set amount of time that a student must be registered on a programme for, and it doesn't matter how
quickly a student wants to finish, an award cannot be made until that registration time is complete.

If I wish to study during the summer, i.e. between the 2 semesters, how many modules may I
take?
The programme is run in two semesters, September–December and January-May. There is no formal
study time over the summer, however as it is a long break we do encourage students to start work on
their Semester 1 (September-December) modules over the summer, but these cannot be formally
credited to the course at this time.

Can I switch between learning at-a-distance and learning on-campus?

Yes and no. It is not possible to switch or ‘flip’ between the two modes of study for the Religion and
Theology modules. If you are enrolled to study on-campus it is not possible to take modules at-a-
distance. Similarly, if you are enrolled to study at-a-distance it is not possible to study modules on-
campus. Your mode of study is linked to your enrolment status.
However, if you were enrolled to study Religion and Theology at-a-distance and at some point you
decided that you would prefer to study on-campus you could re-apply to re-enrol for the on-campus
mode of the programme and to finish your studies in this way. It would only be possible to re-enrol for
a new mode of study at two points in the academic year: September and January. If you were to
make this change you would take your academic credit with you, that is, the modules that you have
completed in either mode of study would count towards your degree.

What are the course fees?

The fees for this course are set separately from other Oxford Brookes University courses. For 2013-
14 the course fees for students will be: Part-time (up to 5 modules): £2130.00; Full-time (6 - 8
modules): £4270.00.

There is a yearly fee payable in two instalments, September and January. For a part-time student,
completing up to five modules a year, the fee is payable in two instalments of £1065 each; for full-
time students, taking eight modules a year, the fee is payable in two instalments of £2135.

Do I have the requisite grades?

The basic offer for Religion and Theology at Oxford Brookes University is BBC at A level and
equivalents in Access or international courses. We accept students straight out of school as well as
mature students whose background and experience match the academic expectations for studying
religion.

Can I enter with credit?

If you have studied Religion or Theology in the past we will be able to consider your previous studies
for credit towards the course at Oxford Brookes University. Please contact us individually to ask about
entry with credit.

Can I study Religion and Theology by Distance Learning in combination with any other
subject?
The Distance Learning mode of study is only available if you are studying Religion and Theology on
its own. No other subjects are available to study at a distance.

When can I begin my studies?

However you choose to study there are only two points in each academic year when you can begin
your studies – these are September and January each year.

When can I apply?

We can accept new students for September or January entry. The deadlines for submission of
applications are as follows: For September 2013 entry applications need to reach us by Friday 2nd
August 2013. For January 2014 entry applications need to reach us by Friday 29th November 2013.

How do I apply?
All applications to our Distance Learning course should be made directly to the university using the
Oxford Brookes University application form. The form is available both online (see our website):
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/applications/documents/direct_application.pdf
and from the Oxford Brookes Enquiry Centre (query@brookes.ac.uk, +44 (0)1865 484848).
When filling in the application form please consult the two accompanying documents:
University Application Form: notes for guidance
Religion and Theology BA Hons Degree. Application to study in a Distance-Learning Mode
What will happen once I have submitted my application?
Once we have received your application we will contact you (typically by email) to let you know that
we have received it and we will begin our decision-making process. We would usually expect to be
able to give you a decision within five weeks of receiving your application. If you are asking us to take
into account your previous study then we will need to collect evidence of this and so the process may
take a little longer. We will write to you to notify you of our decision.