Thread: Suggested Resources for Foreign Theology Degrees

Where Do I Start?
Here are some quality schools that allow for study through distance learning, although some of them may require brief campus visits at the discretion of your supervisor. In the UK, many of the schools are constituent colleges of a larger institution (like Heythrop/London,) or the degrees are issued by a validating university (like St. John’s/ Nottingham.) Unlike mills, these schools employ real scholars who conduct real research, some in the school’s own academic journal, etc.

The United Kingdom
Heythrop College (B.D. issued by University of London)
International Christian College (M.Th. issued by Aberdeen University)
London School of Theology (B.A. Hons., M.Th., Ph.D. degrees issued by Middlesex University)
Nazarene Theological College (M.A., Ph.D. issued by University of Manchester)
Spurgeon’s College (M.Th., Ph.D. issued by University of Wales)
Stellenbosch University (M.Th., D.Phil., D.Th.)
St. John’s College (Ph.D. issued by University of Nottingham)
Trinity College Bristol (M.A., Ph.D. issued by University of Bristol)

South Africa
South African Theological Seminary (B.Th., M.Th., D.Th.)
University of Cape Town
University of Pretoria (M.A., D.Th.)
University of South Africa (B.Th., M.Th., D.Th.)
University of Zululand (M.Th., D.Th.)

How Do I Pay For It?
South African degrees are very affordable due to the exchange rate. Beyond that, check the list of school codes to verify the foreign institutions that can work with Federal Financial Aid.

Will This Get Me Where I Want To Go?
I’ll start off by stating that I think the education available at all the listed schools is excellent. Unfortunately, prejudice is a sad fact of life, and these degrees, particularly from South Africa, may not have the full range of utility for American students. Many established denominations in the United States demand that ministerial candidates hold a M.Div. accredited by A.T.S., and some schools require that candidates for teaching positions hold a Ph.D. accredited by A.T.S. Not an insurmountable problem, just do your homework first. Here’s a sampling of people who have succeeded with degrees from these schools…

Leon Morris (B.D., M.Th., University of London), New Testament Scholar and Principal of Ridley College, earned his degrees from London while pastoring a rural church in Australia. Went on to get a Cambridge Ph.D.
Vern Poythress (Th.D., Stellenbosch University), Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary
Bill Grover (Th.D., University of Zululand), Faculty at S.A.T.S.
Alistair Begg (B.A., L.S.T. – residential student,) Pastor of Cleveland’s Parkside Church. Went on to seminary at W.T.S.
Cory Seibel (M.Th., Spurgeon’s College/University of Wales; Ph.D. cand., University of Pretoria), Assistant Professor at Mennonite Biblical Seminary

Speaking of where you want to go, people wind up looking for foreign degrees in this area for a number of reasons. Some are good, like wanting to study under a particular scholar who teaches there. Some are facts of life, like being unable to afford typical graduate education even with scholarships and church support. Some are bad. If you’re only wanting a cheap way to call yourself “doctor,” consider another field in which your ego can do less damage.

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Thank you Dave, this is a great resource, especially since I'm currently considering one of the schools listed :)

Question: What does "issued by University of ___" mean? Does this mean the degree earned is exactly the same as the one earned directly through the validating school?

Ex, say a person earns their BD through Heythrop College, would they list it on their CV as:
BD, Heythrop College
BD, University of London (Heythrop College)
BD, University of London
Or does it depend on each institution? (I'm referring to the UK schools not the SA schools)

Thanks :)

It would be one of the latter two, since UofL issued the degree. I think it's a matter of your preference, depending on whether you want to emphasize the degree-granting federal university, or the individual school. Best wishes, Darren!

Originally Posted by emmzee

Question: What does "issued by University of ___" mean? Does this mean the degree earned is exactly the same as the one earned directly through the validating school?

Sorry, I missed this part somehow. Yes, the validating school issues their degree based on their Royal Charter. Also, my understanding is that your B.D. diploma from London would not indicate you earned it at Heythrop College instead of King's College, although it would apparently read "External Degree Program." If there are any recent graduates who can attest differently, I'd be happy to be corrected.

