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Admission Educational Programmes Graduate

Religious Studies

47.04.03 In Russian

Level of education Master

Type of instruction Full-time

Duration 2 years

Main courses
  • Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
  • Church–State Relations in Russia: History and Modern Times
  • Islam and Politics
  • Historiography and Source Studies of the History of Russian Orthodox Church
  • Church Architecture of Russia: Stylistics and Semantics
  • Methods and Techniques of Applied Research in Religious Studies
  • Methods of Teaching Religious Studies in Higher Education
  • Methodology of Conflict Analysis and Conflict Management in Modern Russia
  • Popular Religiosity: World-View and Practice
  • Religious Studies. Research Seminar
  • The New Testament as a Literary Work and a Sacred Text
  • Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the Middle Ages. Controversy and the Dialogue of Cultures
  • History of Religious Studies
Main areas of research
  • History of religions
  • New religious movements
  • Psychology of religion
  • Religious philosophy and philosophy of religion
  • Religiosity and religious practices
  • Religion and art
  • Religion and mass culture
  • Religion and society
  • Religion and politics
  • Phenomenology of Religion
  • Church-state relations
  • Esoteric Doctrines
International relations
  • Hiroshima City University
  • The Sorbonne (France)
  • Beijing Normal University (China)
  • The University of Tartu (Estonia)
  • Hokkaido University (Japan)
  • Seoul National University (South Korea)
Our advantages
  • St Petersburg University is the oldest and one of the largest centres in Russia for the study of religion with unique teaching staff. The programme uses self-developed educational standards and competence-oriented curricula developed at the University
  • The distinguishing feature of the programme is the interdisciplinary approach to the study of religion. This resulting in the formation of a scientific understanding of the history and current state of religious ideas, practices, and institutions that play an important role in culture and society. The aim of the programme is not only the active involvement of undergraduates in research work but also the formation of skills and abilities to carry out independent research projects, both in a group and individually
  • The graduates successfully work in scientific and educational centres, mass media, public organisations, and state and municipal institutions in the field of interfaith and intercultural interaction
  • The undergraduates have the opportunity to participate in academic mobility programmes, as well as in programmes of included training at partner universities of St Petersburg University. They can successfully continue their academic career at the most prestigious universities in the world
Career opportunities
Practical training locations
  • The State Museum of the History of Religion
  • The St Petersburg classical school No 610 (top 100 best schools of the Russian Federation in the field of Humanities, top 500 best schools of the Russian Federation)

The programme is aimed at training competitive experts and researchers in the field of the modern science of religion. They will have a high level of management skills, with a broad cultural horizon and fundamental knowledge. The graduates obtain the necessary competencies to work in scientific and educational centres, the media, public organisations, and state and municipal institutions in the field of interfaith and intercultural interaction.

List of key positions
  • Educator
  • Science officer
  • Museum curator
  • Guide
  • Journalist
  • Specialist in matters of religion

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Tuition

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The programme descriptions for the 2025/2026 academic year are currently being updated. Information regarding admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year is available on the St Petersburg University Admissions Committee website.

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