Student smiling in Leeds Trinity University chapel.

Year of study

2025

Key details

Start date(s)
September 2025
Location
Main Campus (Horsforth)
School
Children, Young People and Families
UCAS tariff points
104-136
Study Mode
Full-time (3 years)
Study abroad
Yes

Who am I? How should I live? Is there a God? Is religious belief credible in the 21st century and why is it still with us?

In a world where meaning is often ‘hidden’ or involves a complicated analytical response, it’s essential that we spend the time trying to engage with who we are and what values we want to hold as individuals in today’s complex society.

The Student Contract

About this course

Through the lens of prominent thinkers such as Aristotle, Plato and Foucault, you’ll examine some of today’s most pertinent moral, religious, social and political questions. We’ll teach you how to interpret texts, analyse complex concepts and apply ideas and ethical values to daily life.

You’ll search for what ‘truth’ and ‘meaning’ might mean by studying a range of ideas and positions. Central questions will include: what is the place of the self in the world?; what values should we hold in contemporary society regarding business, sport and surveillance?; and does belief in God shape the kind of values we hold? In fact, is it this belief in God that constitutes a religion? - if not, what actually constitutes a religion? 

You’ll develop key skills in problem-solving, analytical and creative thinking, and learning to engage with philosophical, ethical and religious questions. Putting skills and theory into practice, you’ll complete professional work placements and gain valuable experience in preparation for your future career.

By combining the study of philosophy, ethics and religion, you’ll foster your own development as a thinker and have the opportunity to think critically and creatively, make new links and find new insights – skills which are vital in today’s job market and society.

Why study with us?

  • Build your self-confidence, academic skills and core subject knowledge in preparation for progression onto degree-level study.
  • Learn from the experts. Our lecturers are active researchers in the fields of philosophy, ethics and religion.
  • Learn to think critically and debate the ultimate questions about human existence, values and beliefs.
  • Feel supported with small class-sizes, excellent one-to-one support and individual tutorials.
  • Become employable. Our interdisciplinary approach will help you develop a wide range of transferable skills applicable to many careers.
  • Prepare for a career in teaching - our PGCE Religious Education programme offers an excellent postgraduate progression route to becoming an RE teacher and includes the option to study for a Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies
Student talking with librarian in the Andrew Kean Learning Centre..

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Year 1

During your first year, you'll study five core modules.

Ethical Foundations - Core

Get an introduction to the study of ethics and get the opportunity to do a work placement.

We'll discuss ethical theories, looking at their pros and cons for finding moral truth.

You'll ask what difference faith makes to morality and whether it adds any specific content to what you can know through human reason.

We'll also look at non-Western ethics such as Buddhist and African.

You'll develop and apply your professional skills through a two-week Professional Challenge Project, work placement or volunteering.

Introduction to Philosophy - Core

You'll look at episodes in the history of Western and Eastern philosophy from Plato to medieval philosophy.

Explore debates about the soul and virtue, politics and government, and God and reality.

You'll get an introduction to fundamental questions and concepts in philosophy, and the developing critical tradition that reflects upon the formulation of these questions and problems as an essential path to answering them.

 

Studying Religion and Spirituality - Core

Get an introduction to the study of religion and carry out original research.

You'll get an overview of approaches to the study, and theoretical tools for interpreting and understanding categories of religion.

You'll apply quantitative and qualitative research methods to a relevant topic, typically involving a questionnaire and interviews.

Critical Thinking and Logic - Core

Get an introduction to critical thinking and formal logic.

We'll cover concepts such as validity and soundness, common fallacies, constructing arguments in standard form, and rudimentary propositional logic.

You'll improve your reasoning and argumentation skills for use across and beyond your undergraduate studies.

Key Concepts in Global Religions - Core

Get an introduction to religious thought from around the world.

We'll cover Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism and Confucianism.

You'll study their practices and beliefs while focussing on either a preeminent thinker or a central concept within each tradition.

Year 2

During your second year, you'll study six core modules.

Mind, Self and World - Core

Explore questions about the nature of persons, the world, and how we come to know about the world.

We'll cover episodes from the early modern period in philosophy, looking at the works of Anne Conway, David Human, Immanuel Kant and Margaret Cavendish among others.

We'll draw connections between European and non-European philosophy to demonstrate a range of thought that extends beyond the classical Western European canon.

You'll develop a capacity for close philosophical analysis and continue to develop clear, precise argumentation and critical engagement.

Fieldwork in Religious Studies - Core

You'll visit local religions and sites around Leeds, Bradford and other areas in the north.

In class, we'll focus on theoretical and methodological approaches to researching religions on location.

We'll also look at local religious traditions and their cultural backgrounds, including history, adaptations and links with global communities.

Understanding Social Justice - Core

Get an understanding of the true meaning of social justice.

You'll reflect on models and approaches to social justice, and explore what it looks like in religion, social work, politics, education and sport.

Using case studies, we'll look at the need for social justice in different contexts and how it impacts peoples' lives.

Research Skills in Philosophy, Ethics and Religion - Core

Learn about the process and methodologies used in philosophy, ethics and religious studies research, then start an independent research project.

We'll cover the skills needed to produce a dissertation, such as developing research questions, understanding research ethics, and distinguishing primary and secondary sources.

You'll then write a research proposal for your dissertation supported by a one-to-one tutorial.

Science and Religion - Core

Ask questions about the relationship between scientific and religious explanations of the world.

