Theology and Religious Studies: Top Degree Programmes and best in their category!

‘Groningen is a real treat for both Theology and Religious Sciences’. That is the final conclusion of the university Keuzegids 2019 (Dutch Higher Education Guide), which was released today. Both degree programmes retained not only the quality stamp of Top Degree Programme but were also ranked as the best degree programmes in their categories in the Netherlands this year. ‘A fantastic result’, says Director of Teaching Sipco Vellenga.

Theology scored 88 points and Religious Studies scored 86 points this year. Thus, both degree programmes join Archaeology as the top three Bachelor's degree programmes of the UG. These three degree programmes belong to the best four humanities degree programmes of the Netherlands.

Theology

The Bachelor's degree programme in Theology has been at a high level for many years: it is now the seventh year in a row that this degree programme has been the Top Degree Programme label. This year, Theology is also the best Theology degree programme of the Netherlands, closely followed by Apeldoorn. In the previous two years, this was the other way around. ‘The most compliments go to Groningen. This study programme is very practically oriented and has beautiful facilities. Students also laud the Theological University Apeldoorn (TUA). Just as in Groningen, the programme here is challenging, with a lot of attention given to both academic and practical skills’, reports the Keuzegids. Since 2012, the UG has offered a Bachelor's degree programme in Theology in collaboration with the Protestant Theological University. Dean, Professor Mladen Popović: ‘That we have received the label of Top Degree Programme year after year also confirms how fruitful our collaboration is and how we complement each other. Our students are harvesting the fruits of this work.’

Religious Studies

Religious Studies continues its upward trend since the curriculum review in 2016. The Keuzegids: ‘Also with Religious Studies, Groningen comes out on top. Only in Humanistic Studies in Utrecht are students more satisfied about their career preparation. There is a lot of contact with professionals from the field and space to practise practical skills.’ The degree programme in Groningen was awarded Best Religious Studies degree programme in the Netherlands, and clearly takes a top position in this. Groningen distinguishes itself mostly in the areas of feasibility and academic training. ‘It is good to see that there is now higher appreciation for career preparation. We have carefully invested in this aspect over the past few years and hope to further strengthen it in the future. We don't recognize ourselves in the general assessment of the Keuzegids that Religious Studies graduates find it hard to get a job. From our own research among our alumni, it appears that 95% of our graduates found a job at HBO level, at the very least,’ reports Vellenga.

University Keuzegids

The Keuzegids Universiteiten (Dutch Higher Education Guide) is published annually by the Centre for Higher Education Information (Centrum Hoger Onderwijs Informatie, CHOI) and is meant for school pupils and deans who want to orient themselves on university Bachelor's degree programmes. The assessments in the Guide are based on student evaluations (National Student Survey), the national degree programme database Studiekeuze123 and NVAO visitation reports. There is a separate Keuzegids for Master’s degree programmes.