Nahaufnahme einer Studentin, die in einer Bibliothek vor einer Bücherwand in einem Buch liest

Doctoral Programme of Religious Studies and Sociocultural Discourse

Faculty of Catholic Theology

University degree

Doctor of Philosophy „Dr. phil.“

Start of studies

Summer term 2025

Duration of study

6 semesters

Teaching language

German

type of study programme

Full-time

About the study programme

The Doctoral Programme of Religious Studies and Sociocultural Discourse provides an academic qualification in analysing this discourse at an international level. In cooperation with other disciplines from these fields, this study programme drawn from the humanities and cultural studies analyses questions of religion, ethics, ideology and culture in their various manifestations including politics, education and the media and opens them up for debate within the scientific community. Each issue will have its own specific point of reference in the corresponding other discipline. The doctoral programme tackles the complex interrelationships between strands of religious, cultural and ethical discourse from a historical, systematic and/or current perspective. In particular, the doctoral programme sets out to study complex issues of society, culture and politics in their interdependencies with religion, address them in an academic context and present them in light of their relevance to society, culture and politics.

Curriculum*

*courtesy translation

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Qualifications profile and skills

The doctoral programme aims to give graduates a high-level academic qualification that will enable them to complete an academic paper in this academic discipline. After completing the Doctoral Programme of Religious Studies and Sociocultural Discourse, graduates will be able to:

write academic papers independently that will share new questions and findings with the scientific community;
analyse the interrelationships between religious, ethical and cultural strands of discourse in the past and present;
handle academic literature critically and confidently, including their active reception and potential critique, and assess it professionally;
organise and run academic events, following international professional standards and taking account of topical issues and problems;
participate in an academic dialogue in individual sub-disciplines in the form of oral and/or written contributions to academic discussion forums (specialist journals, conferences, etc.).

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Doctoral programmes

The doctoral programmes at the University of Graz are run collaboratively by several faculty members from the same, similar or completely different subject areas, providing a high-quality, attractive academic extension for a limited number of doctoral students, with the aim of furthering scholarly debate and understanding. Participation is voluntary and by application.

Doctoral programmes

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Career prospects

The Doctoral Programme of Religious Studies and Sociocultural Discourse

gives graduates the skills they need to use appropriate academic methods to research and present the manifold change and modification processes in the field of religion and in ideological and ethical pluralism in accordance with their societies and under the conditions of globalisation and global communication processes;
confers the ability to make critical statements on current trends towards the functionalisation and ideologisation of religions for sociopolitical, economic and individual ends.
The Doctoral Programme of Religious Studies and Sociocultural Discourse also qualifies graduates to take on a range of roles in leadership positions that require high-level academic expertise in the various sub-areas of religious studies but that are not necessarily university-based:
- culture in the public space and how it interacts with religion (performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc. where debate or confrontation with religion is aggressively sought);
- politics in conjunction with ethnic and religious conflicts or potential areas for conflict. Here, the ability to reflect critically on existing problems at the cutting edge of academic research is just as vital as a set of tangible instructions for de-escalating conflicts or preventing them from erupting in the first place;
- the economy as the stage for the necessary cooperation between members of different religions and cultures. In an age of globalisation, staff at companies that operate throughout Europe or the world and that employ migrants in their work processes require a high level of expertise in religious and ethical diversity.
- NGOs and their work in multi-religious and multi-ethnic contexts;
- the media: dealing appropriately, competently and soberly with issues from all the areas affected by the kinds of discourse outlined here – migration, diversity, religious plurality, ethnic debates, designing education in a plural society, etc.

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Note on registration

A prerequisite for admission to the doctoral programme at the University of Graz is a degree or diploma in a relevant subject area from a recognised Austrian or foreign post-secondary institution. Additionally, fulfillment of the qualitative requirements need to be provided.

Doctoral Academy

Qualifications profile and skills
Doctoral programmes
Career prospects
Note on registration

„For me, the biggest benefit of the doctoral programme is its interdisciplinary approach. Like the related master’s, it gives me a perspective on “religion” – an issue that will always be relevant to society – which combines methods and core research areas from all manner of different disciplines, such as film studies and gender research.“

Raphaela

Deadlines for application

The submission deadlines for admission applications vary depending on the doctoral programme.

Further information

Questions about Doctoral Programmes?

The Doctoral Academy is happy to help you!

: Personal meetings by appointment only.
: doktorat(at)uni-graz.at
: doctoral-academy.uni-graz.at
: Heinrichstraße 22/2, 8010 Graz

: +43 316 380 - 1212

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