About this course

The Religious Studies AS programme is a one-year course of study and should be taken in conjunction with two or three other subjects and the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Based at our City Centre campus in Cardiff, learners may be able to take this qualification as a part-time student.

All topics on this programme are studied from a reflective and philosophical perspective, and students must be prepared to explore, debate and discuss a range of beliefs and issues.

Aims of the course:

No prior knowledge of the subject is required, with aims being to:

Develop an interest and enthusiasm for the study of religion and its impact upon society
Treat the subject as an academic discipline
Encourage enquiry into the nature of religion through debate, discussion and extensive reading

What you will study

During the course the following areas will be covered:

Unit 1: An Introduction to the Study of Christianity

Students will explore the:

Birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Bible as a source of wisdom and authority.
Nature of God and the Trinity
Theories of atonement
Roles of faith and works
Believers and the church
Key moral principles.
Identity through baptism
Eucharist, Christmas and Easter

Unit 2: Introduction to the Ethics and Philosophy of Religion

Exploring the Philosophy of Religion

The cosmological, teleological and inductive arguments concerning the (non-) existence of God
The origins, developments and challenges to the ontological argument for God
The problem of evil and religious responses to it
Religious experiences; mystical; challenging religious experiences

Exploring the Ethics of Religion

Ethical Thought through the Divine Command Theory, Virtue Theory and Ethical Egoism
Aquinas’ Natural Law and its application to Abortion and Euthanasia
Situation Ethics and its application to homosexual and polyamorous relationships
Utilitarianism and its application to animal experimentation and nuclear weapons

Entry requirements

Individual Subject Entry Requirement English Language minimum: B

Teaching and assessment

Two written exams

Important points

The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.

Key information

Start date

3 September 2025

End date

23 June 2026

Time of day

Day Time

Full Time

4.5 hours per week

Location

City Centre Campus, Cardiff

Maps & directions

Course code

ASCC3F18

L3

Qualification

Religious Studies - AS

I came to the College as I wanted to travel and become more independent – it’s so modern and looks amazing. When I saw the library I was sold. Honestly the library was my main pull, there are so many books I loved it.
Someone came in to speak to us about the Sutton Trust, which gives students a taste of life at American universities. I applied - it was really competitive but I got in. We went to a different state every day, and we went to different colleges including Princeton and Harvard. I also had a week at Warwick Uni and a week at Nottingham Uni. It was so good – I just loved it.
You have a lot of support at the College, especially from the Careers and Ideas team. I think there are a lot more opportunities here as it is such a big college with so many resources.

Charlotte Hall

Studying A Levels in English Literature, History, Law, Psychology and Welsh Baccalaureate

500

Fantastic university progression routes! With hundreds of students gaining places at Oxbridge, Russell Group and other leading universities. In fact, this year more than 500 students achieved their firm or insurance choice through UCAS, with nearly 100 being Russell Group universities!

On completion of the A Level programme, the majority of our students progress onto universities across the country and beyond. Based on this course, there are many options but below are just a few examples of degree programmes you could go on to study at University: