Two MA theses on Augustine

As written before, we in Lund had the pleasure to attend the thesis defense of two 5th cycle students on Tuesday. Coincidentally both theses concerned the writings of Augustine! The two graduates are Kyraki Arvaniti with her thesis "From Nicomachean Ethics to City of God. A study on evolution from metriopatheia to passions and sins" and Annamaria Laviola with "Interchangeable Bodies. The Materialization of Bodies in Augustine’s thoughts on marriage and virginity."

I only could attend the presentation of Annamaria, but I have heard that both students did a very good job. Now they will have a week to revise their theses based on the comments that they received during the seminar and then they will be real RRE graduates. Congratulations, Annamaria and Kyriaki - great work! 

Annamaria during her presentation

Kyriaki giving comments

Pondering professors

The two students after the defense

/PD

PS. I'm sure that there must be more people who have finished just before summer, but I only know about Lund. Did you finish or do you know others? Send me some pictures and/or write a blog yourself and it will be uploaded! :-) DS.

5 Questions to the Professor

This week's instalment of 5 questions comes from Einar Thomassen, who teaches one of the two introductory courses held in Rome.  He forgot to mention under his expertise section his exemplary tour guiding skills!

1. Please state your name,age, university and connection to the RREprogram

Einar Thomassen, 60, University of Bergen. I have been involved in the programme from the planning stage and teaches in it regularly.

2. What is your area of expertise? and which courses do you teach in the RREprogram?

My main area of research has been ancient gnosticism and the Nag Hammadi Coptic texts. Branching out from there I have also worked on early Christianity and ancient religions generally. I also take an interest in Islam, which I have taught for more than 30 years; specific interests are Sufism and the Quran.

I teach (1) the introductory course on Religion and Society in the Ancient World (Rome course), (2) an Interaction course on Holy Scriptures, (3) a text course on the Quran. I also teach an introductory course in Coptic in Bergen, which is open to RRE students.

3. How do you find the this way of teaching, which is not regular university courses but also not distance learning?

I much prefer classroom teaching, where I can interact directly with the students. Distance learning is difficult for me, though it seems to work somehow.

4. What do you expect from your students?

Hard work, of course, but also curiosity and inquisitiveness: the impulse to look up references given in the texts you read, to discover by yourselves reference works in each area of knowledge, to identify the most important contributions on a topic, to use your local library avidly and intelligently.

5. If you could have any superhuman power, what would it be and why?

Multilocality, so that we did not have to do distance teaching.

How to apply for Lund University.

Happy New Year!
This year starts by introducing you about how to apply for RRE in Lund University, Sweden. Lund is a middle-sized town in the south of Sweden, close to Malmø and the Øresunds-bridge over to Denmark. Us in the second cycle went to Lund in March 2011 for a three days compact seminar. Lund is an old university city and has a lot of students, many of them from different countries of the world. an active city, and easy to get around. I have added some pics to Henrik`s text, from our Lundseminar.
by: Hilde Ekroll


Religious Roots of Europe at Lund University

The Religious Roots of Europe master programme is run by six Nordic universities in close cooperation, and you can apply to the programme at each of these universities. The application period for the Religious Roots of Europe master programme at Lund University is open between 17 October, 2011 and 16 January, 2012. Just like at the other universities, at least six students will be admitted in Lund for studies starting fall 2012.

At Lund University - which is consistently ranked among the world's top 100 universities - The Religious Roots of Europe master programme is offered by the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies. The department is the largest within the field of Humanities and Theology at the university with courses offered in History of Religions, Human Rights, Islamology, Religious Studies and Theology, leading to different kinds of Bachelor's and Master's degrees. There are also different programmes for PhD studies. The research activities at the department are pursued in different subjects with internationally recognized research in several areas, including Early Christian studies, Judaism and Islam. Research is particularly strong in New Testament studies, Early Christian studies and Church History.

 CTR- center for teologi och religion/center for theology and religion

Admission requirements

In order to be admitted to the programme you need to have:

1. 
   
   A bachelor's degree with a major in theology, the study of religion, classical philology, classical archaeology, history or the equivalent;
2. 
   
   A minimum of 20 ECTS credits in either one or two of the following ancient languages: Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic;
3. 
   
   English B (advanced) language proficiency.

How to apply?

In general, all students wishing to study on Master's level at Lund University must apply online, using the national University Admissions in Sweden website at https://www.antagning.se/intl/start. This website will provide you with further information about how to apply and what kind of documents you need to submit. But if you have any questions about how to use this website or how to apply, please feel free to contact our coordinator (see below).

Fees and scholarships

If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, there are tuition fees for studying at Swedish universities. But for EU/EEA citizens, there are no such fees. You will find more information about the tuition fees at http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24725&lukas_id=HARRE&overview=fees. There are also several possibilities to apply for scholarships at Lund University, but you need to make a separate application. For scholarships and their application periods, see http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24725&lukas_id=HARRE&overview=scholarships, and follow the suggested links.

