Undergraduate Certificate in Theological Studies

The Certificate will introduce you to the study of theology as a subject discipline, bringing together cognate strands of theology, especially biblical studies, historical and systematic theology, and practical theology. The course is designed to equip you for further study in theology, including possible progression to the BTh or Diploma (depending on your results in the Certificate).

You will take six papers from a range of introductory options. Assessment is by essay, project or written examination. The papers cover:

• Introduction to the Old Testament
• Introduction to the New Testament
• The History of the Church
• Introduction to Christian Doctrine

You may also study:

• Spirituality, Ministry and Worship
• Contemporary Mission and Culture
• Relationships between Christian Faith and Philosophy and Science
• Elementary Biblical Hebrew or Greek.

Our aim is that by the end of the course, you will have acquired a sound, accurate knowledge and understanding of the beliefs, practices, texts and history of the Christian tradition. The course will include study of the Bible and of the development of Christian doctrine in its historical context and in the thought of modern theologians, and through reflection on contemporary church and religious practice. You will be able to make connections between faith and modern intellectual developments within their cultural contexts, and, where appropriate, to reflect on your own professional practice.

The Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor’s are taught in the context of those pursuing different vocations. An indication of vocational experience in the field of Christian ministry is therefore relevant but not essential. But the course is designed to enable students to connect theology to their own pastoral or professional practice. You must be able to demonstrate skills in critical analysis, wide contextual knowledge and the ability to manage your own time. Wycliffe Hall and Regent’s Park College have slightly different student bodies, and Wycliffe Hall normally only take candidates over 21, but the nature of the course means that all potential candidates will need to demonstrate clearly a maturity of approach.

The syllabus and teaching of the Certificate are aimed at the first-year undergraduate level and students will be awarded 120 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points at FHEQ Level 4 on successful completion of the Certificate.

All of these programmes are taught partly within Wycliffe Hall, by our core tutors, and partly through lectures offered in Oxford University’s Faculty of Theology and Religion. They therefore offer all the intellectual rigour of the University of Oxford, combined with the pastoral and ministerial insights of Wycliffe tutors.

The majority of teaching is delivered through lectures and seminars, with some small classes and tutorials.

The courses are taught by two of the permanent private halls of the University of Oxford (Wycliffe Hall and Regent’s Park College), in conjunction with Oxford Lifelong Learning. The halls are committed to shared delivery of the course, with most options available to all students, regardless of their collegiate affiliation, and of the affiliation of teaching staff. Individual halls may offer additional teaching to their students, typically in small group tutorials.

Teaching: there are normally 20 contact hours for each of the papers you take (languages may be more). Some of the teaching will be shared across all the students, and some will be delivered by the individual college. The full timetable of teaching will differ in the different colleges, but it will be taught midweek during the day on certain days of the week.

Private study: in addition to the contact hours, you can expect to commit around 200 hours of private study for each paper. This may include background reading, preparation for seminars and classes and work on assignments.

Academic advice and support will be provided by the Course Director in your hall. Each hall will provide integrated study skills support, covering time management, reading for academic purposes, the use of electronic resources and internet sites relevant to theology and religious studies, taking notes, writing and presenting assignments.

Your course tutors will give detailed feedback on coursework essays, including the first draft of work to be submitted for assessment, in the form of a summary of strengths and weaknesses, comments on some of the points made, and verbal discussion of the broader issues and surrounding questions.

You will be set at least one short formative piece of work in your first term (formative work means you will receive feedback, including areas for improvement, and often a mark, but this will not count towards your final mark for the qualification, and does not appear on your academic transcript) The method of assessment varies between the papers: some are assessed by essay, project or portfolio of work, others by written examinations.

A few offer a choice of assessment methods. There will be an opportunity to submit assignments three times during the year, and one option to sit the written exams each year (which will take place in Trinity Term – the Oxford summer term).

For admission to the Certificate, you will normally need to have five GCSE passes at grades A–C, one of which must be in English Language, and two passes at A-level (A2 level).

English Language requirements

Please check the information on the specific English language requirements for this course. Applicants are required to have the higher-level scores.

IT requirements

Students are expected to have some IT skills, and access to a computer and the internet. You will engage with the Virtual Learning Environment for course materials and use our online assignment submission system. The computer you use should meet our recommended minimum computer specification.

The fees for 2026-27 will be £4,895/£9,790 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students part/full-time) or £17,630/£35,260 (Overseas students part/full-time). Fees are collected via the college with whom you matriculate and you will be required to pay in full no later than one week after the start of the course. The college will request financial assurances from you to ensure that you are able to cover fees and maintenance over the duration of the course.

Information for applicants from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

On 11 May 2021, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) published new regulations and guidance to be used in assessing the fee status of students commencing courses in August 2021 and later. We will be using this guidance to carry out fee status assessments for students commencing courses in 2027/28, including students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. If you are an EU national and do not live in the UK then you are likely to be charged Overseas fees. Students with settled and pre-settled status in the UK and some other categories of students who work in the UK can qualify for Home fee status as long as they meet the residence criteria.

Information on financial support can be found on our website here.

Financial Declaration

All undergraduate offer-holders are required to complete a Financial Declaration Form (FDF) to demonstrate how they will meet the financial conditions of admission. If you are offered a place on this course, you will be asked to complete this form. It demonstrates that you can, or are likely to be able to, afford the course, and must be accepted before you can be considered to have met the conditions of your offer.

You must apply directly to the permanent private hall at which you wish to take the course. You can only apply to one permanent private hall, although application forms of unsuccessful candidates may be passed on to the other hall. You may wish to read the information provided about each hall before applying.

• For Wycliffe Hall, you may apply online using this link.
• For Regent’s Park College, please email academic.administrator@regents.ox.ac.uk.

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application:

• Two references, which comment on your academic ability and background and your motivation, commitment and potential. A reference from a family member is not acceptable.
• A statement of not more than 500 words outlining your reasons for wishing to enrol on the course, including any relevant vocational or professional experience and ways this course might contribute to your personal, vocational, pastoral or professional development.

Referees

If possible, your referee should be able to comment on your academic ability and background, but where this is not appropriate, please choose a referee who can vouch for your motivation, commitment and potential. References from friends or family members cannot be accepted.

Admissions decisions will be based on an assessment of knowledge, relevant experience, academic ability, potential and suitability for a course of study. We welcome applicants who may not hold traditional qualifications but can demonstrate relevant career experience or life skills.

Concurrent registration

If there is likely to be an overlap in the timing of courses at Oxford University or elsewhere that you are currently taking and/or intend to take in the future, please see the Department’s policy and guidance on concurrent registration for further information about what combinations may be possible.