University league table news

Latest Subject Area ranking announced. Our Dept of Religions and Theology has risen nine places in the rankings of the Complete University Guide 2027 to number 6 in the UK. Further information.

Robotics and AI Workshop Facilitation

Digital humanities. On 6-7th July, Scott Midson facilitated doctoral training workshops for Robotics and AI for Net Zero (RAINZ CDT), a funded 4-year PhD programme training multi-disciplinary robotic systems engineers. The CDT unites leading researchers from The University of Manchester, Glasgow and Oxford, to train in both research and commercialisation of Robotics and AI to help revolutionise lifecycle asset management of critical infrastructure in support of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy. Further information.

Career Spotlight: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

For students. Interested in creating fairer and more inclusive workplaces or communities? Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officers help organisations review policies, raise awareness, support staff, and promote positive change. Through your Religion & Theology degree programme, you develop relevant skills by exploring belief, identity, ethics and society, considering different perspectives, and communicating sensitively about complex issues. These skills can be really valuable in roles focused on inclusion, fairness and helping people feel represented. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

Civic Service Sermon, Manchester Cathedral

Christian studies. Last month, Peter Scott gave the sermon at the Civic Service at Manchester Cathedral. An annual event, the Civic Service provides an opportunity to welcome the new Lord Mayor, to reflect on Manchester’s community and civic life, and to pray for the common good of the city. Representatives from Manchester’s religious traditions were present at the service to greet the new Lord Mayor, Councillor Shaukat Ali.

Research Presentation

Biblical studies. Siobhán Jolley is presenting at this year’s meeting of the Theology and the Visual Arts project at King's College London 6-9th July, on "A Creative Dialectic: Engaging Visual Art and Biblical Text in Pursuit of New Meaning Making." Further information.

Graduate Outcomes Survey

Employability. Did you finish your University of Manchester degree between 1 February-30 April 2025? You are invited to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey. It’s a quick 10-minute check-in to see where your career has taken you 15 months post-university. Your feedback is essential for helping us support the next generation of students and improving the graduate landscape for everyone. The survey is open until 31 August 2026.

New Publication

Early Christianity. Sarah Parkhouse has published 'Fatal Charades and the Christian Martyrological Imagination' in Classical Antiquity 45.1 (2026): 218–241. Further information.

New Postdoctoral Appointment

Lincoln Theological Institute. The Dept of Religions & Theology is delighted to announce that Dr Chrissie Thwaites has been appointed as the new postdoctoral researcher at the Lincoln Theological Institute, from 1 September 2026. Chrissie joins us from the University of Leeds, where she completed her PhD in 2025. Her research project, “Post-Institutional Religion: Informal Authority, Belonging and Religious Formation in Contemporary Christian Life”, will investigate how authority, belonging and religious formation are being reconfigured outside traditional institutional structures. The two-year project is funded by the LTI trustees and continues the long-standing and fruitful relationship between the Institute’s trustees and the Department of Religions and Theology.

Celebrating Sustainability Impact Ratings

Sustainability goals. The University of Manchester has been ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings. This means we’re leading globally for our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ranking first for: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities & Communities; Responsible Consumption & Production; Life Below Water; and Life on Land. We’re also the only university to feature in the global top ten every year since the rankings began. Further information.

Spotlight: Alumni Profile

Careers. Ilaria Di Vincenzo graduated with a degree in Religions, Theology and Ethics and now works as a Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement Manager at Conversations Over Borders. Ilaria writes: "My degree really helped me to work with people from a wide range of countries, cultures, religions, and language backgrounds, which really is at the heart of what I do now. By choosing modules on different faiths and traditions, I built a deeper cultural awareness that has helped me approach my work with care, sensitivity, and respect." Read about their journey here.

PhD Success

Biblical studies. Congratulations to Dr Lev Eakins who has successfully completed his PhD. The thesis is titled 'Reassessing the Date and Provenance of the Gospel of Mark' and was supervised by Todd Klutz and Sarah Parkhouse and examined by Andy Boakye and James Crossley (Cambridge).

Lunchtime Talk and Book Signing

Christian studies. On 27th July, Siobhán Jolley will give a National Gallery lunchtime lecture followed by a book signing to celebrate the launch of her newly published book Saints. Further information.

Conference Paper

Jewish Studies. The annual conference of the British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies takes place from 13–15 July at Birkbeck. Katja Stuerzenhofecker will deliver a paper entitled ‘The dislocation of place-based ritual community’. 

