Is the Higher Diploma in Religious Studies a theology qualification?

No. The Higher Diploma in Religious Studies is an academic study of religions — comparative, methodological and grounded in social-science and humanities approaches. It is not a confessional theological qualification and does not require any particular religious commitment from students.

Which world religions does the Higher Diploma in Religious Studies cover?

Substantive study of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, with attention to internal diversity (denominations, schools, regional traditions) within each. Other traditions are covered in selected modules and in the comparative methods strand.

Do I need to belong to a faith to study the Higher Diploma in Religious Studies?

No. The course is open to students of any religious background and to students with no religious background. Students from a range of faith and non-faith backgrounds typically join each cohort.

Will the Higher Diploma in Religious Studies qualify me as an RE teacher?

Not by itself. The Higher Diploma is academic preparation. To teach RE in UK state schools you also need teacher training (a PGCE or equivalent). The Higher Diploma is recognised as strong subject-specialist preparation for a PGCE in religious education.

Can I take the Higher Diploma in Religious Studies fully online?

Yes. The online route delivers live seminars, recorded foundational lectures, structured written-work feedback and tutor-supervised research. Distance-learning students work to weekly reading deadlines with regular tutor consultations.

Higher Diploma in Religious Studies | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Religious Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a fifteen-to-eighteen-month UK qualification covering the comparative academic study of religions at near-undergraduate depth. The course is designed for adults working in or moving into roles where religious literacy matters — interfaith practice, chaplaincy, religious-education teaching, heritage and museum work, religion-and-society research, and journalism covering religion and belief.

This is religious studies as an academic discipline, not theology and not personal religious instruction. The course brings the methodological rigour of comparative religion, the sociology and anthropology of religion, and the philosophy of religion to bear on the major world traditions and the contemporary public-life questions they raise in the UK and globally.

Key Features

Comparative world-religions module — substantive study of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, with attention to internal diversity within each tradition.
Methods in religious studies — phenomenology of religion, anthropology of religion, sociology of religion, historical-critical methods.
Religion and society module — secularism, religion in public life, religious freedom, religion and law in contemporary UK and European contexts.
Interfaith competence training — practical skills for interfaith dialogue, chaplaincy and community settings.
Direct top-up into the final year of a UK BA Religious Studies at LSJHML or a partner university.
Industry-led guest sessions from chaplains, interfaith practitioners, religion-and-society researchers and museum curators of religious collections.

What You Will Learn

The Higher Diploma in Religious Studies is structured around the academic and applied skills a working religious-studies professional needs — methodological literacy across the discipline's main approaches, substantive knowledge of the major traditions, and the cultural competence to engage respectfully across difference.

Comparative study of the major world religions — texts, practices, ethical traditions, contemporary expressions.
Methods in religious studies — phenomenology, sociology, anthropology, historical-critical methods.
Religion and the state — secularism, religious freedom, the UK Equality Act, established religion in the UK.
Religion, gender and power — feminist and postcolonial approaches to religious studies.
Religion in contemporary public life — religion in journalism, religion in education, religion in healthcare ethics.
Interfaith dialogue — theoretical foundations and applied practice.
Religion and material culture — religious art, architecture, ritual objects in museum and heritage contexts.
Research methods in religious studies — empirical fieldwork, textual analysis, archival research.

Who This Higher Diploma Is For

Advanced Diploma graduates in religious studies, theology, philosophy or related humanities ready to step up to near-degree-level study.
Chaplains, faith-school teachers and religious-education professionals seeking a recognised UK academic qualification.
Public-sector professionals — civil servants, police, NHS staff, social workers — whose work involves religious-literacy questions.
Journalists and writers covering religion and belief.
Museum, heritage and arts professionals working with religious collections or audiences.

Career Pathways

The Higher Diploma in Religious Studies supports careers across education, public service, heritage and the third sector where religious literacy is a working asset. Typical destinations include:

RE Teacher (UK state and independent schools — alongside teacher training)
Chaplaincy Coordinator (hospital, prison, university, military)
Interfaith Programme Officer (interfaith networks, local authorities, faith-based NGOs)
Museum Curator (religious collections, heritage organisations)
Religion-and-Society Researcher (think tank, university research centre)
Continued Study (BA, MA in Religious Studies or related humanities)

The Higher Diploma articulates directly into the final year of a UK BA Religious Studies at LSJHML or a partner university.

Entry Requirements

An Advanced Diploma (Level 5) or equivalent in a related subject, OR a Diploma plus two years of relevant work experience.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement and CV.
Mature applicants (25+) without standard qualifications may apply with significant senior-track work experience.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.