Religious Studies - A Level (OCR)

Does God exist? Do we have souls? Is there an afterlife? Is it acceptable to help someone to die if it ends their pain? A Level Religious Studies examines these ideas and other religious, philosophical, and ethical issues and debates as well as asking what the great philosophers and religious thinkers had to say about them. You will also explore the main teachings of Buddhism, culminating in an optional residential trip to a Buddhist Centre in Cumbria.

This course is available for international students, if you are applying as an international student please click here.

Topics covered can include:

• Buddhism is unusual for being the only major religion that does not revolve around a belief in God. You will study the main teachings and practices of Buddhism and ask questions such as - What happens to Buddhists when they die? How does meditation lead to enlightenment? Why don’t Buddhists believe in a soul?
• Philosophy of Religion explores different arguments for the existence of God and examines the challenge to religious belief from the problem of evil. Other topics studied include the issues with religious experience and whether the soul is something spiritual and separate from the body or just thoughts within the brain
• Ethics explores what it means to say that an action is right or wrong or that a person is good or bad. You will consider the role that conscience can play in our decision-making. You will also examine ethical dilemmas that surround issues of life and death.

You will need to meet the minimum entry criteria, plus: 

• Grade 6 in one of these: History, Geography, Humanities, English Literature, Business, Media Studies, Religious Studies, Drama, or Film Studies. If you have a grade 6 in English Language, you only need a grade 5 in one of these subjects.

Please click here to see the minimum entry requirements.

Assessment is through three written exams at the end of the second year of the course.

AGED 16 - 18

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August 2025 before the start date of the course, and you have the legal right to remain in the UK for the duration of your course then your study with us will be free.

Please see here for the documents you need to show us.

Some courses have additional costs, such as specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support. See here for details.

Students who study Religious Studies develop rigorous critical thinking skills, empathy and compassion useful in a range of public-facing roles such as medicine, law, the civil service, charity work, counselling, journalism and social work among others.