Degree

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 score 6.0 at a UKVI approved SELTS Centre (with a minimum 6.0 for listening, reading, writing and speaking.) For students who do not require a visa we will also consider a score of 169 or above in the Cambridge Advanced Exam or a score of 60 or above in the TOEFL (IBT computer-based) English test. For full details of all the 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 APL (Approval 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, 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. Given the interactive nature of our course, no online option is currently available.

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.

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.

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 one 40 credit core module and 8 vocational specialist modules.

Please see Key Information below for more details. By the end of October each year, we aim to indicate on the website the modules which will be offered the following academic year.

What do I do if I wish to complain?

All Nations wants all of our applicants to have a positive experience in going through our application process. We make every endeavour to provide you with the information you require and support you to make an informed choice in regards to the best course for you. However, if you are not satisfied about the handling of your application, you have the right to make either an informal and/or formal complaint or request a formal review/appeal. For further details please see the College Admissions Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedures.