About Us
Our beginnings
The Department of Biblical History and Literature was founded 1947 by esteemed and world-renowned scholar F.F. Bruce. It evolved into The Department of Biblical Studies in late sixties and has been the home to ground-breaking, cutting edge research since its inception. Today it is home to a broad range of students from a range of faith backgrounds and none, from across the UK and the world.
Why choose us? Six Top Reasons to Study in The Department of Biblical Studies at The University of Sheffield
1) We are a truly interdisciplinary department.Did you know that the Department of Biblical Studies is home to world-renowned scholars and inspiring teachers who specialise in:
With us, you can study a range of different disciplines, or focus on the one that you enjoy the most. We offer a wide range of modules that receive excellent feedback from our students. |
2) You’ll benefit from small class-sizes, but you’ll remain well-connected.We are a small department and so our class sizes are smaller than average. This means that with us, you’ll never be just another face in the crowd. Our lecturers and staff will know you by name and can offer you an interactive lecture experience in which we will have conversations with you, and not simply talk at you. We’re also part of The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, which brings us together with the Departments of Philosophy, Archaeology, History and Music as well as The Schools of English and Languages and Cultures. There are lots of opportunities to engage with students in the Faculty (and not just the department) and you will benefit from the skills and expertise that our colleagues can offer you. Faculty of Arts and Humanities |
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3) You will be given the opportunity to study languages.We are uniquely positioned to offer our undergraduate students (and students from around The University) the opportunity to study Biblical Hebrew and Greek. This isn’t compulsory, but a multi-lingual approach to reading the Bible will enable you to understand the nuances of biblical texts. Through the University’s Languages for All scheme, you can also take language modules from other University departments while pursuing your degree with us. You can choose from Arabic, Catalan, Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Luxembourgish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. For more information on the wide ranges of modules we offer we offer, please visit: |
4) We offer you an international experience and a global perspectiveEvery two years we run a trip to Rome, where you can experience the history of ancient and modern religion in one of the most vibrant and historically informative cities in the world. You’ll visit all of the major sites (e.g., Vatican, catacombs, Colosseum), popular tourist sites (e.g., Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps), and also see the major works of art and architecture (e.g., Sistine Chapel, St Peter's, Ara Pacis). You can also study abroad and benefit from the teaching at partner universities. |
Listen to Dr. Katie Edwards (Admissions Tutor and Lecturer in The Bible in Contemporary Culture and Society) talk about what makes our Religion, Theology and the Bible degree unique. |
5) We value diversityOur students, staff and academics come from a range of faith backgrounds and none, from all corners of the world, and bring to our Department a rich variety of interpretations of the Bible. We will help you undercover Hidden Perspectives on biblical texts, we will enable you to understand biblical art, history and literature in global and postcolonial contexts, and we will encourage you consider the gender, race, class and (inter)national dynamics of biblical interpretation. |
6) You’ll earn a degree that has relevance in the ‘real world’.We offer our students the opportunity to work with schools, community groups, and external partners. Whether you’re interested in enhancing your CV with employers, or if you just want to make a difference to the community we live in, you’ll have every opportunity to put your degree to good use. Our Religion in the City project allows you to get work experience in range of education and community settings, and we have specialist modules, which offer you placement and work experience opportunities. |