University Theology and Religious Studies Tuition
University-level Religious Studies and Theology is an opportunity to grapple with some of the biggest questions about the divine. Is there a solution to the problem of evil? How have scholars across the world read the Book of Job? How can we study indigenous religions respectfully?
We offer personal tuition to support your degree. We also specialise in rare and niche topics like Himalayan religions and religious syncretism, so whatever your university module combination, it’s very likely we can help you out! Click the links to meet your tutor, find out what we offer, or read summaries of topics that will help you in your studies.
Meet Your Tutor
As part of her academic research, Dr. Jane Orton has done fieldwork and published in academic journals on major religions: Buddhism, Bön and indigenous religions in the Himalayas and Islam, Hinduism and Munda religion in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh. This means that your tutorials will be full of fascinating examples and case studies from across the world!
Jane’s research Masters’ at Oxford University focused on Tibetan Buddhist narratives as well as other religions in the Himalayas. Philosophy (in which she has a PhD) is a big part of Religious Studies and Theology and Jane also has over fifteen years’ experience in tutoring this. Jane also has university level exam marking experience and has designed and taught courses at the University of Edinburgh. You can listen to her academic papers and presentations on our research page, or read her blog posts about her exciting fieldwork in the Himalayas and in the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
“Jane has been key to my son achieving his 2:1 @ Durham university. Jane is incredibly skilled at unlocking potential to ensure ideas are turned into excellent written work. Jane is thoughtful and encouraging in her approach to tutoring. She strives to get the best from students encouraging good levels of debate.”
- Lorraine
“I’ve been fortunate to have Jane through my A levels and Degree while studying at school and Durham University. I’ve been provided with amazing resources and opportunities to grow my knowledge that has helped me enormously through my courses thanks to Jane’s work and dedication. I would highly recommend anyone to use her wide range of expertise as it will definitely be of great use!”
- Ethan
Jane says:
“Quite often students are surprised to find how quickly sessions go by and how much material we’ve covered in the time we’ve spent together.
We might spend one session focusing on content for a particular topic, followed by another session devoted to essay planning, feedback and what examiners are looking for. Our tutorials will be geared towards what you need to know for your exams, but we won’t lose sight of what makes your topic exciting.”
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I am not affiliated with a university or research institution. Can I do my own research as an independent scholar?Yes. Engaging in your own research is a rewarding and valuable endeavour and you have a lot to offer. Many people who do not have multiple university degrees or an affiliation to an organisation feel that they cannot pursue their chosen project without being 'validated' by certain institutions or unless they come from an academically privileged background. This is simply not true: some of the most valuable contributions to knowledge have been made by independent scholars and even the most decorated and esteemed academics suffer from 'impostor syndrome.' The fact is that we all benefit from having a diverse range of talented, enthusiastic and consciencious people from different backgrounds working in collaboration on important issues. However, independent research is not something to be undertaken lightly: there are many ethical, practical and safety issues to consider and you will still want to hold yourself to high standards of integrity and academic rigour. We are here to help you decide on how to go about your research without compromising on any of these values: from gaining an excellent grounding in the academic literature surrounding your area of interest, to deciding what extra training you might need, to assisting with the design, development and implementation of your project or fieldwork. Contact us for a free consultation session to find out how to get started.
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Which areas of research can you help with?We can help with projects in any area of the humanities, including Anthropology, Folklore, Classics and Ancient History, History, Philosophy, Politics and Religious Studies. If you are writing a book and don't know where to start, we can walk you through the research process, help you hone your ideas and plan out your book, and provide feedback on your work. We also offer assistance with conservation and wildlife projects, especially those involving community engagement and cultural heritage. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your ideas.
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What are some examples of previous projects?We have previously designed and implemented research projects on Himalayan folklore, Classical Greek political philosophy, animal symbolism in Tibetan Buddhism, the development of ancient geometric proofs, and the anthropology of Berghain, Germany. We have assisted with the development of research projects including investigations into the treatment of minorities in Burma, Donyipolo practice in Arunachal Pradesh, UK pressure groups and indigenous religion in Sikkim. Our fieldwork assistance has also included conducting interviews, data collection, wilderness survival training and health and safety procedures in South Africa, Costa Rica, India, the Altai Republic and Peru. All of our research project consultants have a minimum of ten years’ theoretical and fieldwork experience in locations across the globe. Read our blog for more on these exciting topics.
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What kind of help do you offer?You will receive a free initial consultation in which you will be able to share ideas and anxieties about your project, and in which we can plan out your next steps. Following this, you decide the level of involvement you need from us: we can carry out research for you, give feedback on existing projects or assist with project design and development. We can be with you every step of the way, from providing training in the academic background of your area of research, to assisting with project planning and practical advice. Alternatively, you might want to work with us on a consultation basis, in which we provide occasional feedback and support. Contact us to find out more and get started.
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Can you help with my undergraduate dissertation?We are happy to work with undergraduates who wish to explore ideas for their dissertation topic, perhaps through tutorials on their chosen subject. We are also happy to provide feedback on drafts and ideas, and to talk through academic debates, project structure and methodology. Many undergraduates feel intimidated by the thought of doing their own library-based or fieldwork research with minimal supervision from their university. However, we believe that you are very capable of doing an excellent job and we will not do your work for you or engage in any other unethical practice that amounts to cheating. Instead, we will work with you to enable you to stand on your own feet and produce a dissertation of which you can be proud. Contact us to get started.
We Offer
Click to download our Tuition Guide and Pricing Options.
Theology and Religious Studies Blog Series
If you’re not ready to reach out just yet, why not get started by reading our Theology and Religious Studies blog series? For university-level scholars, we’ve included clickable links to useful literature and canonical scholarship you need to be acquainted with to get started. We recommend starting with Defining Religion as a good introduction to university-level debates. These are great topic summaries - contact us for tutorials on how to use the information effectively in essays!
