Frequently Asked Questions

You can find details of our course start and end dates on the Term Dates page of our website.

Courses generally start mid September and the academic year finishes at the end of June/beginning of July. Please note the Postgraduate programme continues between terms across the year.

You! All Nations is multicultural community of people from all over the world. On average around 25 nationalities are represented for every 100 students. Most students come with a range of life experience, with some students having been out on the ‘mission field’ for years, others are just starting their journey. Students also come from a range of professional backgrounds. On average our students are in their mid-20s to 30s, however age is no limitation - from 18 to 81 years and beyond - you can study with us!

Our All Nations community includes families, married couples and single students as well as a diverse staff and volunteer workforce, living on site, online and locally.

Not necessarily, however you may find a degree in Biblical and Intercultural studies of use to you before going into missionary work. If this is your second degree, consider taking the two-year option, depending on your past experience and Biblical knowledge. You may also decide that a Certificate or a Diploma is better suited to your situation if you are more interested in the subject and the training than the end qualification.

Level 4 is our foundational training programme. It is designed to provide the most essential elements of cross-cultural training and is most applicable for anyone who do not have much cross-cultural  mission experience. Level 4 programme is also strongly recommended for those who wish to enhance their personal growth, spiritual formation and interpersonal skills. If you enter at Level 5 we will assume that you already understand and have assimilated most of the lessons of Level 4.

Depending on the time you can devote to study, either a PG Certificate, Diploma or Masters level qualification is available. You can select from 6 different award options, please visit our Postgraduate page for more information.

We also offer a number of Advanced Short Courses at postgraduate level.

All Nations Christian College is approved and accredited by the Open University (OU) as an appropriate organisation to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University (OU) validated awards.

Earning one of these OU awards enables successful students to transfer the credits earned to another institution when considering further study.

Students requiring a Student visa or a student loan must take an OU validated programme.

The All Nations Christian College Certificate and Diploma programme option enables students to complete the course without needing to meet the requirements for an Open University (OU) validated qualification. The entry criteria is the same for both undergraduate programmes, however with the ANCC option you do not need to pay the OU registration fee and assessments are graded as Pass or Fail only.

We offer the two options as we recognise some students may feel they do not need an OU validated qualification to complete their training. For example, married couples with children often feel it is less pressurised if one of them takes the non-validated option, since grading is pass/fail.

Depending on your experience, education and requirement for a validated award you could study our undergraduate or postgraduate courses for one year with the option to extend. For example, if you met the entry criteria, you could study just the Certificate (level 4) year of our undergraduate programme with the possibility to extend to the diploma and degree level if funds allow. Some students are able to study level 5 or level 6 as a stand-alone year, if they meet the entry criteria required.

You could also consider spreading your studies out over a few years or returning when you have raised the funds to complete your studies (providing you complete within the Open University time frame).

Please do contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

Yes. Providing that you have satisfied the academic requirements for the Certificate and have no outstanding debts with the college, your transition to the next level is usually very straightforward. Instead of receiving a Certificate you will progress to the next level and complete the Diploma just as if you had applied for it in the first place.

Yes! Our training is flexible and designed to fit your needs, therefore it is possible to study part-time over several years. For example the certificate programme can be studied either full time in 1 year or part-time in usually 2 to 3 years depending your module choices. It is also possible to take a study break during the course before resuming your studies later. We would be happy to discuss your individual circumstances with you during application.

Yes! Our training is flexible and designed to fit your needs. You can access our undergraduate and postgraduate courses either on campus, online or as a combination of both.

Classroom and remote learners learn alongside each other and also via intensive residential delivery. Our programmes makes use of a variety of learning approaches, cutting-edge digital learning technology, live interaction with tutors, workshops, practical placements, tutorials and interactive discussion forums. We seek to ensure that All Nations is an engaging and vibrant intercultural learning community of people from all around the World however you choose to access our courses.

Please note our En Route 10 week residential course is designed for in person delivery. We do offer other short course within the En Route programme such as Explore and Encounter which are delivered online over 13 weeks or 20 hours. Please visit our En Route programme page for more information.

