The following courses will be tutored in English at The Newman Institute.
Spring Term 2026
January 19 – June 5
Module 3 (January 19 – March 27)
Module 4 (April 7 – June 5)
Application period for the Spring Term 2026 – Closed
Courses spanning modules 3 and 4
(19 January–5 June 2026)
Advanced Reading Course: Hans Urs von Balthasar
The oeuvre of the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) has made one of the most enduring contributions to twentieth century thought, contributions that are fruitful for new generations of readers. As von Balthasar’s writings are sometimes considered hard to get an overview of, this course will guide the student through his works, focusing on central themes such as trinitarian theology, nature and grace, prayer, analogy of being and theological aesthetics.
Field: Systematic Theology
Level: Advanced Bachelor’s and Master’s Level
Period: January 19 – June 5
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Course Leader: Ståle Johannes Kristiansen
Language: English
Mode of study: Zoom meeting on Wednesdays between 18.00 and 20.00 (CET/CEST) every other week
Courses in module 3
(19 January–27 March 2026)
Comic Relief: Humor As A Social Criticism
Diverse forms of humor have long been used to pillory tyrants, spotlight corruption, challenge norms, build solidarity, instill hope, and defuse violence. This course explores the power and limits of humor for social engagement, by means of classical theorists, present-day case studies, in-class interviews with invited scholars and cultural workers (including humorists), and students’ own research projects.
Field: Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Period: Januari 19 – March 27, 2026
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leaders: Brian Palmer and Gustav Fridolin
Mode of study: On-site teaching in Stockholm, premises of Jungfru Marie Bebådelse parish (Linnégatan 79, Östermalm), Wednesdays, 17.00-19.30.
Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Mathematics
Ludwig Wittgenstein, one of the 20th century’s most influential and discussed philosophers, once said that his chief contribution had been in the philosophy of mathematics. Yet this aspect of his thought remains largely unknown. In this course, we consider his lectures and writings on mathematics through the classic book Wittgenstein’s Lectures on the Foundations of Mathematics and through Wittgenstein’s own Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics.
Field: Philosophy
Period: Januari 19 – March 27
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Kim Solin
Mode of study: Partially distance-based with mandatory full-day meetings in Uppsala on February 7 and March 14
Science and Religion
In this course the relation between science, on the one hand, and religion (particularly the Christian religion), on the other, is studied from a historical as well as a systematic perspective. With an emphasis on the sciences applied in the field of climate studies, this course aims to give the students the ability to critically reflect on the possibilities as well as the limitations of the sciences, especially in relation to the claims and the scope of religions.
Field: Philosophy
Period: Januari 19 – March 27
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leaders: Ulf Jonsson and Christoffer Skogholt
Mode of study: Partially distance-based with mandatory full-day meetings in Uppsala on February 11 and March 13
Courses in module 4
(7 April–5 June 2026)
Logic and Argumentation II: Sets, Predicates, and Modalities
In this course, we will study logically grounded reasoning by means of set theory, first-order predicate logic, and the corresponding methods of set-theoretical and model-theoretical proofs, as well as natural deduction in predicate logic. Introduction to logical concepts of possibility, necessity, and the modal-logical validity is provided. We will also learn to apply these formal-logical techniques to analyses of argumentative texts expressed in natural language.
Field: Philosophy
Period: April 7 – June 5
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Taeda Tomic
Mode of study: Choose between
- On-site teaching in Uppsala on Mondays and Fridays from 16.00 to 18.00
- Partially distance-based teaching with two mandatory on-site meetings in Uppsala, April 24 (10.00-16.00) and May 22 (10.00-16.00) and one optional class on May 29 (14.00-17.00).
For both modes, on-site exam in Uppsala on June 5
Autum Term 2026
August 31, 2026 – January 15, 2027
Module 1 (September 1 – October 23)
Module 2 (November 2, 2026 – january 15, 2027)
Application period for the Autumn Term 2026
March 16 – April 15, 2026
Apply at universityadmissions.se (in English) or antagning.se (in Swedish).
(Final deadline for receipt of supplementary grades and late applications: June 17, 2026.
All documents must be received by this date).
Courses spanning modules 1 and 2 (August 31, 2026 – January 15, 2027)
AI: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives
Artificial intelligence is breathing new life into ancient philosophical and theological reflections. The development of chatbots and other machines capable of imitating the intelligent behaviors of living creatures compels us to ask: What is life? Can computers think? Is mankind itself a machine, or perhaps rather a god wielding the power to create artificial worlds? Might we transcend death and achieve immortality through technological advancement? These are some of the questions we will explore in this course.
Period: 31 August – 15 January 2027
Dicipline: Systematic Theology and Philosophy
Level: Advanced bachelor’s and master’s degrees
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leaders: Mårten Björk and Tomas Ekenberg
Mode of teaching: Distance teaching with mandatory Zoom meetings Mondays, 15.00-17.00, every other week.