We'll examine the question 'What is science?' by exploring the Demarcation Problem, distinguishing scientific theories from non-scientific theories.

You'll learn about proposed solutions to the problem, getting you to think critically about what qualifies as a science.

We'll then turn to areas where religious and scientific explanations come into conflict.

This may include miracles and the laws of nature, cosmology, religious experience and naturalism.

By the end of the module, you'll appreciate that the question is much more complicated than it first seemed.

Professional Placement - Core

There are three stages to the module - preparation, work placement and reflection.

You'll have workshops to develop your employability skills, analyse your career prospects and go through the practicalities of getting and undertaking a professional placement.

You'll complete a short weekly reflective log reflecting upon the practical skills gained through your placement experience and what you have learnt about applying theoretical understanding in practice.

Year 3

During your final year, you'll study two core modules and will be required to choose five option modules.

Dissertation - Core

We'll discuss research issues and problems as they arise.

You'll have two formative assessments designed to enable you to refine your research question.

In the first semester, you'll prepare a two-minute talk about your project for a 'speed-dissertation' session.

In the second semester, you'll prepare and deliver a two-minute presentation on your project to the cohort.

Professional Learning Through Work - Core

You'll develop a theoretical understanding through practical work-based development in of your chosen context, this could be in a public, private or community sector.

You'll identify an area of inquiry in one of the following projects:

  • Work-based study project
  • Skills development project
Metaethics - Option

Get an introduction to some of the high-level debates in metaethics.

You'll study topics including objectivism, subjectivism, relativism, naturalism, supernaturalism, non-naturalism, the open question argument, Hume’s guillotine, cognitivism, non-cognitivism, realism and irrealism.

Modern Philosophy - Option

Develop a robust understanding of modern philosophy.

You'll track the development of core philosophical theories, debates and principles which created modern philosophy.

You'll explore areas including metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of language.

Sexuality Studies - Option

Get an introduction to the field of ethics and critical sexuality studies.

You'll conduct a critical inquiry into the historical precedents and theoretical frameworks necessary to understand the role of sexuality in shaping personal, social, economic, and political life.

Focus on patterns of subordination and exclusion based on individuals' sexual practices and identities, their origins, and ways to challenge them.

We'll explore sexuality through text, film, media discourse, the medical humanities, and theology.

We'll give special attention to the intersections of sexuality with gender, race, ethnicity, media, religion, class and disability.

Political Philosophy - Option

Explore the philosophical concepts, arguments and debates underpinning and shaping Western politics.

We'll look at Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau Hobbes, Sartre, Kafka, and Zizek.

You'll analyse contemporary political issues in relation to philosophical principles.

You'll be encouraged to critically examine society and our assumptions about what's best.

You'll apply the theoretical frameworks studied to current issues in politics and society.

You'll get the skills and knowledge you need to examine assumptions about core political and social themes like power and justice.

Indigenous Religions and Cultural Appropriation - Option

Explore thought, practice and identity in indigenous religions, the 'indigenisation' of religions such as Druidry and cultural appropriations in various forms such as film, fashion, and Westernised practices.

You'll study indigenous religions in specific socio-political contexts, such as Canada, Zimbabwe, and New Zealand, and their relationship with modernity, political states, and the global world.

We'll cover international and cultural categorisations of indigenous religions, tensions between local traditions and transcultural forms, the impact of colonialism and missionary religions on indigenous groups, postcolonial revitalisations, and multi-religious relations and identities in specific cultural contexts.

Philosophy of Religion - Option

Get a robust understanding of the philosophical foundations supporting Western religion.

You'll examine philosophical concepts and discussions concerning religious beliefs, experiences and practices.

You'll look at the theories, thinkers and arguments which have shaped the development of the Western philosophy of religion.

We'll cover arguments for and against the existence of God, the Problem of Evil, theodicies, religious language, the nature of religious belief and evidence.

Professional work placements

Experience matters. That's why we embed professional work placements within the majority of our standard undergraduate degrees.

How does it work?

Careers and Placements will work with you to find a placement or help you to arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.

During your placement, you could have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.

Students on the programme have undertaken placements in primary and secondary schools, charities such as CAFOD, MPs’ offices, legal firms, publishers, local government, and in university and prison chaplaincies.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Professional Work Placements

Learning and teaching

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Programme delivery

Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.

Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:

  1. Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
  2. Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
  3. Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.

Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.

Entry requirements for this course:
QualificationGrade
UCAS tariff104-136
GCSE requirementsGCSE English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4 (or higher) will be required

Fees and finance

UK Home fees £9,250 per year
Full-time

Funding

UK Home Students:

Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2024/2025.

Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.

Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.

Tuition fees for 2025/2026 entry will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2024.

Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.

Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our webpage for international students.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa. 

Additional costs

We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees:

  • Recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
  • On some courses there may be additional costs, such as field trips, equipment, accreditations, that may be part-funded by the University. More details will be provided at the start of the course.
  • You'll need to include placement/s travel and associated costs too, however the University will contribute a standard amount towards your total expenditure.
  • The University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.

How to apply

For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.

You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.

Applications are now open for courses starting in September 2025. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2025 is 29 January 2025.

There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:

Graduate opportunities

Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.

You’ll learn how to engage in deep dialogue, which will give you the ability to empathise with and respect the views of others. These skills are important for careers where communication, leadership, problem-solving and analytical thinking is important, such as management, law, social work, local government and education. You could also progress on to a career in teaching after further study, such as our PGCE Religious Education course.

After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Careers

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