BA (Hons) Applied Theology

Our Applied Theology degree has been designed to give you a robust, biblical foundation on which to build your life and ministry. It will equip you to serve God in practical and relevant ways in a fast-changing, turbulent world.

  Programme duration
3 years full-time

      Location and mode of study

    • Moorlands Campus Based
    • Moorlands South West
    • Flexible learning

    Plus location(s) of placement(s)

    You can study the Applied Theology programme in a number of different ways and locations. To find out more, use the links below to skip to the relevent part of the page:

    Moorlands Campus Based

    Moorlands South West

    Flexible Learning

    What you’ll study

    Other helpful information

    “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
    —Romans 12:2, NIV

    What you’ll study

    Your studies on the BA (Hons) Applied Theology programme are orientated around four different strands. If you study full time, you’ll study one module in each of the strands every year. As part of your studies you’ll also be required to undertake a practical placement for the duration of the programme.

    Biblical Studies

    The Bible forms the basis of all of the College’s teaching and action. As a result, a large part of your academic study will involve robust engagement with Biblical texts. This strand equips you to handle Scripture appropriately, engaging with factors such as genre and cultural context, that inform interpretation. This strand will help you to explore the implications of the Biblical texts studied for contemporary Christian life and ministry.

    Christian Foundations

    This strand explores the foundations of the Christian faith through developing your knowledge and critical awareness of Christianity’s historical unfolding. You’ll explore the key themes and concepts within the biblical narrative, and the core beliefs and practices of Christian orthodoxy. This strand equips you to be effective in ministry in a variety of contexts by allowing you to engage with contemporary challenges and objections to Christianity and to address them effectively and appropriately.

    Missional Contexts

    This strand enhances your ability to engage theologically with key features of the contemporary world. It includes engagement with methods and principles of contextual theology, theological reflection and emerging trends in contemporary thought. This strand pays particularly attention to the nature and role of the church’s role within God’s mission, in a variety of contexts, both local and global. In Year 3, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between doing a longer piece of research-based work, or an immersive placement within or outside of the UK.

    The Christian Leader

    This strand enables you to engage critically and theologically with key issues relating to Christian leadership, including a focus on character formation, vocation, and Christian virtues. You will use the insights gained from reflecting on your own practice, to grow in your personal development and in the management and leadership of others. In Year 3, you’ll have the opportunity to focus your studies on either leadership within a local church context, or within community transformation.

    Moorlands Campus Based

    Moorlands College is located on the South Cost of England, just outside Bournemouth, under 15 minutes from the beach and 7 minutes from the airport. If you are looking for a fully immersed experience of higher education then this is the option for you. With the option to either live on site, or live locally and travel in each day, you will experience lectures throughout the week delivered by experts in each field. Our staff work hard to ensure that you come away from lectures feeling equipped and inspired.

    Each week you will complete a minimum of 6 hours in your placement setting. This could be a local church or organisation. In addition to this, there will be an allocated time in your timetable for weekly chapel services and discipleship groups. These provide the opportunity to go deeper as a community and grow spiritually.

    If you would like more information about what life at Moorlands College looks like, click here.

    Moorlands South West

    Moorlands South West, supported by South West Youth Ministries (SWYM), is based at Lee Abbey on the North Devon coast. Your time here will be made up of six, 4-day residentials where you will study 2 modules, in community, with rhythms of worship, inspiring teaching and wider activities .  The remaining 2 modules will be delivered via the flexible learning mode of delivery. Each week you will complete a minimum of 6 hours in your placement setting, as well as the hours SWYM require. Studying at Moorlands South West enables you to give more time to serve in your chosen context, and links you in to the wider network that SWYM offer. For more information, please visit the SWYM website.

    Flexible Learning

     

    Are you settled in your church or organisation and want to continue serving there whilst studying?

    Or does studying towards a degree feel like a distant reality due to your current life commitments?

    Our flexible learning  is a fantastic option for you.

    It is designed to allow you to study from wherever you are in the country, whilst immersing yourself in your chosen context. This might be your paid employment, where you volunteer, or the church to which you belong. It might be a charity or school – get in touch to find out if your context would qualify .

    Alongside being immersed in your placement throughout the year, you’ll also have access to regular group sessions as well as a personal tutor for dedicated one-to-one support.

    Online lectures

    1/4 of each module will be delivered via live, online lectures. These sessions will provide you with opportunities to take part in group discussions and interactive assignments.

    Residential lectures

    1/4 of your teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person. Each year you’ll attend 3 residentials at the Moorlands College Campus – a 4-night residential including induction, followed by two further 2-night residentials.

    Study theology online

    1/2 of each module will be completed at your own pace. You’ll also have the opportunity to do your own independent study, reading, and research.

    In total 3/4 of your studies will be completed online from wherever you are.

    Would you like to speak to someone and find out more about our Flexible Learning option? Fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.

    Why Moorlands?

    Our Applied Theology degree has been designed to give you a robust biblical foundation on which to build your life and ministry. It will equip you to serve God in practical and relevant ways in a fast-changing, turbulent world.

    Regardless of whether you choose the on-site mode of study, or the flexible learning mode of study, you will receive the same course content, support and academic excellence.

    Why Applied Theology?

    The aim of the Applied Theology degree is to equip you to serve God with integrity and confidence in a range of different settings.

    Whether you are called to education, business, politics, the arts, the charity sector, the local church, children and families work, or other vocational spheres, this programme will help you to develop a biblical and theological grounding for your work.

    Impacting church and world

    One of our main aims is to help you integrate your academic studies with your practice. This is facilitated through embedding required practive within modules that you study, allowing you to gain some credit for how you serve, and teaching you to reflect deeply and critically on your practice.

     

    “Moorlands College has given me both a deeper knowledge and the most amazing memories that I know I’ll treasure forever.” – Emma (pictured)

    Entry requirements

    To be accepted onto this programme you need to have the potential to succeed in it and to benefit from it. This is normally demonstrated by:

    • Two A-levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications.
    • GCSE in English (Language or Literature) at grade C or above, or equivalent qualifications at level 2, or an IELTS Academic Certificate with an overall score of 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each of reading and writing or nationally-recognised English language-based level 3 award, equivalent to these IELTS scores, from a different testing system.
    • An appropriate understanding of, commitment to and suitability for the range of vocations for which these studies prepare you.

    If you’ve been out of education for some time, or don’t have the regular academic qualifications to enter the BA, you may want to apply to do our Foundation Year, which provides an initial, preparatory year before joining the standard BA studies, or to talk to us about your potential for the Recognition of Prior Learning.

    Application deadline

    We look forward to receiving your applications by 31 July 2024.

    If you are applying to study Campus Based and would like to live on-site at Moorlands College, we advise that you apply by 30 April 2024.

    If you have missed these deadlines, please get in touch with the Admissions department for further advice on 

    admissions@moorlands.ac.uk

    Assessments

    Assessments are a key part of your learning experience at Moorlands. Assessment in compulsory modules gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your learning through presentations, portfolios, essays and reports. 

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      Daniel Alcock

      Student profile: Jordan

      “Moorlands College enabled me to study whilst actively serving within my local church. It equipped me to lead in new and innovative ways which will help me immeasurably in the future.  Applying my theological studies has helped me to not only learn more about God, but also grow closer to Him

      — Jordan, BA (Hons) Applied Theology