Collaborative Writing Workshop

Biblical studies. On 22–24th June, Sarah Parkhouse attended a writing workshop at the University of Copenhagen to develop a co-written book on biographies of Jesus (under contract with Bloomsbury) as part of a Royal Society of Edinburgh collaboration grant.

Research Presentation

Biblical studies. On 28th May, Siobhán Jolley presented "A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Traction: Rethinking “Holy Family” with Early Modern Magdalenes" at a National Gallery symposium about family in the visual arts. Further information.

Professional Development Session

Teaching development. In collaboration with the University of Manchester and validation partner Nazarene Theological College, our validation partner Cliff College held an event on 24th June on AI and thinking about its practical and ethical use amongst faculty and students. Pete Phillips offered a presentation on using digital theology to help think critically and creatively about the use of AI in teaching and learning in theology and religious studies.

New Publications

Theology and Religion. Our validation partner Nazarene Theological College is excited to see two postgraduate students published in the journal Theology in Scotland in a special edition on Theology and Mental Health: Jonathan Shamshad, a recent MA graduate, transformed a class assignment into "Be Still and Be Present: Psalm 46 and the Challenge of Super-Modern Anxiety" and Kate Bowen-Evans, a current lecturer and PhD student, shares in the same volume a dialogue with her brother Mark as "A Conversation on Faith and Mental Health: Breath, Presence, and the Imago Dei." Further information.

BBC Radio 4, Sunday

 

Religion and art. Siobhán Jolley has been interviewed on Radio 4's 'Sunday' programme about the new Anish Kapoor exhibition that opened this week at the Hayward Gallery in London. Siobhán's section starts around minute 20. Listen here.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Samuel Hildebrandt (NTC), “‘Let Us Strike Him with the Tongue!’ The Violence of Speech in Isaiah and Jeremiah.” In The Bible and Violence. Volume I: Violence in Biblical Texts. Edited by C. Greenough, J. Stiebert, J. Jodamus, and M.D. Kebaneilwe. London: T&T Clark, 2026. Further information.

Teaching Innovation

Undergraduate Scholars Project. Katja Stuerzenhofecker led the SALC Undergraduate Scholars Project ‘Generative AI – what does machine learning do in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures?’ The students presented their findings and recommendations at the SALC Undergraduate Scholars Showcase on 6 May, and at the international conference ‘Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Balancing Equity, Access and Innovation’ on 9-10 June. The Undergraduate Scholars Programme is an extra-curricular, non-credit bearing programme of interdisciplinary research for intellectually adventurous undergraduate students in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

Research Presentations

Biblical studies. On 27th May, Siobhán Jolley presented "Wounded Yet Glorified: Reconfiguring Biblical Disability Through Artistic Depictions of Christ’s Body" at the University of Chester Theology & Religious Studies research seminar, followed by a presentation that evening to Chester Theological Society on "The Mother and the Magdalene: The Marys in Jesus Films."

Alumnus Research Activities

Alumni Activity. R&T alumnus Giles Briscoe (class of 2018-19) is giving a series of talks on his doctoral research at Edge Hill University, which explores drag as a sacred practice, reading RuPaul’s Drag Race and its associated spaces as sites of confession, transformation, and community. The idea first emerged during Giles’s undergraduate Theological Studies in Philosophy and Ethics, for whose teaching and support he remains warmly appreciative. Upcoming talks include a presentation to Australian audiences in James Cook University's Gender and Sexualities Seminar Series.

Research Visit in Berlin

Buddhist Studies.  From July 1–9, Erica Baffelli will be hosted by Dr Frederik Schröer in Berlin via the host programme at the Dahlem Humanities Center at Freie University. On July 3, they will be organising a workshop on "Feeling with the Trouble: Affective Entanglements in and Beyond the Human” to discuss a joint-publication focused on negative emotions and Buddhism.

Career Spotlight: Market Researcher

For students. Curious about why people think and behave the way they do? Market researchers gather and analyse information to help organisations understand their audiences and make informed decisions. Through your RELT degree, you’ve developed the ability to interpret complex information, evaluate different viewpoints, ask insightful questions, and communicate your findings clearly. These skills are invaluable when uncovering trends and turning data into meaningful recommendations. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

PhD Graduate Publication

Religion and philosophy. Darius Samadian, who graduated with a PhD in 2022 supervised by David Law, has recently published a revised version of his thesis with Peter Lang under the title The Mystical Philosophy of Karl Jaspers. Further information.

