The master's programme is an in-depth study of an area of Comparative Studies of Religion of the students' own choice. The topic of the master's thesis is chosen in consultation with the assigned academic supervisor. Through elective courses amounting to minimum 22.5 ECTS credits in total, the students are given the opportunity to obtain further specialization to support the topic for their master’s thesis.

Comparative Studies of Religion on master's level presents an introduction to scholarly and theoretical analyses as well as scholarly working methods. Great emphasis is placed on critical attitudes to sources, and the ability to work independently. The master's thesis is an independent scholarly work, and represents the initial apprentice’s piece of work within methodical scholarly training.

The master's programme in Comparative Studies of Religion at NTNU has a contemporary profile. Thus, teaching and research is profiled in relation to equivalent programmes offered at other Norwegian universities.

The competence of the research community within History of Religion at the Department is currently with religions of the Middle East, Christianity, religions in Diaspora, religion and environment, sociology of religion, and new religions in the West. This comprehensive scope of history of religion renders teaching and research cooperation with other units within NTNU, as well as other universities, possible.