Graduate Diploma in Theology

Summary

The Graduate Diploma is available to candidates who have already attained a degree level qualification (it is not a Post Graduate Diploma).

• Whole award consists of 120 credits (eight fifteen-credit papers), five of them (75 credits) at stage 3.
• It requires at least one year of full-time study or the equivalent part-time.

What is the recommended programme?

You have the flexibility to choose any combination of papers depending on your interest and their availability, with only two requirements:

1. D2000 Fundamental Theology: Faith, Revelation, Theology
2. Five 15-credit stage 3 papers are included (If you choose to do 7.5 credit papers, which are marked with an asterisk* from the planning guide, then you need two to make the 15 credits)
3. You can then do other papers of your choice from the Bachelor of Divinity or Religious Education programmes (Certificate and Diploma) as elective papers.

We encourage taking some Biblical Studies papers – although much depends on what degree you have already done and the background you have.

A little planning using the Graduate Diploma planning chart will make sure you’re on the right path. This is particularly important as you’ll soon find yourself at the point of picking out advanced papers – as the diploma only allows three foundational papers.

What papers should I start with?

While stage one courses are the normal entry point to tertiary study, the Graduate Diploma recognises that previous study enables the student to begin with higher level papers – without the need for prerequisites.

How many papers can I take each semester?

To ensure your paper selection represents a reasonable workload there are limits to the number of papers students can take each semester.

• On-campus students can study full-time (60 credits per semester) or part-time (1-3 papers per semester).
• Distance students usually study up to 30 credits per semester. (Lockdown and Covid restrictions have on occasion necessitated full-time study by distance.)