Religion, Philosophy & Ethics at the University of Gloucestershire: RPE Course

Students on the Cordoba trip..

The Religon, Philosophy & Ethics (RPE) degree course is for people who like to think. It engages the most important ideas from Philosophy, from religious traditions and from a range of emerging spiritual perspectives on the world: then looks at how they impact on our lives, and how we impact on the lives of others.

National Student Survey - most recent..

We examine philosophy as it emerges in Ancient Greece, but also Hindu and Buddhist traditions as they arise in India, and the advent of Islam and the history of Judaism. This is partnered with the latest research on how religion is manifesting on the internet, through UFO cults, fan-based popular-culture spiritualities, Pagan traditions, and various esoteric traditions. Alongside, and often intertwined, is the study of the philosophical tradition in the West: as well as an overview of historical developments, there are close-readings that familiarise you with key thinkers like Descartes, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Kuhn and Sartre.

Lectures and seminars exist alongside more innovative teaching methods, and we make full use of video podcasts, e-texts, Skype Q &As with external experts, and students are actively involved with these resources. We have a strong commitment in RPE to tutorials, and working with our students, one-to-one and in small groups, to help them produce the best work, and best ideas, that they are capable of.

Diwali in Leicester - we attend every year..

Our enthusiastic and supportive staff members have national and international reputations for excellence within their fields, and all publish regularly. The students are encouraged to take a role in research seminars, with invited guest speakers, a philosophy film club, Gloucestershire Philosophical Society, and course social events. Some of this is visible via our Course Facebook group.

A period of study abroad is also possible as part of the programme, via the Erasmus scheme, as well as our international Field Trip module that investigates the religious significance of the Spanish city of Cordoba, and the relation between Islam, Christianity and Judaism in Europe. We also run day trips, such as our visit to the Diwali festival in Leicester, and make the most of being in Cheltenham – with its International Literature Festival, Science Festival and more.

Studying Religion, Philosophy & Ethics leaves you equipped to better understand the world around you – personally and geopolitically – but also gives you skills to go wherever you decide. RPE graduates have gone on to careers, to education, to study further, and also on to a whole range of ways of continuing to explore the world and its meaning. We are still in touch with most of our graduates, who use things like social media to converse with current students – offering insights, career advice and, of course, debate and argument.

From most recent National Student Survey

Benefits

wide range of topics, from new-age religion, to European philosophy – taught by experts
innovative teaching, using podcasts, social media and more – combined with small group, discursive models of debate
a course that goes beyond the classroom: lectures and seminars are supplemented by field trips, philosophy film club, guest speakers and more

Selected modules

New Religious Movements
Love,Sex and Death
Religion, Philosophy & the Visual Arts
Women, Men and Religion

For a full list of modules see the Course Map.

Career paths

this course prepares you for life with philosophical skills to last a lifetime, allowing rigorous and clear thinking - whatever you do with your life
teaching and academia
working in publishing and writing