Religious Studies A Level AQA

Applications Open – 3rd November 2025

Applications Close – 31st July 2026

Entry Requirements –We do have entry recommendations for some courses, especially A-levels, as we would not want you to start a course that would not be suitable for you. We want to give you the best chance of future success.

The course programmes are flexible: students can mix Level 3 courses with Level 2 courses, or A-levels with BTECs. We provide impartial advice and guidance and seek to put you on the courses you want and are likely to be successful in.

Students are expected to study up to 3 A level equivalent subjects (this can be from either A levels and/or Level 3 BTEC subjects) building their own personalised combination of Level 3 subjects OR a full time Level 2 course.

The sixth form runs on a flexible timetable with some courses running until 6.00pm. This flexibility means we can offer as much as possible, to as many as possible, as often as possible.

How to Apply – Please apply via Kent Choices.

View our courses here

Philosophy of religion is critical reflection on our fundamental beliefs. It is an ‘ideas’ subject, and all you need to begin Philosophy is a fascination with ideas, or with ‘the big questions’ such as ‘Does God exist?’ and ‘What is evil?’

Ethics and religion is the branch of study dealing with what is the proper course of action for people. It attempts to answer the question, "What do I do?" It is the study of right and wrong in human endeavours. At a more fundamental level, it is the method by which we categorize our values and pursue them. Do we pursue our own happiness, or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause?

The study of religion covers fundamental teachings and beliefs of Christianity. At The Canterbury Academy we seek to tackle these issues through a variety of engaging teaching methods.

In the first year of A Level there are two components:

Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics and religion comprises two sections:

Philosophical arguments for the existence of God, evil and suffering and religious experience. Ethical theories, issues surrounding human life and death and issues of animal life and death.

Component 2: Study of religion comprises the study of sources of wisdom and authority, God, life after death, key moral principles and religious identity.

In the second year of A Level students will continue with their 2 components:

Component 1: Philosophy of religion: religious language, miracles and self and life after death.

Ethics and religion: meta-ethics, free will and moral responsibility, conscience, Bentham and Kant.

Component 2:

Section A: Study of religion comprising religion, gender and sexuality, religion and science, religion and secularization, religion and religious pluralism.

Section B: the dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion which is about how religion is influenced by, and has an influence on philosophy of religion in relation to the issues studied.

Section C: The dialogues between ethical studies and religion which is about how religion is influenced by and has an influence on ethical studies in relation to the issues studied.

First year internal A Level assessment: 2 written exams

Paper 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics: 2 hours

Four compulsory two-part questions.

120 marks 67% of internal exam

Paper 2: Study of religion: 1 hour

Two compulsory two-part questions.

60 marks 33% of internal exam

A Level: 2 x 3 hour written exams

Paper 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics

Four compulsory two-part questions.

100 marks 50% of A-level

Paper 2: Study of religion and dialogues

Two compulsory two-part questions for Section A

One question from a choice of two for Section B

One question from a choice of two for Section C

100 marks 50% of A-level

We would recommend a GCSE grade 6 in a humanities subject and or a GCSE level 6 in English Language.

A Level Religious Studies is excellent preparation for a degree in humanities related courses. It can lead on to a wide choice of careers and can be combined with a wide range of social science and humanities subjects.