USI Università della Svizzera italiana
Master in Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions
Lugano, Switzerland
MSc
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
Italian, English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
CHF 1,100 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
* 30/04/26 for non-EU/EFTA; 30/06/26 for EU/EFTA
Key Summary
The Master in Science, Philosophy, and Theology of Religions was activated in 2006 at the FTL as part of the Re. The Institute. (Religions and Theology), with the aim of training in the knowledge of religions and interreligious dialogue in an increasingly multicultural world. Since 2014, thanks to the collaboration with the USI eLearning Lab (eLab), the Master has also been activated in an online formula. Today this is the only available way of using its courses.
The Master's lessons can therefore be followed remotely, in asynchronous mode, on a Moodle platform. Students have the opportunity to complete the entire training course at the times and in the ways that are most convenient for them and to interact remotely with the teachers, always supported by a university tutor at their disposal.
The Master's in science, philosophy, and theology of religions is characterized not only by the excellence of the professors who participate in the two-year program but also by the extremely topical nature of the courses taught. The teachers come from various European countries and are among the leading specialists in their subject. The courses, all in Italian, allow for an in-depth study of the contents of the main world religions, the disciplines that study them, and the issues that must be addressed in the various religious contexts. All this serves to identify concrete ways in which conflicts between different religious perspectives can be overcome and to teach how to do so.
We invite you to consult the University website.
The online Master is divided into eighteen online modules divided into four semesters, and two weeks in person at the Theology Faculty of Lugano, one for each academic year. Each module allows you to acquire 5 ECTS.
The modules include watching one video per course, reading study material on the online platform, reading texts indicated in the bibliography, passing a self-assessment test.
| Semester | Module | Professor | ECTS |
| Autumnal | The problem of legitimizing violence in the history of the church | Gianmaria Zamagni | 5 |
| Religions and economy | Krienke Markus | 5 | |
| Comparative law of religions | Cristiana Cianitto | 5 | |
| Religions and morals | Antonio Autiero | 5 | |
| Religions and states | Vicenzo Pacillo | 5 | |
| spring | School and religions | Alberto Palese | 5 |
| The problem of evil in the great religions | Gino Battaglia | 5 | |
| Geopolitics and religions | Luca Steinmann | 5 | |
| Introduction to ecumenism | René Roux | 5 |
During the first year, it is compulsory to write an interdisciplinary essay in a specific field indicated to students in the first months of the academic year. In the second year, the drafting of the Master's thesis is compulsory. The year will end with participation in the intensive week and with the discussion of the Master's thesis.
Both years end with a week of courses and exams in attendance which is mandatory for all students of the online Master.
Passing all the exams, drafting the interdisciplinary work and the thesis and participating in the two weeks in presence allow a total of 120 ECTS to be obtained, necessary for obtaining the title of Master in Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions.
In their course of study, students will be followed by a tutor who will take care of responding to the needs of students regarding their course of study, both administratively and academically.
International Rankings
USI in the Times Higher Education (THE) and in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS), among the most widespread and well-known general rankings in the world; latest data available.
QS World University Rankings 2023
- 240th in the world (out of 1500 universities considered)
THE World University Rankings 2023
- Range 201-250 worldwide (out of 1799 universities considered)
The World's Best Small Universities 2022
- 15th small university in the world.
THE Young University Rankings 2022
- 57th in the world among young universities (under 50)
QS Top 50 Under 50 2021
- 26th in the world among young universities (under 50)
U-multi rank 2022
With 16 A"s in the indicators taken into consideration, USI is in 3rd place in the ranking of Swiss universities.
Disciplinary Rankings
In addition to the general university rankings, USI also records significant results in disciplinary rankings:
THE rankings by subject area
- with positive placements in particular in the IT, Medicine and Health and Economics areas.
Forschungsmonitoring
- with high scores in rankings measuring the impact of research in Economics, especially when referring to the most prestigious academic journals in the sector.
After the Masters?
The training of the master allows a professional outlet in the fields of teaching of confessional religions, the history of religions, cultural mediation and interreligious dialogue.
The Master also offers the possibility of enrolling in the PhD in Religious Sciences of the USI/FTL of Lugano.