Programme description

Are you wondering what religion is? Why do we find it in all cultures? What are the differences, and what are the similarities between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? What makes people believe in supernatural beings? What role has religion played in human evolution and human history? How does it motivate people to act? What influence does it have on society, politics, culture and economy? Positive to these questions? Religious Studies—Interdisciplinary Studies in Religions and Cultures of the World is an excellent direction to seek answers. The Institute of Religious Studies of the Jagiellonian University is a unique place. Religious studies will introduce you to many scientific disciplines: anthropology, ethnology, philosophy, history, political science, psychology and sociology. These studies are also associated with an exciting program of scientific meetings: guest lectures, periodic seminars, conferences and lectures. Also, events combined the popularisation of religious studies in public space: film screenings, Film Discussion Club.

Information regarding Faculty

The Faculty of Philosophy is one of the oldest faculties of our university, founded in 1364. The A+ category was granted to the Faculty by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Study programmes conducted at the Faculty lead in rankings prepared by the Education Foundation “Perspektywy”, talented students win the prestigious Diamond Grant programme every year and succeed in Polish and international contests. The Faculty of Philosophy is the place where a human being is in the centre of research interest. Studies are an excellent opportunity to learn more about oneself, other cultures and religions as well as understand the world, an individual, and society.

The Faculty consists of 5 institutes: Institute of Philosophy, Institute of Pedagogy, Institute of Psychology, Institute of Religious Studies, Institute of Sociology and Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations. Classes are taught in the Institute of Religious Studies in the very centre of Kraków. There is only one such research centre in Poland conducting first-cycle study programme in religious studies and the Faculty of Philosophy is the only Polish unit entitled to award the degree of doktor and doktor habilitowany in religious studies. The Institute offers the ‘Religious studies 30 plus’ programme which provides working students of the second-cycle programme with the possibility to study under an individual curriculum which enables combining professional and family duties with studying.

👉 Read more about the Institute of Religious Studies

Rankings, distinctions, accreditations

• Positive evaluation of the study programme rating awarded by the Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA)
• Scientific category B+ in the discipline of Culture and Religion Studies awarded to the Jagiellonian University in Kraków by the decision of the Minister of Education and Science

Curriculum overview

In the programme curriculum, you may find information about the subjects you will attend while studying this programme. The programme indicates which subjects are scheduled for each semester of the studies, which are mandatory, which belong to the group of elective subjects (so-called optional subjects), which of them end with an exam, and which do not. Each subject in such a programme curriculum has its syllabus, which is a description of what students learn within the scope of that subject.

Student’s life

Time spent at the university is not all about education and class participation; it is also an excellent opportunity to develop hobbies and interests. Many research societies and student organizations operate at the Jagiellonian University, including faculty- and university-wide ones. These societies allow students to spend their free time actively, gain knowledge, develop their talents, participate in engaging, unconventional projects, go on research and team-building trips, participate in conferences, and meet fellow students outside the lecture halls. There are many student activities and associations at the Faculty of Philosophy. The Institute runs a blog, which is a platform for exchanging ideas and observations about religion. Every student and employee of the institute is invited to co-create it.

Students interested in the international dimension of studying can participate in a wide variety of exchange programmes, such as Erasmus+, Utrecht Network, bilateral exchange programmes, European university Una Europa, or the domestic mobility programme called MOST.

More than just studies

• Student Government of the Faculty of Philosophy

Admission to studies

Admission to study programmes at the Jagiellonian University is conducted electronically in the Online Application System: irk.uj.edu.pl. If you have any questions related to admission, please contact the Admissions Office directly or visit the websites: welcome.uj.edu.pl and irk.uj.edu.pl.

Detailed information about admission to this study programme, including information on the method of calculating the result, qualification criteria, fees, deadlines, and a list of required documents are available on the Online Application System (IRK): irk.uj.edu.pl

Transfer from other university or study programme

Transfer from another university, including a foreign one, or change of study programme within the University is possible with the dean's consent after completing the first year of studies and fulfilling additional requirements established by the Faculty Council. For inquiries regarding transfer, please contact the unit responsible for the specific study programme directly.

Graduates

Employers both in Poland and in the world value skills developed during religious studies. Graduates work in cultural institutions, advertising, banks, schools, press, television, and web portals. After completing first-cycle programme graduates may conduct independent work in the field of counselling and preparation of expert opinions on issues related to religious and cultural diversity, particularly:

• research in the field of religious phenomena both throughout history and in contemporary society;
• expert opinions and specialist consultations (for governmental and non-governmental institutions, diplomacy, military missions, immigration units, media, publishing houses, the judiciary, medical personnel, companies - all those who deal with the issue of religion in both theoretical and practical dimension);
• analysis of the religious problems in legislation;
• social information and archiving data about beliefs both in the past and in the present.

Second-cycle programme provides the society with experts able to diagnose problems related to the interaction of religious, cultural and social spheres and correctly identify religious phenomena and their specificity. Knowledge of the mechanisms of creating and functioning religious symbolic models of the world allows them to work in areas related to the symbolic activity.

Further education possibilities

• Doctoral School, f.e. Doctoral School in the Social Sciences
• Post diploma programmes
• Second-cycle programmes

Offer for school

The following events are conducted in Polish – to find out about the offer for English-speaking audience, please get in touch with the organizer directly. Additionally, due to the current pandemic, some faculty and university events may be canceled or conducted in a form other than that described below.

We invite all schools to take part in the cycle of meetings "University Closer to You – visits to the Jagiellonian University". The aim of the meetings during the tours is to familiarize students with the history of our University through a rich educational offer (lectures, workshops, laboratory classes, etc.). The current programme of the event is available on the organizer's website – the Centre for Communications and Marketing of the Jagiellonian University.

The Jagiellonian Library offers tours of both the old and new parts of the building. The tour programme includes presentations on the history of the Library and the building itself, as well as a visit to the Department of Depositories. The offer of the Collegium Maius includes lessons on "The Trail of Science" and "The Trail of History and Art," as well as interactive online classes. We also invite you to explore the educational offer of the Botanical Garden, the Nature Education Centre, the Confucius Institute, and the Museum of Anatomy.

Contact

The study programme is conducted at the Institute of Religious Studies, a unit of the Faculty of Philosophy. The Institute is located in the historic centre of Kraków. For more information, please contact:

religioznawstwo@uj.edu.pl

ul. Grodzka 52
31-044 Kraków, Poland
Phone: (+48) 12 663 17 78

religioznawstwo.uj.edu.pl
phils.uj.edu.pl

Other programmes that may interest you

• Buddhist Studies (Faculty of Philosophy) – programme in Polish
• Jewish Studies (Faculty of History) – programme in Polish
• Comparative Studies in Civilisations (Faculty of Philosophy) – programme in Polish