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.

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.

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.