Anthropology of Religion and Culture

What if you could see the world through different perspectives? What can we learn from cultural differences? How can these insights contribute to understanding local, regional and global challenges?

In a world of religious and cultural diversity, understanding cultural differences is key to addressing challenges like migration and climate change. This MA equips you with the skills to explore specific lifeworlds across various contexts in order to gain a thorough understanding of the role of religion and culture in different societies.

This MA in the anthropology of religion is unique, and is characterised by its holistic, comparative and ethnographic approach. Holistic because it investigates themes as they are embedded within the totality of local lifeworlds, for example in the topics of food, sexuality and religion. Comparative research helps in understanding differences and similarities, and through ethnographic research you get a deep insight into the complex worlds of the people living them. It gives you a better understanding of the other, as well as of yourself. The ethnographic hands-on experience is an integral part of the programme. The MA also critically reflects on the 'traditional' anthropological method itself (i.e. from 'global north' to 'global south').

Anthropology challenges yourself by making the strange familiar, and the familiar strange.

Facts & Figures

Degree: MA in Theology & Religious Studies
Course type: Master
Duration: 12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code: 60824
Language of instruction: English
Start: September
Faculty: Religion, Culture and Society

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Why study this programme in Groningen?

Globally, religion is an important factor in societies. Therefore, this MA focuses on religion and culture.
Historically, anthropology has been influenced by many other disciplines, and our multi-disciplinary Faculty provides the perfect academic setting to continue this dialogue.
There is a lot of thematic and regional expertise at the Faculty.
The RUG is a public university. Here, religion is studied as a cultural phenomenon, and it isn't tied to any faith or religious movement.

Programme

The MA-track Anthropology of Religion and Culture comprises a total of 60 ECTS. For part-time options, please contact the study advisor.

In the first semester you acquire the necessary analytical, theoretical and methodological skills, set up your research design and discuss relevant examples of different lifeworlds regarding particular topics such as gender and sexuality, religious and cultural change and human/environment relationships.

In the second semester you will conduct your empirical research (10-week period of ethnographic fieldwork), in the Netherlands or abroad, and write your thesis.

Please note: as this track starts in September 2025, the course list below could slightly be subject to change in the coming months.
Would you like to know more about the content of the programme? Then contact the study advisors , or visit the information session on our next Master's Week.

	Semesters
Courses	1a	1b	2a	2b
Compulsory: Concepts & Debates: Understanding Lifeworlds (5 EC)
Compulsory: Researching Lifeworlds: Histories & Methods (5 EC)
Elective: Material Religion (5 EC, optional)
Elective: Regional Heritage (5 EC, optional)
Elective: Religion, Gender and Sexuality (5 EC, optional)
Compulsory: Concepts & Debates: Anthropology in Dialogue (5 EC)
Compulsory: Researching Lifeworlds: Methods & Research Design (5 EC)
Elective: Global Dynamics and Local Cosmologies (5 EC, optional)
Elective: Migration, Culture and Politics (5 EC, optional)
Elective: Religion and Sexual Nationalism (5 EC, optional)
Compulsory: Ethnographic Fieldwork (10 EC)
Thesis (20 EC)

Study load

1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS.

Study abroad

Study abroad is optional

Studying abroad is not part of this program. However, the ethnographic fieldwork scheduled in the second semester can be conducted abroad or in the Netherlands.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a pre-master's programme.
grade list	An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses.
language test	An English language test for Dutch students is only required if you do not have a VWO-diploma. IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part); TOEFL: 90 internet (18 on Reading and Listening, 20 on Speaking and 21 on Writing). Exemption granted if: You are a native speaker of, and have completed your full secondary level education in: the USA, Canada (only when taught in English), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. You have completed a full-time Bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in: the USA, Canada (only when English taught), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency.
other admission requirements	Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in Arts/Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences, or Spatial Sciences (specialization: Cultural Geography) may be exempted from the requirement to complete the pre-master programme under certain conditions.

Registration procedure

International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.