Courses in module 1
(August 31– October 23, 2026)
Epistemology
What can we know? How can we be certain about anything? What are the sources of our knowledge? These are examples of questions in the field of epistemology. The course places these questions in a historical context, and presents and analyzes some of the answers that philosophers have given to them. Virtue epistemology will be a particular focus in this course, a perspective that goes back to the earliest philosophers and has seen a resurgence in recent years.
Period: 31 August – 23 October 2026
Dicipline: Philosophy
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Erik Åkerlund
Mode of teaching: Choose between
- On-site in Uppsala Tuesdays and Thursdays, 13.00-15.00
- Half-distance with mandatory on-site meetings in Uppsala September 17 and October 15.
Theology of the Icons
This course explores the world of Eastern Christian iconography. Throughout the course we will reflect on the theological and anthropological foundations of Eastern Christian iconography. We will do this by surveying the historical development of the Eastern Christian iconographic tradition from early Christianity to the modern period, with particular emphasis on the iconographic types of Jesus, Mary, saints, and on liturgical feasts. The course incorporates rich visual presentations, reading materials (ancient source texts and contemporary studies), and additional learning resources.
Period: 31 August – 23 October 2026
Dicipline: Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Taras Tymo
Mode of teaching: Half-distance with a 2 days mandatory on-site meeting in Uppsala September 22 and 23
Courses in module 2
(November 2, 2026 – January 15, 2027)
Logic and Argumentation
A central question in modern logic is what constitutes a valid argument and a good argumentation. In order to answer this question, arguments expressed in natural languages are translated into formal languages of symbolic logic, whereby their logical structure becomes much clearer. In this course, two such formal languages are studied: propositional and predicate-logic language. Several methods in logic for analysis of validity of arguments are also studied. The methods are used in many academic disciplines and are useful for everyday life.
Period: 2 november 2026 – 15 januari 2027
Dicipline: Philosophy
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Taeda Tomic
Mode of teaching: Choose between
- On-site in Uppsala: Tuesdays 16.00-18.00 and Thursdays 16.00-18.00. Final examination on January 15, 2027
- Half-distance with mandatory on-site meetings in Uppsala on November 13 and December 4. Final examination on January 15, 2027. (Optional meeting on January 8, 2027)
Spring Term 2027
January 19 – June 5
Module 3 (January 18 – March 19)
Module 4 (March 30 – June 4, 2027)
Application period for the Spring Term 2027
September 15 – October 15, 2026
Apply at universityadmissions.se (in English) or antagning.se (in Swedish).
(Final deadline for receipt of supplementary grades and late applications: November 30, 2026.
All documents must be received by this date).
Courses spanning modules 3 and 4
(19 January – 5 June 2027)
Stories of Saints and Martyrs: Scholarly and Devotional Approaches
How do we read saints’ lives? And where do martyrs’ stories fit in the formation of Christian culture? This course explores various ways of approaching hagiography from historical, cultural, and devotional perspectives through selected examples across the centuries, including students’ own choices.
Period: 18 January – 4 June 2027
Dicipline: Historical Theology
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Barbara Crostini
Mode of teaching: Distance teaching with mandatory Zoom meetings (dates will be published here when confirmed).
Theological Anthropology
Every theology entails an anthropology. This is because Christianity is not merely a doctrine concerning God, but also involves a vision of humanity and an understanding of the human place within God’s plan of salvation. In this course, we shall examine historical and contemporary texts on theological anthropology. We explore how classical theological questions—the Trinity, creation, the Fall, grace, the question of Christ’s nature, and eschatology—each imply a particular understanding of the end and nature of the human person.
Period: 18 January – 4 June 2027
Dicipline: Systematic Theology
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Mårten Björk
Mode of teaching: Distance teaching with mandatory Zoom meetings (dates will be published here when confirmed).
Courses in module 3
(19 January–27 March 2027)
Philosophy of Science with Natural Philosophy
The sciences occupy a prominent place in contemporary thinking, as well as in today’s society in general. In this course we will take a closer look at the knowledge claims and methods of the various sciences. In what sense can science be said to provide knowledge? What claims do the sciences make to describe reality? Can they help us understand fundamental aspects of the world, such as its temporal and causal structure, or the phenomenon of life in the physical universe?
Period: 18 January – 19 Mars 2027
Dicipline: Philosophy
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leaders: Christoffer Skogholt and Daniel Saudek
Mode of teaching: Half-distance with 2-3 mandatory on-site meetings in Uppsala. (dates will be published here when confirmed)
Courses in module 4
(7 April–5 June 2027)
Marian Devotion East and West: Early Texts and Key Images
Exciting new studies on early traditions have focused attention on the Eastern origins of Marian piety and delineated anew the contours of this contested figure within Christianity. This course addresses the roots and character of Mary through texts and images from various traditions by asking how as a woman she held her place in the patriarchal history of Christianity and how her position was defended, shaped and understood through feasts and dogmas against all odds.
Period: 30 March – 4 June 2027
Dicipline: Historical Theology
Level: Associate degree
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Language: English
Course Leader: Barbara Crostini
Mode of teaching: Half-distance with 2-3 mandatory on-site meetings in Uppsala. (dates will be published here when confirmed).