Entry Requirements

Additional Critieria

• Criteria for Undergraduate Students

• Undergraduates will normally have three A Levels (grade C/grade 4 or above) or equivalent for
direct entry to a BA, two for entry onto a Diploma and one for entry onto a Certificate (see below for
possible exceptions).

• For the Graduate Diploma, because the programme takes place alongside students taking the final
year of their BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission, the College is responsible for ensuring that
successful applicants can demonstrate sufficient prior aptitude for theological study such that they
will not be disadvantaged by entering study at St Mellitus College at this level. Applicants must
normally have a 2:1 Honours Degree in a humanities-based subject or a Diploma (HE) in Theology
with a substantial proportion of their graded credit at Merit/2:1 level. However, especially for
mature students, prior professional experience will be taken into account as well as educational
qualifications. This will be assessed in the candidate’s interview.

• Criteria for MA students

• As noted above, submission of a degree level academic paper of no less than 2,000 words, which
must demonstrate the candidate’s aptitude for postgraduate level study (level 6).

• A 2.1 Honours Degree is normally required for direct entry to the MA (see below for possible
exceptions).

• The applicant’s BA (Hons) should be in Theology or have contained substantial study of Theology up
to level 6. Graduates (classed as first-class or 2:1 Honours) in other disciplines with experience of
Theology or Religious Studies to at least FHEQ Level 4 (undergraduate Certificate level, awarded with
merit or distinction, or with an overall mark of at least 60%) may also be admitted to the programme.

• Applicants with a Graduate Diploma in Theology or an equivalent subject will be considered, and the
College will look to satisfy itself at interview as to whether the candidate has adequate preparation
and grounding for study at MA level.

• However, especially for mature students, prior professional experience will be taken into account as
well as educational qualifications. This will be assessed in the candidate’s interview.

• Criteria for all ordinands

• Recommendation for training from a Church of England Stage 2 Panel or equivalent from a different
church (with agreement from a Church of England Bishop). This process includes an assessment of
the candidate’s educational aptitude for training.

• Share the College’s commitment to ‘Generous Orthodoxy’ i.e. working and worshipping together
with ordinands from across the breadth of the Church of England and beyond.

• Have completed the Safeguarding C0 and C1 training and provide the certificates as part of the
application process. These can be completed on the Church of England National Safeguarding Team's
online learning portal here.

An additional criterion for full-time context-based ordinands:
• Capacity to undertake a part-time placement in a ministry context.

• Criteria for LLM candidates

• Recommendation from the appropriate diocesan advisory process to train as an LLM. This process
includes an assessment of the candidate’s educational aptitude for training.

• We follow the Common Awards entry requirements for LLM candidates applying to study in our
Chelmsford centre which is that candidates will normally have two A levels (grade C/grade 4 or
above) or equivalent for direct entry. However, Chelmsford Diocese is responsible for checking this
at application stage, and responsible for consideration of alternative means of meeting the
requirements.


• Criteria for Beginning Theology

Beginning Theology is an access course designed to provide a foundation for further study. It is broadly aimed at level 3 study (AS / A-level equivalent) and therefore priority on the course is given to applicants who fit one or more of the following categories:

• Those without sufficient qualifications to access Higher Education

• Those for whom English is a second language - A reasonable (Intermediate) standard of written and spoken English is necessary to participate fully in the course. Students whose first language is not English will be encouraged and supported in improving their English language skills.

• Those from a minority or underprivileged socio-economic background and have not had the opportunity to study before

• Those who have been referred by their vocations adviser or DDO to undertake some theological study as part of the Church of England’s discernment process

As Beginning Theology is designed as an access course we may recommend other programmes that are run at St Mellitus College if we feel that due to their current level of education or other factors Beginning Theology will not be the best fit. For example, if an applicant already holds a degree and is not in one of the categories above it is likely that they will be directed to one of our accredited undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.

Whilst there are no formal entry requirements we only consider applicants who:

• Are regularly-attending members of a church. They should be able to demonstrate their involvement in a range of church activities such as mission, community outreach, ministry or leadership.

• Show a commitment to faith and to growing in understanding of the Gospel. They should be willing to commit to regular attendance at teaching sessions and completion of assignments.

• Are at least 18 years of age when the course begins.

• Exceptions

Where the requirements for aptitude for study appropriate to the level of the qualification applied
for are not met, the College may at its discretion choose to offer places to students who can evidence:

• o equivalent academic potential, normally after the satisfactory completion of an academic
  admissions test, such as the submission of a book review, which must be entirely the
  individual candidate’s own work and should be properly referenced.
• o having passed the educational criteria associated with the discernment process or diocesan
  LLM selection process.

If there is any doubt about the candidate’s aptitude for study at the desired level, as noted above, the College
may offer the candidate the chance to commence on a lower award. Please note that candidates asked to
complete a book review as part of the admissions process incur this cost at their own expense.