…and here is a research/writing resource for those approaching purely research degrees for the first time. In the UK/SA/AUS system, the expectations are high for the M.Th. and Ph.D theses, and you usually have to have a detailed research proposal as part of your application.

Hi Dave - If you are interested in adding to your list I would suggest that you contact some of the schools in the countries of Northern Europe such as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Grad programs in these countries are often available in English and the costs can be quite reasonable, even if you have to travel to campus.

Stellenbosch University (M.Th., D.Phil., D.Th.)
is also in South Africa.

Indeed, Matieland is quite a haul from Manchester! My error, I originally had them in one list, then thought it would be more useful to separate the two nations. Stellenbosch is actually my personal favorite of the SA universities. With ingredients like a great theology dept., a great classics dept., and beautiful wine country, one cannot go far wrong.

Glad to see you here on the board/on this thread, Lukeness. I look forward to your insider perspective on things ZA.

Here is another link with info on programs from the UK.
http://www.trsonline.org.uk/

Thanks for the warm welcome, Dave.
Stellenbosch has always been one of SA's universities of highest esteem.

I'd be interested to hear the views from that side on some of the younger or merged universities here to like Nelson Mandela Metropolitan (http://www.nmmu.ac.za/), Walter Sisulu (http://www.wsu.ac.za/), University of Johannesburg (http://www.uj.ac.za/) and the old Fort Hare (http://www.ufh.ac.za/) which is trying very hard to regain its old status as one of the countries famous universities (with strength in the theology area).

I also see very little mention of Wits, Rhodes and UCT here, which is surprising.

What about:

* Auckland Park Theological Seminary in SA. Pentecostal, I think.

* Greenwich School of Theology. I believe its degrees are issued by a school in SA.

Roscoe

Dave,

Thanks for starting this thread. Great resources!

Thanks Dave, I've written a proper reply which will hopefully appear in the next few days as any of my long posts still require admin aproval.

Lukeness, are you willing to try reposting? I look forward to it. As much as UK/ZA programs get discussed here, it would be great to have more perspective from residents "on the ground."

[QUOTEWill This Get Me Where I Want To Go?
Here’s a sampling of people who have succeeded with degrees from these schools…
Leon Morris (B.D., M.Th., University of London), New Testament Scholar and Principal of Ridley College, earned his degrees from London while pastoring a rural church in Australia. Went on to get a Cambridge Ph.D.
Vern Poythress (Th.D., Stellenbosch University), Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary
Bill Grover (Th.D., University of Zululand), Faculty at S.A.T.S.
Alistair Begg (B.A., L.S.T. – residential student,) Pastor of Cleveland’s Parkside Church. Went on to seminary at W.T.S.
Cory Seibel (M.Th., Spurgeon’s College/University of Wales; Ph.D. cand., University of Pretoria), Assistant Professor at Mennonite Biblical Seminary QUOTE]

I would add author and seminary professor, Donald Whitney from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to that list. He is a candidate for the D.Th at UNISA.

http://www.sbts.edu/theology/faculty/donald-whitney/

Hello,

I may as well introduce myself-I'm not sure if people still use this board, it seems the posts are rather old and I have tried contacting a few members to no avail. I am a unique bird, trying to make the best of my academic situation. I have no actual bachelors degree, I have 120 credits from Berklee College of music in applied jazz composition. Fully accredited diploma, not a B.M. The good news is, Liberty University didn't care and accepted me and I've now earned my M.A.R. in Worship, and will be done with my MDiv in the fall.

I currently serve as a bivocational minister in a church plant and also teach online for the University of Phoenix and locally Carl Albert State College. I would love to study and earn a PhD in either Ethnomusicology or Religion on campus, from a school that would be accepted in the secular academic world. I really would like to teach in a secular school. However.

1. The language requirement of many schools would be not impossible, but extremely difficult- seems that Greek and Hebrew won't do for most.

2. I am geographically challenged, the only close option would be the University of Arkansas for a PhD in Cultural Anthropology - not really my research interest.

I have been looking at University of Pretoria and also International Christian College (Aberdeen University?) Seems that ICC have some pretty good faculty that would be great to work with (if they do- not sure how that works). There program appears to be dissertation only, no transcripts I'm assuming. Does anyone know, do US schools, specifically secular ones accept such degrees?

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