After you submit your application in Studielink, you will receive a message from Studielink stating that the University of Groningen (UG) has to verify your educational background through the Progress Portal. You will receive a separate email with your login details (make sure to also check your spam folder).
Check the application guide for international students for more information about the admissions procedure.
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to studentoffice.rcs@rug.nl .

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a pre-master's programme.
grade list	An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses.
language test	An English language test for Dutch students is only required if you do not have a VWO-diploma. IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part); TOEFL: 90 internet (18 on Reading and Listening, 20 on Speaking and 21 on Writing). Exemption granted if: You are a native speaker of, and have completed your full secondary level education in: the USA, Canada (only when taught in English), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. You have completed a full-time Bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in: the USA, Canada (only when English taught), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency.
other admission requirements	Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in Arts/Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences, or Spatial Sciences (specialization: Cultural Geography) may be exempted from the requirement to complete the pre-master programme under certain conditions .

Language requirements

Exam	Minimum score
IELTS overall band	6.5
IELTS listening	6
IELTS reading	6
IELTS writing	6
TOEFL internet based	90

Registration procedure

International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.

After you submit your application in Studielink, you will receive a message from Studielink stating that the University of Groningen (UG) has to verify your educational background through the Progress Portal. You will receive a separate email with your login details (make sure to also check your spam folder).
Check the application guide for international students for more information about the admissions procedure.
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to studentoffice.rcs@rug.nl.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

Tuition fees

Nationality	Year	Fee	Programme form
EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 2530	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 18700	full-time
EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 2601	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 19200	full-time

Talent Grant available for non-EU students.

All applicants with a non-Dutch qualification will have to pay an application fee.

Practical information for:

Dutch students International students

After your studies

If you wish to become a teacher of religion in secondary education you can additionally follow the Educational Master's programme. This programma is taught in Dutch.

Job prospects

Following completion of this degree, you will be able to advise or write policy documents on different subjects - including developmental assistance, or multicultural society. Job tracts include working for a government, in business, or at an NGO or research institute. Other options include media, or education. Those who wish to pursue an academic career can follow this track as part of the 2-year Research Master's programme.

Check out our alumni page to see where our alumni of the one-year Master's in Theology & Religious Studies - within which the MA Anthropology of Religion and Culture is a track - end up after graduating.

Research

Education

The course units in the MA track Anthropology of Religion and Culture are taught by anthropologists, sociologists and religious studies scholars, who are recognized as experts in their respective fields, all studying religion as a cultural and social phenomenon. In the course units, they will provide you with an up-to-date overview of the state of the art of the subjects you are studying, often drawing on their own research.

Teachers and their expertise

Peter Berger received his PhD in anthropology at the Free University of Berlin in 2004 and has been working at the UG since 2007. His regional focus lies in India where he has worked together especially with the Indigenous peoples (Adivasis) of highland Odisha, where he conducted more than two and a half years of ethnographic research in total since 1996. He has researched and written on a diversity of topics, among them ritual, death, personhood, food, values, economy, cultural change and the theory and history of the discipline of anthropology. He is also the coordinator (with Dr Sean Desjardins) of the interfaculty University Minor Anthropology: What it means to be human.
Kim Knibbe is Associate Professor Anthropology and Sociology of Religion. Currently, she is conducting qualitative research on religion and secularism, particularly on the topics of gender and sexuality.
Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues is an Assistant Professor specializing in the Anthropology of Christianity and the Anthropology of Moralities. She also works on themes related to religious violence and political mobilization. Her research examines grassroots Christian movements and their complex intersections with culture, identity, and politics, particularly in the context of the Global South. Her regional focus centers on Latin American societies and the connections between Latin America and Africa.

Research Centres

Much of the research by the teaching staff connects with the activities of the Research Centres in our Faculty. These centers are also crucial resources for all students of the Faculty as they provide expertise on important topics in relation to religion, culture and society, offer international contacts and networks that can support students' research, and also possibilities for teaching and research assistantships. These centres also regularly invite speakers and organise events.

