to deepen your theological understanding and enliven faith practices
Theology is expressed through signs, symbols, metaphors, myths and stories.
This interdisciplinary programme examines diverse forms of theological expression, how these shape the culture we live in, and how culture shapes our experience of God’s work.
Postgraduate programmes in Theology, Imagination and Culture, validated by the University of Winchester, offer an exciting opportunity to study this dynamic and interdisciplinary subject with world-leading experts. Options include a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma and a three-year master of arts degree.
I am a working artist … and I was looking for something that would inform the artwork that I create and give me an opportunity to pursue that more deeply. Sarum enabled me to draw together a number of interests.
Although I run an arts organisation I hadn’t taken an academic course in some time. It was a ridiculously steep learning curve to write at that level but it has been a very beneficial experience and definitely has directly inspired the artwork I create.
— Susan Francis, master’s student in Theology, Imagination and Culture
Professor Graeme Smith, Programme Leader
We excel at giving our students personalised support and our programmes have been commended for their high quality, rigour, breadth, flexibility, and creativity. We strive to create a learning environment where students collaborate and support one another in small groups.
To help achieve this, we run teaching weeks for modules over a few residential intensives during the year. The course structure is designed in such a way that modules combine classroom and home-based study so that students benefit from personal contact with tutors and lecturers, with minimal disruption to domestic or professional responsibilities.
Validated by
Professor Smith’s research interests are in the areas of public theology, Christianity and Culture, and Christianity, Society and Politics. He has written two books, the most recent is, A Short History of Secularism, edited five other volumes, and written over 20 refereed academic articles. He is currently working on a book entitled, The Christianities of Culture: Public Theology in a Post-Liberal Era.
Five key reasons to choose Sarum:
Postgraduate study options include a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma and a three-year master of arts degree, validated by the University of Winchester.
These programmes offers the opportunity to study theology, imagination and culture with experts to examine subjects from theological, historical, pastoral and other contemporary points of view.
Options include a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma and a three-year MA degree, validated by the University of Winchester
View all Theology, Imagination and Culture modules
View the 2024-2025 Academic Diary
View the 2025-2026 Academic Diary
Courses are run every two (sometimes three) years. View the module calendar to see courses from the previous academic year here:
External examiners praise Sarum for the personalised support we offer to students. Our programmes have been commended for their high quality, rigour, breadth, flexibility, and creativity.
We work hard to create a learning environment where students collaborate and support one another in small groups. One of the ways we do this is by running teaching weeks for modules over a few residential intensives during the year. The course structure is designed in such a way that modules combine classroom and home-based study so that students benefit from personal contact with tutors and lecturers, with minimal disruption to domestic, ministerial, or professional responsibilities.
Throughout the course, we develop creative ways of imaginatively engaging with theology and culture to deepen theological understanding and enliven faith practices.
Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.
I started by auditing modules both from MATIC and its sister programme, MACS (MA in Christian Spirituality). As an auditor, I participated fully in the intensive residential study week for the module but with, as I thought, the great advantage that I did not have to write an essay. I soon realised my mistake – researching in depth for the essay was a vital part of getting the most out of the module. I started the MA in 2018.
From There to Here, by Susan Francis
The Theology, Imagination and Culture masters degree (MATIC) at Sarum College is one of just a small handful of academic courses in the country which take on the complex but fruitful crossover of theology, imagination, and culture. As both a practicing artist, and someone with a personal history of involvement in faith organisations, it seemed to offer a much-needed platform to bring these two areas together, in perhaps more rigorous conversation than had previously been possible.
Postgraduate courses are structured to combine classroom and home-based study so that students benefit from close contact with tutors and lecturers with minimal disruption to domestic, ministerial, or professional responsibilities. The programmes are designed for flexibility so that you have some leeway to adjust the pace to suit you.
Students learn collaboratively in a modular curriculum arranged around four-day residential teaching intensives throughout the year.
Consolidating our class-based teaching in this way widens access to working students and allows the College to recruit world-leading scholars and seasoned practitioners to lecture on modules.
The teaching team for modules draws from a global pool of experts in their field, as well as Sarum’s core academic staff and visiting scholars.
The study of theology in Sarum’s historic buildings began in 1861. The Cathedral Close setting, communal and library spaces make it an ideal environment for study and reflection.
During residential modules you stay in College guest rooms with en-suite facilities. Many rooms have lovely views overlooking the Cathedral, the Close and the Sarum quad
Fresh, home-made food is cooked and served on site, and the Common Room provides a bar and space for continued conversation into the evening.
Teaching rooms are well equipped, including large screens for live-streamed events. The library is well-stocked with access to a catalogue of books and journals, and you can make use of it when you like. The library can be used outside of residential periods for research and writing.
Salisbury Cathedral is just across the lawn from College and some students participate in the pattern of liturgy there. The Butterfield Chapel is also available for private worship space.
Postgraduate modules are open to all so you may enrol as an “auditor” without registering for an accredited programme.
An auditor participates in a module in exactly the same way as students on the MA, but does not prepare an assessment at the end of it and receives no academic credit.
There is also an option to choose to participate in a module as an assessed auditor for those who would like to add discipline and tutor feedback to their study but aren’t sure about taking on a full degree programme.
The normal requirement for postgraduate studies is a good first degree in a related subject. However students over the age of 21 with other relevant experience and/or training may be admitted subject to interview.
The deadline for applications for January 2025 start is early December 2024
The deadline for applications for September 2025 start is the end of August 2025
The policies for Academic Regulations for Taught Programmes and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are subject to change from the University of Winchester. Registered students have access to current regulations via the online learning platform, SarumLearn.
For all postgraduate enquiries please contact the MA Administrator: maadministrator@sarum.ac.uk or telephone 01722 424827 (01722 424800 for the main reception).
Looking for sources of funding to help with costs?
Browse the list of Grantmaking Trusts
Members of the Armed Forces can apply for ELCAS funds for the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture or the MA in Christian Spirituality as Sarum College is a registered learning provider.
Dr Lewer is Senior Lecturer in History of Art at the University of Glasgow. She has worked there since 2001, prior to which she taught at Manchester University, University of East Anglia, University College London and Christie’s Education.
Professor Reddie is the Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture in Regent’s Park College, in the University of Oxford. His latest book is Intercultural Preaching co-edited with Seidel Abel Boanerges with Pamela Searle.
Dr Stone-Davis is Director of Research at the Margaret Beaufort Institute, Cambridge, an Affiliated Lecturer at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and a Postdoctoral Bye Fellow of Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge.
Dr Turner is a Caribbean Contextual and Practical theologian working as a tutor in Contextual Theology and Mission Studies at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham. He writes and researches on decolonisation, legacies of enslavement, theologies of oppression, and theological hermeneutics as they have shaped and continue to shape postcolonial and post-imperial contexts.
Dr Rowan Williams has taught theology in a number of contexts nationally and internationally, as well as serving as Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. Among his many books on theology, spirituality, and literature are: A Century of Poetry: 100 poems for searching the heart (2022); The Way of St Benedict (2020); The City is My Monastery: A Contemporary Rule of Life (2019); Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons (2018).
