The Inter-Religious Studies (IRS) Study Program was officially established on January 25, 2011, based on the Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 63/P/SK/HT/2011. Initially, the program was founded as the realization of a shared vision among a consortium of three universities: Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga (UIN-SUKA), and Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW). The consortium aimed to establish an academic program in inter-religious studies that could accommodate scholarly thought and the development of religious studies in accordance with contemporary academic advancements and the socio-religious dynamics of Indonesia and the global community in the 21st century. The scope of religious studies referred to includes theology, hermeneutics, and the study of religion from social sciences and humanities perspectives.
Based on the Decree of the Minister of National Education No. 1 of 2006, which grants Universitas Gadjah Mada the authority to open and close study programs, on January 25, 2011, the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada issued Decree No. 526/P/SK/HT/2008 concerning the establishment of the Doctoral Program (S3) in Inter-Religious Studies (IRS). The program is interdisciplinary and international in character and is administered under the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Within Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Doctoral Program in Inter-Religious Studies receives strong academic and scholarly support from various study programs at lower degree levels, particularly from the fields of social sciences, humanities, and religious studies. Since its establishment, this program has become a leading choice for Master’s degree graduates from both Indonesia and abroad, coming from diverse academic backgrounds, who wish to deepen their understanding of inter-religious relations through social sciences, humanities, and theological approaches.
The continuous development of the study program remains a central concern for its management and faculty members. Improvements and enhancements in teaching and learning facilities, faculty quality, and curriculum design are consistently undertaken to ensure the quality of graduates. Curriculum adjustments and the strengthening of the academic atmosphere are carried out through the provision of adequate infrastructure, facilities, and information systems.
The Inter-Religious Studies (IRS) Doctoral Program is accredited “A” by the Badan Akreditasi Nasional Perguruan Tinggi (BAN-PT) and internationally accredited by Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA). In 2025, our doctoral program, was once again ranked in the 51–100 range globally in the Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies cluster in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.