Research Centres of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society:

Apply now Brochure Events Contact

Dutch diploma International diploma

Dutch brochure English brochure

17Mar

Master's Week - Faculty of Religion, Culture and SocietyMore information

17Mar

Master's Weeksdiverse locatiesMore information

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Contact

Kees van den Ende MA
Email: studyadvice.rcs rug.nl
Telephone: 050-363 9382
ambassadors (our student ambassadors are happy to tell you more about the MA programme)
Email: prospectives.rcs rug.nl

Testimonial of Dr. Peter Berger (Germany)

Like biodiversity is crucial for sustainability, cultural diversity is important for human survival.
– Dr. Peter Berger (Germany)

Cultural difference is often considered as a problem or obstacle; just think about the public discussions on immigration and integration. Anthropology, however, recognizes cultural difference as a resource. As a positive and essential tool for understanding other lifeworlds, and thus as crucial for intercultural dialogue.

In anthropology, you look at the world through different eyes. In fact, you actually enter different life-worlds with your whole being, mind, body and emotions. In addition to this, cultures all over the world, in the present and in the past, are repositories of knowledge and wisdom. By making an effort to understand different life-worlds and by taking them seriously, we also open up the possibilities to encounter novel and alternative solutions for global problems.

Anthropology shows that there are many alternative ways of viewing the world and living in the world, and that it is important to be able to change perspectives. It challenges our common sense, because our common sense may be nonsense in other places in the world, or in other times in history. The central idea of anthropology and its ethnographic research is understanding through difference. By learning to understand other cultures, you also learn more about yourself. And just like biodiversity is crucial for sustainability, cultural diversity is important for human survival. Anthropology puts those aspects of difference and diversity on the agenda, in a positive, constructive sense.

This Master’s track is intended for students who are interested in today’s complex world and, above all, the role of human action and ideas in it. An anthropological perspective makes you look through various cultural lenses, which enables you to connect global challenges, for instance those regarding migration or food distribution, to local contexts, i.e. communities, individuals, and societies. You will gain insight into the motivations of individuals or groups of people.

Dr. Peter Berger is Associate Professor of Indian Religions and the Anthropology of Religion, coordinator of the MA Anthropology of Religion and Culture, and - together with Dr Sean Desjardins - coordinator of the University minor: Anthropology: What it means to be human . He is also a staff member of the Institute of Indian Studies , as well as the interdisciplinary research network Cereal Cultures . He has been conducting ethnographic research for many years in the state of Odisha, eastern India, on the religion, society and culture of the so-called Adivasis, the indigenous people of the region. Since 1996, he has lived with them for about three years.

Read more about his life als an anthropologist in Odisha.

Testimonial of Dr. Kim Knibbe (The Netherlands)

Gender and sexuality are topics that are constantly being politicized. How can we understand this in a way that goes beyond the madness of the day?
– Dr. Kim Knibbe (The Netherlands)

I conduct research into how religious and secular approaches to sexuality and gender differ, converge and sometimes clash. This grew out of other research, which ran from 2007 to 2016 on the spread of Nigerian Pentecostal churches in Europe.

This research focused primarily on the leaders: how did they come to leave behind sometimes successful careers and go plant a church somewhere in Europe? Or, in other cases, to lead churches alongside their successful careers? This can be quite labor-intensive. It involves not only the Sunday service, but also the pastoral care during the week. In my research, I saw that these highly educated professionals often struggled with the patronizing way in which they were addressed by policymakers and well-meaning organizations. This became particularly apparent during a controversy that arose over so-called HIV healings, in which Dutch media wrote that African churches promised to be able to cure people of HIV. There were all sorts of quite sensitive issues underlying this, such as the taboo on homosexuality, but one thing was very clear: these people do not lack medical knowledge, as was suggested in the media. There was much more to it: a complex clash between different views on sexuality, embedded in broader notions of modernity, the role of religion in society, sexual morality, education and relationships. These are the kinds of complex issues that fascinate me.

