Welcome to the study of Theology in Canterbury, regarded as the historic religious capital in England. Our campus is located on the ancient site of St Augustine's Abbey, dating from the year 597 C.E. We are a short walk from Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the global Anglican Communion; St Martin's Church is also nearby: it has been in continuous use as a place of worship since Roman times. Christian theology has been studied here for generation upon generation, and in your time in Canterbury, you will be surrounded by tangible reminders of this living heritage. Welcome!

Dr Ivan Khovacs
Course Director

Key dates

Academic Calendar: Semesters

View key dates for this Academic Calendar for 2024-25 including when teaching starts and finishes and when you break for holidays.  

Welcome and induction

Your Welcome Week is an essential introduction to your course and student life at CCCU, helping you to feel confident and prepared for your studies right from the very start.

It is important to check your Welcome Schedule for all the activities you are required to attend during the week. The BA (Hons) Theology Welcome Schedule will be available to view from Monday 2nd September.

If any of your welcome activities are in groups, your course team will contact you before your arrival to let you know which group you will be in.

Your teaching timetable 

UniTimetables provides an overview of all teaching activities on a course. Your individual timetable will be available via MyTimetable and is personalised to show you what modules and groups you are expected to attend.

Your individual student timetable can only be produced once you have engaged with online registration and created your computing account. It is essential you complete these tasks when invited, so that your course team can assign you to your teaching activities and publish your individual timetable.

Find out more about all aspects of timetabling for new students including user guides.

Welcome

At Canterbury Christ Church University you will find a healthy community of scholars and students who share your interests. Please do get in touch with us! Lecturers are open, accessible, and are here to support you on your academic journey. Look out for details of our induction events and other activities designed to help you get started.

Getting started

All we expect is for student to come with an open mind, intellectual curiosity and the willingness to work conscientiously and to the best of their abilities. If possible, please visit Canterbury and familiarise yourself with our religious heritage.

To prepare for your study at University, we have recommended some introductory reading which you may like to do over the summer. Please start to familiarise yourself with the subject area, taking notes as you read. It is also a good idea to start reading a quality newspaper, if you are not already, and following news items that report on topics related to our subject.

Your welcome and induction will be w/c 16 September 2024 - we look forward to meeting you then.

Pre-course reading

The following books are accessible introductions and relevant for the modules we teach to first year students. They will provide a good foundation on which to build your knowledge and understanding. These titles are readable and stimulating:

  • Tom Holland, Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. London: Little, Brown, 2019. (A readable, surprising and sometimes shocking history of how Christianity has shaped European culture and values. Tells the story from Biblical times right up to the present.)
  • Thomas Nagel, What does it all mean? A very short introduction to philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. (An introduction to thinking philosophically about knowledge, minds, meaning, freedom, goodness, and the meaning of life.)
  • Keith Ward, The evidence for God: The case for the existence of the spiritual dimension. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2014. (An example of how contemporary philosophy of religion engages with ethics and science. Does a spiritual dimension exist? How might we explain the universe? What is the relationship of reason and religion?)
  • Rowan Williams, Being Christian. London: SPCK, 2014. (Discusses baptism, the Bible, eucharist, and prayer.)
  • Rowan Williams, Meeting God in Paul. London: SPCK, 2015. (A leading theologian places Paul in context and explores the radical content of his teaching.)

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbooks you will receive when you start in September.

International student success programme

International students: don't miss out! Make sure you register for our international student success programme which provides practical advice on preparing to live and study in the UK.