Master of Arts Theology

Programme information

 

Our newly revalidated postgraduate programmes offer a broader range of option modules, especially in the areas of doctrine, church history and practical ministry, along with modules which are designed to integrate theological disciplines.

Mode

Full time students are expected to be in College five days a week, from Monday to Friday, and are required to attend all classes, fellowship group meetings and to meet faithfully all College requirements as regards placements. Chapel takes place every weekday in the middle of the day and full time students are expected to attend every day. There are no module classes on Wednesdays. We encourage students to treat being a full time student in the same way as having a full time job.

The normal length of study for a full time MA is 12 months (two academic semesters and one summer period). A full time student will study the taught modules over the two semesters, while preparing for their dissertation, and will then complete the dissertation package during the summer period, with final submission no later than the end of August.

 

Part time students are required to attend all their classes and are expected to attend Chapel on the days that they are in College. Chapel takes place every weekday in the middle of the day.

The normal length of study for a part-time student is 22 or 24 months (four semesters and one or two summer periods). The taught modules will normally be studied equally across the four semesters (i.e., 60 credits’ worth in each academic year). Dissertation work takes place across the full registration period, including intensive work over the summer (although registration for the dissertation is normally in the second year); for 22-month students, the final dissertation must be completed at the end of the fourth semester, while for 24-month students, the dissertation must be completed at the end of the second summer

 

Summer Intensives

At Levels 4-6, the College aims to offer some of its option modules through a rolling programme of Summer Intensives. However, modules are not available in intensive format at Level 7: as such, while a part-time MA student may choose to audit modules in intensive format during the intervening summer (up to the value of 20 credits), these will necessarily be at Levels 4, 5 or 6 and will not contribute to the classification of their MA. 

The one exception to this concerns Ordinands who are studying the MA for the purposes of ordination training: in addition to 180 credits at Level 7, such students are required to take a selection of modules at Level 5 which will provide specific Anglican training and to supplement this with other modules up to an additional 40 credits at Levels 4-7 (resulting in 240 credits in total over two years). Such students may credit modules in summer intensive format and count these as part of their overall 240-credit total although, again, such modules will not contribute to the classification of their MA. 

 

Auditing

Students are permitted to audit individual modules (i.e. to study, but not for credit) alongside the compulsory and option modules that they are studying for credit as part of their programme. Postgraduate students (including students on the MA) may audit at no extra charge up to two additional modules, regardless of credit rating or level, over the duration of their programme, i.e., this would normally mean two modules in one year for full-time students and one module per year for part-time students. Any modules taken for audit above the limit of two will be charged at the internal auditing rate. For postgraduate students, auditing modules is subject to the approval of their Personal Tutor or the Director of Postgraduate Studies, as appropriate.

 

Placements

MA students normally do not complete placements. However, Church of England ordinands taking the MA are required to complete placements.

Some of your training goals for ministry will be pursued in your placement which will also provide opportunities to develop some of the skills you are learning elsewhere in the curriculum. It will keep you focussed on ministry in the real world and provides opportunities for some great adventures discovering the riches of church life. It is College's responsibility to allocate placements,   

Ordinands are required to complete two years of a weekly church placement (MP1.7 and MP2.7).

For more details see below.

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