As we can read in the newspapers every day, gender and sexuality are topics that are constantly being politicized. How can we understand this in a way that goes beyond the madness of the day? This is also what I aim to do in the course ‘Religion, Gender and Sexuality: between politics and everyday life’. One of the findings that I have continued with together with a colleague and colleagues in Kenya and the Philippines is the theme of pregnancy. Despite the strict sexual morality (or, as some would say, because of it), it is more common for women to become pregnant unintentionally. What happens then? How do people react to this, how are religious leaders involved in this process? By seeking collaboration with colleagues in the Philippines and Kenya, we want to further investigate this topic in an international comparative perspective.

I became fascinated by the field of anthropology when I lived with family in the US for a while as a 13-year-old. My aunt often took me to public lectures by anthropologists at the University of Charlottesville. I find it particularly fascinating how differently people experience the world. So not only have a different perspective on it, but also experience it physically differently than others. Also methodologically: how do you gain access to this as a researcher? Participant observation is the anthropological method par excellence, in which you gain insight over a longer period into how people live their lives in all daily and banal details. The difference between what people say they do and what they actually do, you get a picture of. A new methodological challenge is that people nowadays live half online, via their smartphones and other screens. Getting that into focus is a whole new challenge, where I am more in the role of student than teacher: students and PhD candidates have much more insight and knowledge about this than I do. I really want to develop this further. In terms of themes, I think I will continue to focus on gender and sexuality in the coming years.

Testimonial of Dr. Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues (Brazil)

Ethnographic research is incredibly exciting, enlightening, and rewarding. But it's also a demanding journey.
– Dr. Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues (Brazil)

I am an ethnographer dedicated to understanding grassroots Christian movements and their intersections with culture, identity, and politics, especially within the Global South. My work delves into how Christian cultures increasingly shape identity, politics, and policy. In this picture, I am doing fieldwork with a conservative religious community.

I focus on themes such as the rise of Christian Zionism, the spread of Judaizing forms of Christianity, Christian activism and political mobilization, and emerging forms of Christian religious extremism. Trained in traditional ethnographic methods, I have recently expanded my focus to include the anthropology of media and digital anthropology. By analyzing social media through digital anthropological methods, I have explored how celebrity pastors have been influencing behavior, fashion, and even electoral politics in virtual spheres.

I’m from Brazil, where religion plays an incredibly important role in people’s lives — far more so than in much of Europe. When I came to study in Europe, I quickly realized that many of the theories I was being taught didn’t quite resonate well with the realities I had experienced back home. This disconnect made me uncomfortable, as it felt like these frameworks weren’t capturing the depth or complexity of grassroots life in the Global South. That’s what drives my research: creating a more meaningful framework that truly reflects the lived experiences and cultural realities of communities in the Global South.

I ended up in the anthropology of religion by accident. While working on my master’s research about undocumented Latina women in the domestic sector, as carers and cleaners in Paris and London, I found that the best place to connect with these women was actually in the churches they would go to every week. These migrant churches were not only a place where they practiced their religiosity, but also where they built social and support networks. It quickly became clear that, to fully understand their lives as undocumented migrants, I also needed to understand the central role that religion played for them. While religion’s role might seem diminished in much of Europe, it remains a powerful force in other parts of the world. I believe that to truly understand the political landscape in these areas, we must take religion seriously.

I believe that by understanding the complex intersections of religion and everyday politics, we can work toward more nuanced and effective policies that reflect the grassroots realities of the Global South. Engaging in ethnographic research can be incredibly exciting and enlightening, but it’s also a demanding journey. It requires us to spend days, weeks, and sometimes even months fully immersed in a different culture, navigating unfamiliar customs and ways of thinking. While it can be challenging, it’s also immensely rewarding. Ethnographic work encourages us to step outside of our own identities and attune ourselves to cultural norms that may initially feel foreign or surprising.