Share Your Experience of Studying

For students. What do you enjoy most about studying Theology and/or Religious Studies? Theology & Religious Studies UK are inviting undergraduate students to share their experiences by recording a short video (up to 60 secs) explaining what draws them to the subject and why it matters to them. They are looking for videos that are genuine, engaging, and accessible in tone—there’s no need for professional equipment - recordings made on a mobile phone are perfectly fine. Why take part? Your video could be featured on the TRS-UK website, and twenty entries will receive a £50 prize! Please email your video submissions to stefanie.sinclair@open.ac.uk by the 31st of July 2026.

New Booklet Publication

Religion and emotion. Erica Baffelli has published a booklet for the Fear and Belonging project titled Creating Community, which shares short reflections from the project. Erica writes: 'The aim of this publication is to capture some of the feelings, experiences, practices and atmospheres running through the stories participants shared with us during interviews and to reflect on some of what we have learnt. The artwork is by Sian Fan, the artist working with us on the project, who has created an image for each of the themes we reflect on in writing, exploring them from a visual perspective.' The booklet is available open access here.

New Book Publication

Christian studies. Siobhán Jolley, Saints (London: National Gallery / Yale University Press, 2026), 144pp. Saints explores the saints depicted in the collection at the National Gallery, charting not only a history of devotion but also the development of Western European art itself. Saints takes a close look at how some of the most splendid depictions of these figures still speak to us across the centuries. Further information.

Encountering Biblical Bodies Research Showcase

Biblical studies. On Tuesday 26 May in Ellen Wilkinson was the Centre for Biblical Studies/Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Arts and Languages "Encountering Biblical Bodies Showcase" with papers from Peter Oakes, Kate Bowen-Evans (Nazarene Theological College), Anke Bernau, Gillian Redfern, Cordelia Warr, Naomi Baker, Meaghan Allen, Rachel Miller, Siobhán Jolley, Scott Midson and Holly Morse. Further information.

Interdisciplinary Event on Faces

Interdisciplinary event. On 27th May, Scott Midson spoke on ‘Face/off: Self-identity and robot doppelgängers’ and the fifth event of the interdisciplinary seminar series on faces: '(Re)imagining faces: restoring humanity through art, archaeology, medicine & science'. Further information.

Public Talk

Biblical studies. On June 4th, Siobhán Jolley is leading a symposium with Paul Middleton (Chester) on 'Apocalypse Now: The Book of Revelation in the 21st Century' at Chester Cathedral. Further information.

Manchester Wesley Research Centre Annual Lecture

Methodist Studies. Please join our validation partner event: the  Manchester Wesley Research Centre annual lecture given by Priscilla Pope-Levison, Research Professor of Practical Theology, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Her lecture is titled “The Emergence, Growth, and Decline of the International Methodist Deaconess Movement.” Watch her speak about the lecture here. 16th June, 5pm, Nazarene Theological College, in person and online. Register here.

Graduate Careers Week: 15-19 June

Preparing for life after uni? Explore opportunities and plan your next steps at Graduate Careers Week, starting Monday 15 June. With events helping you find graduate jobs, figuring out finances after uni, and the Graduate Careers Fair on Thursday 18 June.

Spotlight: Alumni Profile

Careers. Chloe McDowell graduated with a BA in Comparative Religion and Social Anthropology and now works as a Junior Policy Officer at Re-Imagine Europa. Read about her journey here.

Research Presentation

Jewish Studies. Katja Stuerzenhofecker is delivering the Religious Studies Seminar in the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge, on 2 June 2026. The paper is entitled ‘Traditional prayers, returning voices: Orthodox Jewish women and girls’ singing in communal prayer’. The research is part of the project ‘British Ritual Innovation under Covid-19’.

International Postgraduate Success

Student news. Congratulations to Penny Bunyan, 3rd year BA student, who has been offered a scholarship for the University of Groningen’s two-year Erasmus Masters programme, Religious Diversity in a Globalised World. As part of the programme, students  spend time studying in the Netherlands, as well as Portugal or Spain. Penny says: "This is an exciting opportunity to study across multiple universities and gain a diverse attitude toward the study of religion. I have been awarded a tuition fee waiver as part of the excellent candidates for the upcoming cohort, which I am very grateful for."

Teaching Activities

Teaching trips. Within our modules this year, off-campus activities and trips have included: Katja Stuerzenhofecker taking students to engage with lived religious practices in the Jewish Museum for the Introduction to the Study of Religions and Theology (RELT10311) and to Rylands Hebraica Collections for Interpreting Religion (RELT20572). The intermediate Greek (RELT 20152) studied ancient New Testament manuscripts in the Rylands Bible room with Sarah Parkhouse, and Siobhán Jolley discussed religious painting and sculpture in Manchester Art Gallery to students (pictured) taking Bible in Ancient Contexts and Current Debates (RELT71002).