Questions?

If you have any questions about studying at Lund University, please contact the programme coordinator at Lund University, Henrik Rydell Johnsén (henrik.johnsen@teol.lu.se), or take a closer look at our programme website at http://www2.teol.lu.se/rre/, or at http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24725&lukas_id=HARRE&overview=programme.

written by Henrik Rydell Johnsen. Picture copyrights: Lund University and Tanya Mylova

Application procedure, Aarhus University

The Religious Roots of Europe is a joint programme offered in collaboration between six different Nordic universities (see the programme website ), these universities are here called the Host Institutions. For the academic year 2011-2012, 36 students can be admitted to the programme in total on the six Host Institutions. Applications for admittance is directed to and processed by one of the six Host Institutions, in accordance with the rules and regulations obtaining at this Host Institution. The following is a description of these rules and regulations at the University of Aarhus.

Applicants for one of the study places at Aarhus University must document (by submitting a certified transcript or bachelor certificate stating the subjects studied and the grades obtained) that they have completed or are completing a relevant bachelor degree (below) and that they have obtained a sufficient proficiency in ‘classical’ languages as well as in English (below).

Application deadline

1 March for commencement of studies on 1 September

IMPORTANT!

New online application system
Aarhus University is in the process of developing a new common online application system effective from the 2012 intake. We expect to launch our new system from 1 February 2012.

Admission information
Our application pages will be updated from now until February 2012. Thus, in the time ahead, you may notice we are making a mess – for which we apologise. Specific information about admission requirements, selection criteria, documentation requirements, etc. will be moved to the individual admission pages to be found in the Study Guide. When we open for applications from 1 February 2012, all admission pages will be up-to-date.

In the meantime

While waiting for the opening of the new application system you are welcome to contact the main programme coordinator for all the universities Associate Professor Jakob Engberg, Aarhus University on je@teo.au.dk   

Academic content

Please see the programme website

English language requirements

See general admission requirements

The most important part of this information is:

English language qualifications comparable to an 'English B level' in Denmark can be documented as follows:

·         TOEFL test results of at least 560 (paper-based test) or 83 (internet-based test)
The Aarhus University TOEFL code is 8935
The Aarhus School of Business TOEFL code is 7993
The AU-IBT (Institute of Business and Technology in Herning) TOEFL code is 8607
The test result must not be more than two years old

·         IELTS test with a minimum score of 6.5 points
The test result must not be more than two years old

·         Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CEA)

·         "C1 level" obtained by examination from a CEFR-validated English language course.

·         English-taught entrance examination (upper secondary school/high school) or Bachelor’s degree

·         English language qualifications obtained through at least 210 hours of English lessons (1 hour = 60 minutes) in a non-Danish entrance examination. You must ask your upper secondary school/high school to provide documentation for the total number of English lessons/hours you have received during your final three upper secondary/high school years. You are required to enclose a copy of your upper secondary/high school certificate, including course and examination descriptions of your English language course.

·          

Academic requirements, including requirements of ancient language proficiency

Admission to the Master’s Programme in European studies at Aarhus University requires successful completion of a relevant BA degree with a major in theology, the study of religion, classical philology, classical archaeology, history or the equivalent.

Since the study programme presupposes an ability to and further trains students in reading ancient religious text in the original languages, and since not all the mentioned bachelor’s degrees in all the Nordic countries or internationally include compulsory classical language training, it is specified as a prerequisite for admittance to the programme that the applicant can document a proficiency in at least one ‘classical’ language, i.e. Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic, which equals the proficiency achieved by studying such a language in a module allotted 20 ECTS credits. [1]

Alternatively, a student can be admitted if she or he can document a proficiency in two of the ‘classical’ languages which equals the proficiency achieved by studying each of these languages in a module allotted 10 ECTS credits each.

Selection criteria

The Master's programme in the Religious Roots of Europe can only admit a limited number of students each year (for the academic year 2009-2010 there are 36 study places in total at the six Host Institutions), so fulfilling the requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme.

If there are fewer qualified applicants at Aarhus University than places at this Host Institution, all qualified applicants are admitted.

If there are more qualified applicants for the programme at Aarhus University than places available, Aarhus University consults the Programme Committee (a joint body overseeing the running of the Programme). The decision, however, rests with Aarhus University and any appeals should be made to Aarhus University.

The criteria for selection between the qualified students are:

·         The number of ECTS credits obtained during bachelor studies in the relevant fields of religion and theology and ancient history, culture and languages. This will be evaluated on the basis of the bachelor certificate or certified transcript.

·         If more applicants have obtained the same number of ECTS credits in these fields then the applicant or applicants with the highest average of grades obtained during bachelor studies is or are admitted. These will be evaluated on the basis of bachelor certificate or certified transcript.

