Certificate in Theology

Full Time Undergraduate Study

While also acting as the first year of the degree, students can be awarded a Certificate in Higher Education by the University of Manchester for successful completion of one
year’s full time study or its equivalent.

Subject to satisfying other requirements, students may progress to the Diploma Year of the BA in Theology offered at the College, or through the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) to a Level Two course at another University.

The course is a one year full time course starting in September, but it may be possible to consider other patterns for its completion such as part time or entry at a different time of the year.

Course structure

To obtain a Certificate a student must gain 120 credits by successfully completing 12 units which are worth 10 credits each. The units focus on key aspects of the Christian life: Biblical Studies, Theology, Cultural Studies, Evangelism, Mission and Ministry.

CORE UNITS (9)

• Biblical Studies
• Christian History 1
  
• Church in Society
  
• Mission Placement
  
• New Testament Introduction
• Old Testament Method
• Theology
• Theory of Evangelism

OPTION UNITS (4 from)

• Christian Spirituality
• Genesis
• Pastoral Care
• Preaching Practice
• Resourcing Christian Worship
• Romans
• Theological Reflections for Methodist Preachers
  

In consultation with a personal tutor, you can put together the course most suited to your goals and interests. You will be helped to make these decisions when you arrive.

The College also provides tuition in English as a Foreign Language or English Support Classes for students on the Certificate course.

All students engage in the equivalent of 20 days of practical mission placements in the UK or Europe in each year of the programme – at least ten of these must be under the supervision of Cliff staff, although the other ten can be with other mission agencies or programmes.

Students who are on Methodist Church Foundation Training for Ministry attend a special Formation Seminar.

Teaching and Assessments

Most units entail around 15 hours contact between the tutor and the student group for that unit. There is a flexibility of approach dependent on the unit and the number of students, and will typically be a mixture of lecture, plenary discussion, and group or individual supervised work. Where units have substantial practical elements, additional members of the tutorial and evangelistic staff assist. Tutors are available for individual consultation outside class time.

Units are assessed in different ways; through the writing of essays, preparation of resource material, project work and reflection. Methods of research and analysis are taught and encouraged, and mission assessment requires reflective work that makes connections between practice and theory. Some units have exams which form a small part of the assessment for those units. For most units, written work of around 3,000 words is required, and marking is usually done anonymously. Attendance is required at all the relevant lectures or classes.

All students who complete the course with adequate application, including all who fail to attain the Certificate standard, will receive a Cliff College certificate of attainment.

For further information please contact our Undergraduate Administrator, Rosie Bourne, for a hard copy prospectus and application form.