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George Brooke has published “A Response and Some Ways Forward,” The (Con)textual Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls: Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Orion Symposium, February 28–March 3, 2022. Published in Honor of Esther G. Chazon (ed. R.A. Clements, M.B. Johnson, N. Mizrahi, and M. Segal; STDJ 157; Leiden: Brill, 2026), 375-381. Further information.

New Publication

Pauline Studies. Daniel R. Langton, "Paul" in Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations Online, edited by Homolka, Kampling, Levine, Markschies, Schäfer and Thurner (Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2026), 10pp. ISSN 2569-3530. "Both historically and theologically, a case can be made that Paul continues to be the single most controversial and influential figure for Jewish-Christian relations." Further information.

New Publication

Theology. Peter Scott’s A Theology of Postnatural Right (2019) has been published in Korean by Daejanggan Publishing. Warm thanks to Seoyoung Kim, an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department, who undertook the translation work. Dr Kim has recently been appointed Lecturer in Applied Theology and Ministry Placements Programme Lead at Belfast School of Theology.

Bible Critical Theory and Reception Seminar

Biblical studies. The 2026 Bible Critical Theory and Reception Seminar will be hosted by Siobhán Jolley at the University of Manchester, 2nd-3rd June. Papers include work by our own Holly Morse, Siobhán Jolley, and Rachel Miller, as well as visiting scholars on topics such as Italian fascist cinema, the problem of Neil Gaiman, and the Bible and the English revolution. Email Siobhán for further information.

Conference Paper

Biblical studies. Honorary research fellow Mary Mills will give a paper at the international conference of the Society for Religion Literature and Culture to be held in Stirling, September 10-13, 2026. The Biblical studies unit focuses on Apocalypse this year and Mary's paper is Affective Entanglements: Land City and People in Isaiah 24-7. Further information.

Career Spotlight: Museum/Gallery Curator

For students. Interested in history, culture, and sharing knowledge with others? Museum and gallery curators manage collections, develop exhibitions, and help make artefacts and stories accessible to the public. Through your RELT degree, you build valuable skills by researching historical and cultural contexts, analysing sources and interpretations, and presenting complex ideas in an engaging way, all of which are highly relevant in this field. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

International Conference Papers

Biblical studies. Siobhán Jolley and Holly Morse are delivering papers at 'The Light of the Word: Exploring Stained Glass and the Bible', Trinity College Dublin, 14–16 May 2026. Siobhán will speak on 'Through a Glass, Clearly: The Penitent Medium and Cazalet’s Mirfield Magdalenes' and Holly on 'Ways of Seeing the Bible Through Stained Glass'. Further information.

Public Talk

Religious & Science. Scott Midson is one of six speakers at 'The Love Lectures' event, May 18th, 7-10.30pm, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester. Scott with be talking about AI and companionship. Further information. As the bio says: In a world loud with hate, love louder.

New Publication

Jewish Studies. Honorary research fellow Helen R. Jacobus has published “calendars, Jewish.” In Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2026. Further information.

Graduate Career Support

Employability. Did you know that the University Careers Service is available to you for two years after graduation? Find out more here.  On Thursday, 18 June there will be a dedicated careers fair for upcoming graduates to meet employers and explore opportunities across a range of sectors. 

Church on Wheels Interview

Religion and politics. On 21st April 2026, Michael Hoelzl was interviewed by Bishop Mick Fleming of the Church on Wheels on the topic: Religion and Politics. See the filmed interview here.

Manchester Universities Scriptorium

For PG students. Trinity Forum Europe have just launched a new scriptorium for postgraduate students at the Manchester Universities. A scriptorium is a post-graduate student community that gathers for structured days of study and writing. Inspired by the monastic practice of a "liturgy of hours" the days comprise periods of personal research and writing interspersed with communal lunch and refreshments, Christian readings, reflection and prayer. Students of all faiths and none are welcome. For further information contact Courtney Owen.

Inaugural Lecture, Medieval History

Christian Studies. Stephen Mossman (History) will deliver his Inaugural Lecture, 'Spirituality and a Military Order: God’s House in Medieval Strasbourg', Wednesday 6 May, 6.30-8pm, Samuel Alexander Building, Room A7. Book here.