In selecting between the qualified applicants the Programme Committee and Aarhus University therefore focuses on the relevance of your previous studies and on the results achieved.

***

[1] I Danmark kan de klassiske sprogkrav indfries med et gymnasialt A-niveau i ét af de nævnte sprog, gennem propædeutik eller tilsvarende. Det vil sige, at bacheloruddannelserne i teologi, klassisk filologi og klassisk arkæologi er direkte adgangsgivende, mens en bachelorgrad i ét af de andre nævnte fag kun er adgangsgivende, hvis den studerende også kan dokumentere, at det klassiske sprogkrav er indfriet.

About the Faculty of Theology in Copenhagen

High Class Research
The Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen ranks highly internationally for the quality of its research. Particularly in the fields of the Old Testament/ Hebrew Bible (the Copenhagen school), the Dead Sea Scrolls, the New Testament in its Graeco-Roman context (including philosophy) and feminist Biblical studies, the Faculty is internationally recognized for its expertise.

The Faculty has broad contacts with researchers worldwide, not least through its participation in The International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU).

What are the Admission Requirements?
At least six students will be admitted to the programme at the University of Copenhagen in 2012.

The selection of students is based on the fulfillment of the following admission requirements:

a) A Bachelor's degree in a field of study that is relevant to the programme (e.g., theology, religious studies, classical philology, Semitic languages, ancient history etc.). The applicant must have, or anticipate getting, a Bachelor's degree from a recognized and internationally acknowledged university.

b) Documented proficiency in at least one "classical" language (i.e., 20 ECTS in either Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Arabic; or 10 ECTS in two "classical" languages)

c) Documented proficiency in English:
Level B for Danish students with a Danish bachelor's degree
TOEFL paper-based test score of at least 600
TOEFL internet-based test score of at least 83
TOEFL computer-based test score of at least 250
IELTS test score of at least 6.0

d) The selection of students is furthermore based on the relevance of the Bachelor's degree in terms of field of study, as well as on the grades achieved, and on the number of courses and ECTS-points that students have gained in relevant study areas (e.g., theology, religion, ancient history, culture and language).

Tuition fees
There are no tuition fees for students from Denmark and EU/EES countries (EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). For students from non-EU/EES countries the tuition fee is in the order of DKK 60.000 per year.

When and how to apply?
Application deadline is 1 March.

The Application must include:

a) A Bachelor's degree Certificate (the degree certificate may be forwarded after the closing of the application period, but it must arrive at the faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen by August 1 at the latest).

b) Documentation for proficiency in at least one "classical" language (i.e., 20 ECTS in either Hebrew, Greek, Latin og Arabic; or 10 ECTS in two "classical" languages)

c) Documentation for proficiency in English.

d) CV and a letter of motivation.

The application must include all the required documents. Incomplete or late applications cannot be processed. The application with all the required enclosures must be mailed via regular (air) mail or by an international courier service to The Faculty of Theology. E-mailed or faxed applications or documents will not be accepted.

The address is:

Faculty of Theology
University of Copenhagen
Købmagergade 44-46
DK- 1150 Copenhagen K
ATT: International Coordinator

For further information, see http://www.teol.ku.dk/english/religious_roots/
or contact coordinator Martin Ehrensvärd, meh [att] teol.ku.dk

Updates from Helsinki :)

(Written by Anne Hopia, Helsinki)
The application period for the Religious Roots of Europe (RRE) International Master's Programme opens up at University of Helsinki. It's possible to apply for the programme from 21.11.2011 to 31.1.2012. Please keep track also of the application periods of other Nordic universities participating in the programme!

Greetings from the heart of Helsinki!

The official Christmas Sreet was opened yesterday with the appropriate parade lead by the Santa Claus himself and followed by his red-cheeked Christmas gnomes. The Faculty of Theology of University of Helsinki is located along this very street, which is named in the city map as Aleksanterinkatu. The street has been named after the Russian Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881), who acted also as the Grand Duke of Finland.

This year RRE programme in Helsinki admitted 6 new students, out of them 5 were able to start their studies in Helsinki this autumn. Their educational background represents Theology, History, Classical Philology and Linguistics.

This October also a first cycle student Anna-Liisa Tolonen graduated as a first student from the programme in Helsinki. She finished her studies within 2 years and her thesis handled "The Reception of the Maccabean Martyrs: Their Historiographical and Paradigmatic Functions in Antique and Late-antique Jewish and Christian Sources". Now Anna-Liisa is planning to start postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Theology, where she also works as a study tutor for the 3rd cycle RRE-students. Please read here how she reflected upon the programme a year ago: http://www.helsinki.fi/rre

The Religious Roots of Europe (RRE) is a joint and international two-year Master's Programme offered by the following Nordic universities: Aarhus, Bergen, Copenhagen, Lund and Oslo. Compact seminars are organised at all these institutions as well as in Nordic institutes in the Mediterranean area.

Copyright Helsinki University