Ministry Studies Aberdeen MTh

The University of Aberdeen has trained Christian ministers since it was founded in 1495 by Bishop William Elphinstone who devoted learning to ‘the pursuit of truth in the service of others.’ The new flexible Master of Theology in Ministry Studies programme has been designed to enable church leaders to reflect deeply upon the theology and practice of Christian ministry in today’s world.

A two year, part-time degree programme in Practical Theology, the MTh in Ministry Studies combines an intellectually challenging and practically significant introduction to the nature of Christian ministry in a changing, challenging and complex social and cultural environment.

This programme provides students with the option of starting their studies either in September or January and has been carefully created so that it is accessible to those who are already engaged in either full-time or part-time, ordained or lay Christian ministry. It is built around four one-week intensive modules held in September and January that will be delivered at Aberdeen University over a two year period. In addition to on-campus courses, we also offer online teaching and seminars.

Another unique aspect of this programme is that there are various exits points, leading to different qualifications:

• Four courses and a dissertation leads to the MTh (180 credits).
• Four courses leads to the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) (120 credits).
• Two courses leads to the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) (60 credits).

Students may also attend individual courses that can be accumulated towards either the Masters degree, the Diploma, or the Certificate over an extended period of up to four years.

Our core aim and vision in designing the MTh Ministry Studies is to give practicing church leaders the opportunity to be renewed in their ministries. The unique team of scholars in the Divinity department of the University of Aberdeen who contribute to this programme have worked at the ‘coalface’ of ministry. The Programme Co-ordinator, Rev Dr Ken Jeffrey, served as a parish minister for fourteen years. Therefore, this is a programme that is delivered by people who understand the particular challenges of ministry that are experienced by the church in the twenty first century.