IB Pathways
Religious Studies

University of Groningen · Netherlands

Religious Studies

How religion shapes lives and societies, studied through history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science and philosophy, on topics such as migration, radicalisation and climate, at a non-denominational faculty.

Image: University of Groningen

Where
GroningenNetherlands
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
1 May 2027
Admission
Open to all who qualify
EU/EEA fee
€2,7712027/28 statutory fee
More facts
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 1 December 2026*

    Create your Studielink account
    Your own plan
    Details

    Not an official deadline. With a Dutch address you log in with DigiD, which the government says takes about five days. Without one you upload a scan or photo of your passport or EU identity card and Studielink verifies it automatically. Either way, do it well before 15 January.

    Source

  2. 1 May 2027

    Application deadline for all other bachelor's
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    Details

    Both Dutch deadlines fall well before this. How a conditional place pending results is handled is set by each institution; ask yours.

    Source

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in the Netherlands

What it is

You begin with the major world religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, the concepts and methods of the study of religion, the anthropology, psychology, sociology and philosophy of religion, and religion in South Asia. Assessment leans on written assignments and research papers, year two includes Rituals in Theory and Practice, and year three has a thesis seminar and an independent bachelor thesis; Quranic Arabic is optional. A minor can be Spiritual Care, teacher training or study at another faculty, and an internship or exchange is possible. Graduates work in care, policy and management, education, church, culture and media, or continue to a master such as Religion, Conflict and Globalization.

What you need

  • The IB Diploma counts as Dutch VWO; no minimum points. An IB taught in English waives the English test.
Requirements in full

Where it says so

Check it on rug.nl

How places are decided

    • Everyone eligible is admitted
    Not selective: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply by 1 May 2027; matching is optional and its advice is not binding.
Sources (2)
  1. Religious Studies at RUG — checked 2026-09-25
  2. IB applicants at RUG

Other degrees at RUG