Dissertations, State Examination and coursework

The Chair of Fundamental Theology at the University of Regensburg will support you in writing your academic thesis. We supervise final-year projects across all degree programs within the Faculty of Catholic Theology – regardless of whether you wish to write your bachelor's thesis, qualifying thesis (State Examination) or Master’s thesis with us.

We support you in developing your own distinctive theological perspectives and in precisely analysing complex issues at the intersection of faith, reason and modern society.

Important information regarding supervision:

• Range of topics: We supervise theses on classical works of fundamental theology (revelation, the Church, religions) as well as on current debates concerning atheism, theodicy or faith and knowledge.
• Initial consultation: A requirement for us to supervise a thesis is a timely consultation during office hours to agree on the research question and methodology.
• Exposé: To finalise the topic, a short exposé (approx. 2–3 pages) including a provisional outline and an initial bibliography is usually required.
• Guidelines: When preparing your work, please observe the faculty’s applicable formatting requirements and citation rules, which can be found in the guidelines.

Registration and deadlines are governed by the faculty’s respective Examination Regulations and the requirements of the Examinations Office.

The State Examination marks the completion of your teacher training programme. You will be examined in one subject from each of the following subject groups: Biblical Theology (Old Testament/New Testament), systematic theology (fundamental theology, dogmatics and moral theology, including social ethics), and Religious Education. The Chair of Fundamental Theology at the University of Regensburg will support you on your journey towards this important examination.

Preparation course: The State Examination workshop

To ensure you are fully prepared for the requirements, the Chair regularly offers a specialised seminar to help you prepare for the State Examination.

Course content

• Revision of key topics
• Answering questions on the content of the state examination
• Discussion of relevant literature
• Working through past examination questions

Writing a term paper gives you the opportunity to explore a specific topic in fundamental theology in depth from an academic perspective and to hone your ability to construct an argument.

Guidelines and scope

As a rule, term papers in fundamental theology comprise a main text of approximately 10 pages (excluding the title page, lists and appendices). Please note, however, that the exact requirements and any deviations in length will be communicated individually by the relevant member of the teaching staff as part of the course.

The path to a completed paper

Good planning is half the battle. That is why we place great importance on a structured process:

• Choosing a topic & outline: Before you begin writing, the topic and the provisional outline will be agreed with a member of the teaching staff during a face-to-face meeting or via e-mail.
• Research question: The focus of the dissertation should be a clearly defined problem in fundamental theology.

Formal requirements and guidelines

Academic rigour is the foundation of any theological thesis. For any queries regarding literature research, correct citation and the layout of your thesis, please refer to the official guidelines issued by the Faculty of Catholic Theology (external link, opens in a new window).