MTh in Christian Doctrine

This course builds upon students' previous academic experience by deepening their understanding of specific areas of theological study. It aims to bridge the gap between undergraduate study and postgraduate research. It is particularly relevant to students from abroad who need to become familiar with postgraduate study in a British context. The course is offered full-time or part-time, enabling ministers, missionaries and teachers to pursue their own professional development.

The course has two parts, the first of which consists of six taught modules. The core modules 401 Biblical Hermeneutics and 402 Research Methods are compulsory and the other modules can be taken from this list:

404 The Mission of Justice and the Theology of Law

405 Theological Aesthetics

431 Doctrines of Ministry and Sacraments

432 Theological Ethics

433 The Doctrine of Election from Calvin and Barth

434 Comparative Ecclesiology

435 The Doctrine of Creation and Environmental Ethics

436 Contemporary Issues in Theology

438 Feminist Theology

449 The History of Evangelicalism

465 Contemporary Theologies of Mission

One module can be taken from another Master's course offered by the College. Part Two consists of a dissertation of up to 20,000 words.

Course duration

The full-time course lasts for twelve months and students have up to two years to complete.  Study on a part-time basis lasts for two to five years.  The University of Wales stipulates that the course must be completed within five years.  This can be done by taking one taught module per semester over three years and using two years for the dissertation.  Lectures can take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Entry requirements and contact information

• Qualifications for entry will conform to the Regulations of the University of Wales.
• Students applying for this course will normally be graduates in Theology with at least a second class honours degree from an approved institution.
• Irrespective of your qualifications, Spurgeon's College will need to satisfy itself that you have achieved the necessary academic standard to complete the course satisfactorily.

English language entry requirements

Ask Sarah Prior in our Admissions Department for an application form together with a copy of the course document. Don’t forget, you can always seek information about the course by attending one of our open days (click here for information).

Part One: for the compulsory module, 402 Research Methods, assessment is based on one 2000 word academic journal style article plus a dissertation research proposal.  The other modules require one 5000 word essay so there are no exams. For full details please request a course document from our Admissions Department.

Part Two: consists of a dissertation of not more than 20,000 words. Students must complete part one of the course before proceeding to the dissertation. The dissertation will be the result of the student's own research and is expected to provide evidence of a person's analytical, evaluative and creative abilities. The subject of the dissertation will reflect the topics covered by Part One of the course. Dissertation subjects need the approval of the Academic Dean and a supervisor will be allocated to each student.