Why choose the Degree course?

Completed over two or three years, depending on previous experience, the BA (Hons) Degree programmes is for those with time to get to the heart of intercultural Mission. Building on the Diploma, Degree students take their theological studies further and produce an extended research thesis relating to a topic of their interest within one of the fields of study.

What is the Degree course?

The Degree aims to provide you with a holistic preparation as effective reflective practitioners in Christian mission. It develops your communication skills and your ability to analyse, evaluate, design and apply suitable approaches for diverse cultural contexts.

If you are taking the three year degree, the first year of study is the foundational Level 4 Certificate programme. This is designed to teach foundational missionary knowledge, methodology and practical skills whilst at the same time helps to develop the interpersonal, spiritual and academic skills of the student.

In the second year (the first year for those on the 2 year BA route) you will study three core modules and then choose from a range of specialist area modules which prepare you for vocations including: Church Planting and Discipleship; the Arts; Theological Education and Community Development.

In your final year you study one core module and benefit from a wide choice of vocational specialist area modules.

What are the entry criteria?

The Degree is validated by the Open University. The recommended minimum age of entry is 21 years. However the College will consider applicants who are 19 years old provided they meet the admissions criteria. Normally you should have a minimum of two ‘A’ level equivalents or relevant vocational experience. For those for whom English is not a first language (according to UKVI criteria), proof of English skills will also be required. This must be an academic IELTS test with a minimum score of 6.0 overall (and with a minimum of 6.0 for every sub-test) at a UKVI-approved SELTS Centre. The College will also accept other tests (LanguageCert, International ESOL, Pearsons PTE Academic, Trinity College’s ISE Tests). For students who do not require a visa, we will also consider Cambridge Advanced Exam and TOEFL (IBT computer-based) English test. For full details of other language eligibiligy criteria, the minimum test score requirements for those who have to take a language test and all other entry criteria, please see the College Admissions Policy.

What are the entry criteria for the 2 year degree course?

In addition to the above age and English language criteria you should either already have a prior degree in any subject or 120 CAT points in a partially related subject or completed an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). For full details of all the entry criteria, please see the College Admissions Policy.

What is the one year degree course?

In special cases, and usually where students have completed equivalent certificated learning at Levels 4 and 5, applicants may be accepted into Level 6 of the degree programme. For full details of all the entry criteria, please see the College Admissions Policy.

What qualification will I get?

A BA (Hons) in Biblical and Intercultural Studies, which is validated by the Open University.

How is the course delivered?

Whatever the length of your degree, each year consists of three terms each lasting 10 weeks. 

Our teaching styles are varied and innovative. We teach through interactive classes, small group seminars, case studies, debates and arts workshops. Students also spend time in personal research and study and reflect on their learning through a range of assessments.

Most of the programme is delivered at the College site, which is in a beautiful rural setting here at Easneye House in Ware, Hertfordshire. The course can also be acessed remotely from anywhere in the world with adequate internet connection using video technology. Remote learners will learn alongside campus-based students. 

What sort of a workload can I expect?

Most classes will run from 9:30 -1:00 with a coffee break in between with just a few classes timetabled for the afternoon. Lectures generally take up 15 hours per week, with students expected to spend at least 25 hours per week in private study.

How is the course assessed?

As with Level 5 (see Diploma page) most assignments at Level 6 are summative or graded assignments which are designed to determine your progression, achievement and, ultimately, your final grade. A few are formative assessments which aid you in your learning rather than assessing progress. 

Depending on the modules chosen, final year assessments include longer essays (up to 3,000 words), a strategy paper, a research or project proposal, literature review, independent research project (this can take the form of a 7,000 word research paper or an extended arts project) and presentations, all of which are intended to assess analytical, evaluative and critical and reflective thinking skills. Only two optional modules (Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Theology) are assessed through examinations.

The feedback given to students can be either oral (mostly arts modules) or written. It includes detailed suggestions on how to improve and enhance your work. Formal feedback on end of term assignments aims to be returned by the end of week 3 of the following term. Level 6 students must pass all components of all modules in order to exit with a BA (Hons) degree.

What else will I be doing?

We recognise the importance of practical ministry and in order to ensure that students get an opportunity to put into practice classroom theory, students will be involved in a ministry placement for 2 to 3 hours each week. Students can choose from a range of projects including anti-trafficking, art and street evangelism to international student work. Most of these placements are associated with a church where the student will be encouraged to worship on Sunday to get to know the congregation and understand the wider range of their ministries. 

All students on the Degree course will also be required to complete a three week ministry internship. This will be a supervised placement in a cross cultural context where the student can begin to wrestle with the challenges of cross cultural ministry.

Kitchen or maintenance chores are also part of College life; their aim is to both foster a servant heart but they also help to keep student’s fees as low as possible.

What support will I receive?

Every student is assigned a personal tutor to help mentor and support them through their studies. We recognise that students come from a variety of backgrounds, in terms of education, qualifications and experience, and therefore personal tutoring is beneficial to the individual needs of the student.

In order to help students improve their study skills, we run a Study Skills Foundation Course that runs throughout the year. This covers topics such as reading effectively, use and management of sources, citation and how to avoid plagiarism, and developing critical thinking. This course is open to all students. The sessions are particularly valuable for international students and those entering or returning to higher education. Additional study skills sessions to help develop the analytical, critical and evaluative skills needed to write assignments are also provided for all students.

When can I start the course?

The course begins in late September each year and finishes the following June/July, however it is not usually possible to stay in College during the holiday periods (e.g. Christmas, Easter and Summer breaks). The College will help overseas students to find alternative accommodation during these holiday periods but students will need to budget for this extra cost. Sometimes there are opportunities to stay onsite and work for board.

It is also possible for continuing students to start Level 5 or 6 in January or April. However this results in having to change cohort mid programme since the majority of students will progress to the next level in September each year.

Students entering the degree programme at Level 5 are required to complete the Foundation course which is delivered in September each year.

What will I be studying?

If you start your three year degree in Level 4, you will take the same modules as the Certificate course in your first year of study.

If you start your two year degree course in Level 5, you will take the same modules as the second year of the Diploma course.

In the final year of your degree course (whatever its length) all students take three core modules and 7 vocational specialist modules.

Please see Key Information below for more details. We aim to indicate the modules which will be offered the following academic year as soon as current students have indicated their preferences. However, at interview, applicants are also asked to state if they have any module preferences and this is taken into account when planning provision.

Application deadline?

To start in September - 30th April each year.

To start in January - 30th October each year.

Is there an ANCC Degree course?

All Nations does not have degree-awarding powers, which is why we have partnered with the Open University, who have accredited us as an appropriate organisation to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University awards. Although students can opt to take the ANCC Certificate or Diploma there is no ANCC degree programme.