The Faculty of Theology prepares students for duties requiring expertise in religions, worldviews, and values. They engage in high-quality academic research and teaching in historical, conceptual, and cultural questions involving religion and theology. The Faculty is an international academic community, unaffiliated with any particular religion or belief.
They are among Europe’s largest faculties of theology measured by the number of students. Their Faculty has a total of nearly 1,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Around 150 Masters of Theology and some 15 Doctors of Theology or Doctors of Philosophy graduate from the Faculty every year. Their teaching and research staff numbers are around 100. External funding accounts for over 40% of the Faculty’s budget.
In 2014–2019, the Faculty houses two Centres of Excellence funded by the Academy of Finland: Reason and Religious Recognition and Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions. In addition, the Faculty involves Centre of Excellence funded by the Academy of Finland from 2018 to 2025: Ancient Near Eastern Empires.
DISCIPLINES AND RESEARCHERS
The Faculty of Theology studies the individual, cultural and social significance of religions from times past to the present. With in-depth scientific knowledge, they can better understand the momentous changes taking place in Europe and around the world, including multiculturalism, religious extremism, interfaith relations, diversity, and the future of wellbeing.
The Faculty offers five disciplines: