Faith-based Leadership and Management

Entry requirements

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

Every applicant must either

• be a graduate and normally have achieved an average of B+ in the 300-level papers of his or her degree programme, or
• have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre "English for Otago" programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February, July

Course content

The aim of the Master of Faith-Based Leadership and Management (MFBLM) is to enhance leadership and management in faith-based organisations, through the incorporation of current scholarship in both Theology and Business Administration. The MFBLM is designed to enhance a graduate's leadership and management of faith-based organisations and to enable advanced reflection and research on the practice of leadership and management.

The admission requirement is a degree or equivalent three-year qualification in any subject area with satisfactory grades. In cases where the student’s prior qualifications do not include theological study, he or she may be required to undertake one or more 300-level papers in theology in order to satisfy the prerequisites for specific 400-level papers in BIBS and/or CHTH.

All the Theology papers offered for this qualification will be taught by distance; with a few papers taught both on campus and by distance in the same semester. The MBA papers are taught both on campus and by distance. The Research Project can be done either on campus or by distance.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of seven papers and a research dissertation, worth a total of 180 points:

• three papers with a combined value of 60 points chosen from CHTH 415, 420, 422, 423, MINS 406, 408. One other BIBS, CHTH or MINS 400-level paper may be substituted for one of these papers.
• four papers with a combined value of 60 points chosen from BMBA 501-513.
• a research dissertation (MINS 590) with a value of 60 points embodying the results of supervised research. A Research Methods paper (normally a 200-level, 18-point paper) is required as a prerequisite for enrolment in MINS 590.

A candidate who has been awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Faith-based Leadership and Management may be exempted from those papers in the programme for the degree which have been previously passed for the diploma.

With prior approval, relevant postgraduate papers worth up to the equivalent of 40 points may be credited from another department or from another university or tertiary institution.

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding

New Zealand is a relatively affordable country to live in. Dunedin, being a student-focused city, has living and entertainment options for all budgets.

Students are eligible for the Otago International Excellence Scholarship.