We offer a number of Short Courses, Advanced Short Course and CPD courses. How you access these depends on the individual course content and delivery method. Please refer to individual course pages for futher information.

Whilst cross-cultural experience is preferable, it is not essential. However, applicants with no cross-cultural experience should definitely consider starting their studies at level 4 (Certificate level).

For a postgraduate course, four years is the minimum period of cross-cultural experience required.

The entry criteria for our undergraduate programme is a minimum of two A levels (or equivalent), and relevant experience. You do not need to have any prior theological training. The first year of study is the foundational Certificate programme (level 4) which is designed to teach basic knowledge in the areas of Bible, theology and cross-cultural mission and ministry. If you wish to apply for the 2-year BA programme must have 120 CAT points in a partially related subject.

For the postgraduate programme, some formal biblical/theological training is expected and the MA bridging modules are recommended to those who require more biblical/theological training if necessary.

If you have questions or would like help to consider which course of study is best for you, there are a number of ways we can help you including:

• Attend an Open Day (we run both in person and online options throughout the year)

• Book a Discovery Call (one-to-one meeting with a tutor to discuss courses in more detail)

• Request an information pack for detailed information on all our courses and studying with us

• Contact us and ask to speak with a member of our admissions team

We look forward to helping you discern you next steps for mission and God’s calling on your life!

Please contact the admissions team via the relevant Course page or the Contact us page to discuss your situation.

In general, if it is not possible for you to get a reference from an employer we would normally ask you to get a second reference from another Christian friend who knows you well in a different capacity. If you have recently done voluntary work your supervisor could also be a suitable referee.

Please contact the admissions team via the relevant Course page or the Contact us page to discuss your situation.

If it is not possible for you to get a reference from your minister we would normally ask you to get a second reference from another Christian leader who knows you well.

A good academic level of English is needed so that you are able to make the most of your studies with us.

For overseas students, applicants who have been educated in English must come from a country which is on the UKVI list of approved English-speaking countries to gain exemption from taking this test. Exemption is also available to people who have studied in English to at least degree level in a UKVI-recognised country. Otherwise you are likely to have to pass an English Language test. For more information contact us and ask to speak with a member of our admissions team.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate students will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which will cover you for regular and emergency treatment with a doctor/a hospital. You may wish to consider taking out insurance cover to cover other emergencies, which is also recommended to those coming to study for less than six months, who will not otherwise have access to free medical care.

All Nations discourages students from attempting to take paid work during term-time because of the required time commitment to study, both in lectures and private study.

During vacation periods there may be paid work opportunities at All Nations, for example helping with housekeeping during conferences. However, you will need to be eligible for work in the UK and have a National Insurance number. Please note that work at All Nations is not guaranteed.

Student visa students who wish to work or volunteer must comply with the terms of their visa.

As a student at All Nations, learning and gaining experience of the diversity of Christian expressions of Church, ministry and mission is important. Therefore, students are encouraged to take the opportunity to explore a different Church tradition or denomination. This practical learning enables our students to implement our head, heart and hands learning ethos in their intercultural learning for future ministry.

Yes, but if this is problematic, please discuss this with the admissions team.

Please visit our dedicated Visa Guidance page for visa FAQs and key information.

We have a range of accommodation available on campus for singles, couples and families.

Please visit our dedicated Accommodation page for more information and specific accommodation-related questions.

Please visit our dedicated Accommodation page for more information on Moving to All Nations with a Family and specific family accommodation-related questions.

You can register to access the library at All Nations as external user if you meet the following criteria:

• Actively involved in church leadership /ministry – church leaders, lay readers etc

• Involved in full-time or part-time theological study including distance learning

• Involved in full or part-time mission work

• Former students and staff of All Nations Christian College.

You may wish to use our library for ongoing research in your area of specialism. You can come to the College for private study and research which you may wish to consider during your sabbatical or time off.

The Library facilities are available during office hours (Monday to Friday) and an annual subscription is payable for this service.

Please visit our Library Page for more information and how to register for access.