Education

You are interested in the mutual influence of Church and State and their influence on society.
You wish to obtain more insight in the juridical implications of all these evolutions.
You also wish to study these aspects on a more international level.

The Master of Arts in Society, Law and Religion is an initial Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

You have acquired sufficient basic skills in law and/or theology (Bachelor level) and show a profound interest in the interaction between religion and society. In addition, you wish to gain more insight in the way in which the Church's legal system follows that evolution and how it formulates this into its proper legislation, destined specifically to grant the Church continuity and stability. You are interested in a future career in church law.

This master, covering a broad education in several disciplines, puts a strong emphasis on the church's law, and forms the perfect basis to obtain the two year Advanced Master's degree 'Master in Canon Law'.

Basic knowledge acquired in the areas of Bachelor of Law and/or Bachelor of Theology.

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses' section.

Objectives

Developing the acquired basic skills in at least bachelor of law and/or bachelor of theology, to a more specialist complex canonical level, where research, consultancy skills, communication skills as well as other social elements are stimulated. Foreign guest professor, enjoying worldwide fame in their area, participate in the programme. Furthermore working methods such as intensive extended weekend programmes are used. Those intensive contacts stimulate the individual contact between the students and the professors, which stimulate also the individual performance level. The foundation is laid to prepare those, who will later become professionally active in offices where a specialized canonical training is legally required, in order to be able to finish afterwards the much specialized Master of Arts in Canon Law (2 full-time academic years).

After graduation

Masters of Society, Law and Religion hold a general, scientific background that puts them in a position to take on a wide variety of functions in their professional life. In addition, this master is a prerequisite to start the two-year Advanced Master 'Master in Canon Law' which constitutes a further study of Church Law. A combination of both degrees entitles to the canonical degree 'Iuris Canonici Licentiatum', giving world-wide legitimacy for all specialised offices of Church Law.

Information sessions

KU Leuven organises a Verderstudeerbeurs each spring. In addition, faculties also organise information sessions for many of their bridging and graduate programmes.

All information sessions for (future) Master's students

(Inter)national

The Special Faculty of Canon Law has, in addition to an international faculty, a wide representation of different nationalities among its students. Some of the teaching methods include intense, extended weekends or other condensed working methods. These methods imply intensive contacts with both professors and fellow students from European and non European countries. Furthermore they stimulate the students to study in depth and offer them a chance to collaborate on an international level.

Spotlight

Because of the nature of the training, the faculty has, in addition to an international faculty, a wide representation of different nationalities amongst its student. Consequently, the international perspective of this training ensures additional dimensions. Furthermore, some of the teaching methods - where for some courses intense, extended weekends or other condensed working methods are organized - offer the possibility of intensive contacts with both professors and fellow students from other European and non-European countries. These working methods are, in general, experienced by the students as a supplementary stimulation and an opportunity to study in depth both professional knowledge and international collaboration.

Contact

Faculty of Canon Law
Tiensestraat 41 box 3435
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
tel + 32 16 325278
fax + 32 16 325157
fac.canon@law.kuleuven.be

General
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 bus 5415
3000 Leuven
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website