Undergraduate (CertHE, DipHE, BA(Hons) students and postgraduate Church of England ordinands have placements as part of their courses. They are a compulsory part of the qualification.
Church placements are a vital part of Oak Hill's curriculum, rooting all your learning firmly in our end goal - to see the church flourish. Church is at the centre of God's plan to bless and renew the world under Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Year-long placements are based in churches and built into the curriculum for all students. Short-term placements can be undertaken in a wide range of contexts - in prison or armed forces chaplaincies, in hospices or hospitals, in churches of varying churchmanships or in different social settings - and are incredibly precious ways to grow in understanding of how the Lord achieves his purposes for all kinds of people.
Immersive students will usually have year-long placements assigned by Oak Hill in consultation with the student and in light of their goals for future ministry and any particular training needs. Independent students and non-ordinand Anglicans will have both these placements in the same church, ordinands will have different churches for their two year placements. All full-time students are encouraged to reserve time out of the semesters to undertake a short-term placement of 1-2 weeks of your choice, as these provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to broaden your experience of ministry and your understanding of the models you might pursue in the future. Ordinands may be required to undertake one or two such short placements.
Full-Time In-Context students will typically stay in their existing churches for their placements. This will not mean their involvement in church remains unchanged, as the transition to full-time study is significant and there will be much that is different when a placement begins. Your church will need to identify a suitable placement supervisor (usually the lead minister or someone else on a staff team) who will be supported by Oak Hill in that role. All full-time in-context students are encouraged to reserve time out of the semesters to undertake an intensive block placement of 1-2 weeks of your choice, as these provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to broaden your experience of ministry and your understanding of the models you might pursue in the future. Ordinands in this category will be required to undertake one or more such short placements.
Part-Time Students undertake their year long placements in the year in which they are studying the relevant modules. These are usually in their home church. Part-time students are encouraged to reserve time out of the semesters to undertake an intensive block placement of 1-2 weeks of your choice, as these provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to broaden your experience of ministry and your understanding of the models you might pursue in the future.