MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

SPTC’s 2-year Masters is an exciting new postgraduate programme that offers students the best of both worlds: lively taught courses, and an extended, supervised dissertation on a topic of the student’s own choosing.

This is a “mixed-mode” programme, offering a blend of live and asynchronous teaching and learning that fits well alongside ministry and other responsibilities. Live teaching takes place on campus as well as online during each of the 5 intensive weeks throughout the year. For the rest of the year, course materials for self-guided study are released each Thursday evening, with an additional live seminar on campus and online roughly once per month. Online discussions sustain a sense of learning in community during asynchronous weeks. Participation in all teaching, as well as in the annual college retreat, is a requirement of this programme.

The programme is ideal for experienced pastors who wish to return to and refresh their engagement with theology alongside their ministry, as well as being well-suited to more recent graduates in theology – whether at SPTC or elsewhere – who wish to pursue their studies further, or have a particular desire to pursue a theological question under expert supervision. Students will normally already hold an undergraduate qualification in theology when embarking upon this programme, though we can occasionally admit students on the basis of significant broader experience in ministry. Please in touch if you want to discuss entry requirements.

When combined with the Formation Programme, the MA is an established route for training for ministry and leadership in a range of churches, including ordination in the Anglican Church. Please note this programme takes an additional year to complete.

You’ll find more information about this programme below – don’t miss our FAQs if you have further questions, and if you don’t find the answers you need there, just get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you at an upcoming open event, and also offer information discussions for potential applicants.

Cost

Student contribution for the 2024-25 academic year: RM 10,000 per academic year for the MA

Please note that SPTC is currently on track to receive accreditation for this new MA programme from the Asia Theological Association in the next year.

Courses

This programme operates on an alternating Year A/Year B pattern. Depending on the year of entry, students undertake Year A or Year B first. This does not have any impact on which courses you undertake or how long it takes to complete the programme. The dissertation is always completed in the second year of study.

With a focus on both biblical and theological studies, taught courses further a student’s engagement with scripture through both methodological and in-depth exegetical studies, while also offering advanced explorations of key Christian figures, contextual theology and practical seminars. The dissertation is a flexible project that may have a practical or interdisciplinary nature, or include an empirical research component, in addition to more classical biblical and theological focus. Our aim is for students to be able to research and write in areas that benefit their own continuing theological formation as well as the wider church.

Term & Intensive Teaching Week Dates for 2024-25