Theology

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, normally with qualifications requiring a total of at least four years of tertiary study, 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

Anytime

Course content

The Master of Theology (MTheol) degree requires a minimum of one year's full-time study. MTheol students may follow research interests in Church History, New Testament, Old Testament, Pastoral Theology, or Systematic Theology.

Candidates are required to treat a particular research topic comprehensively, demonstrating the comprehension of major issues involved in their topic, sustaining an argument at length and presenting a thesis according to the conventions and professional standards required for publication. The degree is awarded after the satisfactory completion of a thesis of approximately 40,000 words.

The degree prepares graduates for employment in education, local and national government agencies and counseling. It also enables students to gain the research experience and communication skills necessary for an advanced professional career in Theology or for further academic study at PhD level.

Theology studies the origins, the history, and the present significance of one religion, namely, Christianity, while Religious Studies is the academic discipline which studies the religions of the world as facts of human history and culture.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of the preparation and submission of a thesis embodying the results of supervised research. In some cases, a candidate may also be required to take and pass approved papers, normally at 400-level, in addition to completing a thesis.

The candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the thesis, secure the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) for the topic, the supervisor(s) and the proposed course of the investigation.

A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.

The research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

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.