Through ethnographic training and fieldwork, I believe students develop a broad set of valuable skills. They learn to observe keenly, pay attention to detail, communicate effectively, and, perhaps most importantly, empathize by stepping into others’ shoes. One of my primary aims when training future ethnographers is to equip them with the skills to conduct rigorous research, while also fostering their growth into global citizens — individuals who feel comfortable and fluent in diverse cultural settings. I want them to leave with not only a deeper understanding of the cultures they study but also the empathy and tools to navigate and appreciate our interconnected world.

Testimonial of Tessa Rongen (The Netherlands)

Thanks to anthropology, I have really established a new form of admiration for all the different ways of “being human”.
– Tessa Rongen (The Netherlands)

As an Archaeology student, I have always had a lot of interest in art, human cultures, and history. In the final year of my BA I really wanted to choose a minor programme that would compliment my own studies very well, and that would allow me to look at my own field from a new perspective.

Because of this, I followed the minor Anthropology in the third year of my BA at the RUG. I found this very interesting: I did not only learn how I could implement anthropology in my own academic field, but I suddenly also understood the modern world around me a lot better. It was really valuable for me to see how and why certain cultures are so different from each other, and I have learnt to look at things that I had always considered to be very normal in my own Dutch culture in a different way. I have really established a new form of admiration for all the different ways of “being human”. Of course, that is also the special thing about anthropology: we are all human!

By learning about anthropology I was able to develop my own archaeological knowledge, especially since there was a lot of room for me to research the things I found interesting. Unfortunately, the MA in Anthropology of Religion and Culture didn't yet exist in 2024; otherwise I would definitely have considered this programme after completing my BA. Now, I am a Research Master's student in Archaeology, and here my anthropological knowledge is still useful: I have a better understanding of what I like within archaeology, I can still apply the anthropological theory that I learnt in my own research, and I can approach my own research from multiple different perspectives!

Testimonial of Meike Numeijer (The Netherlands)

Studying anthropology of religion broadens your perspective beyond your own surroundings, allowing you to see the practice of faith beyond what is familiar to you.
– Meike Numeijer (The Netherlands)

People often claim that religion or the study of religion is outdated and irrelevant. However, by studying the anthropology of religion and examining its role in diverse social contexts, you really see how religion is embedded in the way humans have structured society. It is present in everything we do: how we see human relations, how our legal systems are structured, and how we respond to questions such as gender equality, cultural diversity, and living together in a globalized world.

In Western Europe, we often assume that religion has lost its relevance due to our exposure to secular societies, but this is far from true here and in many other parts of the world. And studying the anthropology of religion broadens your perspective beyond your own surroundings, allowing you to see the practice of faith beyond what is familiar to you. It enables you to learn about global customs, norms, and legal systems, which is not only fascinating but also crucial for thriving in a multicultural society.

One of the modules I’ve taken this year is Religion, Gender and Sexuality, where we explored various topics at the intersection of religion and gender. This included discussions on gender inequality within religious traditions, but also different perspectives on theorising gender is and how it operates across the globe.
We engaged in fascinating debates on the Western view of gender and its representation in religion, society, and politics. The courses offered by this faculty are unique; I found myself enthusiastic to attend every class, especially when addressing important and thought-provoking topics.

The lecturers at the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society genuinely take the time to understand students’ interests. They have been instrumental in helping me identify the right steps to pursue my goals. In addition to broadening my knowledge, the course is equipping me with skills, connections, and networks to actively work towards my aspirations.

Other degree programmes in religion

If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also be interested in:

Study associations

Gerardus van der Leeuw

Gerardus van der Leeuw is the study association of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society at the University of Groningen.

Besides broadening activities (for example, lectures or career events) for both the Religious Studies and Theology programs, they organize relaxing activities such as get-togethers and trips abroad.

http://www.gerardusvanderleeuw.nl/

Anthropology of Religion and Culture

Study load

Study abroad

Admission requirements

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Admission requirements

Language requirements

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Job prospects

Education

Teachers and their expertise

Research Centres

Contact

Other degree programmes in religion

Study associations

Gerardus van der Leeuw

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