Getting ready to apply

Attend an open morning or hour

We'd love to meet you and start to get to know you, and the best way to do that is to come to an Open Morning or attend an Open Hour.  You'll be able to get a much better feel in person for our ethos, student experience and training and you'll have plenty of opportunity to ask your questions.  Book in here.

Discuss with your church leadership

On the application form, you’ll be asked whether your church leadership is supportive of you training. Please ensure that you discuss your application with your church leadership. 

Read ‘Why Oak Hill’ and relevant programme information

Visit 'Why Oak Hill' and decide which programme and mode of study you’re interested in. Check you meet the academic and English language entry requirements for your chosen programme.  

Are you applying for accreditation of prior learning (APL)?

• APL (Accreditation of Prior Learning) is when you ask to have previous theological study taken into account, such that you don't have to take certain modules with us or you can join the programme without having to start at the beginning
• For further details, please see the APL Policy.

Are you applying for postgraduate study?

• As part of your application, you are required to submit details of your previous education.  
• If you do not have a transcript and/or module information, please contact your previous college/university to request it.  If you are unable to provide this information at the point of submitting your application, there will be a delay to the process. 
• If you have any questions about providing information about your prior study, please contact us in the Admissions Office.

Read these documents

We have produced a number of helpful documents which we would encourage you to read before submitting an application:

• placements information page - to find out what part placements play in your training
• fees information - to find out about the costs involved in training 
• accommodation & study space information - to find out how the application process works and when you can expect to hear the outcome of any application

References

For the Foundation Award we require a reference from your current church leader (or a previous leader if you have been in your current church less than 6 months).

For our Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes (exc. MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership) we require a sending minister reference. This will be sent automatically to your sending minister once you apply. Please note we are unable to proceed with your application until we have received your sending minister reference.

In addition to your sending minister reference, you need to provide on your application form details of two further referees who have known you for at least two years. We will require references from:

• Your employer or tutor/teacher
• A personal friend

Please do not give more than one referee from the same church (unless you are working at the church). We cannot accept references from members of your family.

For the MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership we require two references - one from your current church leader and one from someone you work with.

• Our closing date for standard applications for CertHE, DipHE, BA (Hons), PGCert, PGDip and MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission and non-standard applications for Foundation Award and MA CCL is ‍12noon Wednesday 30 May 2025.
• If you’re a non-standard (not meeting entry requirements) or applying for accreditation of prior learning, please note the earlier closing date of Wednesday 7 May 2025 (12noon). 
• If you’d like to be invited to a specific interview day, please submit your application and Sending Minister Reference at least two weeks ahead of that date, bearing in mind that any invitation will be subject to the availability of places for the day.

When can I apply as an Anglican ordinand?

• We normally require you to have the permission of your DDO to look at colleges before submitting an application.
• We don't require you to be already recommended for ordination training before you submit an application.
• If you are unsure as to when to apply in relation to your Stage 2 Discernment Panel, or your Stage 2 is due to take place after our closing date for applications, please do contact us in the Admissions Office to arrange a conversation to discuss the best way to proceed. 
• If you come for an interview prior to your Stage 2, we wouldn't then ask you to respond to any offer made until after you know the outcome of your Stage 2.

Sending minister reference

For programmes requiring a Sending minister reference:

• When you apply you will be asked for contact details of your sending minister. Our system will automatically email them a form to fill in. 
• To complete the reference form, they will need to refer to the graduate profile and accompanying note, which will be linked on the form.
• We cannot progress your application without this reference so please do speak to your referee in advance to let them know to expect a reference.

Any queries?

• If you’re in doubt about any aspect of the application form or have any technical difficulties completing it, please contact the Admissions Office. 

Application form

• You can save progress as you go if you need time to consider various aspects of the application form.