Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily, however you may find a degree in Biblical and Intercultural studies of use to you before going into missionary work. If this is your second degree, consider taking the two-year option, depending on your past experience and Biblical knowledge. You may also decide that a Certificate or a Diploma is better suited to your situation if you are more interested in the subject and the training than the end qualification.

Level 4 is our foundational training programme. It is designed to provide the most essential elements of cross-cultural training and is most applicable for anyone who do not have much cross-cultural  mission experience. Level 4 programme is also strongly recommended for those who wish to enhance their personal growth, spiritual formation and interpersonal skills. If you enter at Level 5 we will assume that you already understand and have assimilated most of the lessons of Level 4.

All Nations Christian College is approved and accredited by the Open University as an appropriate organisation to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University validated awards.

Earning one of these OU awards enables successful students to transfer the credits earned to another institution when considering further study.

Students requiring a Student visa or a student loan must take a validated programme.

We recognise that not everyone who studies at All Nations needs a validated qualification. Students who already hold a higher education certificate, for example, come just for the training. Married couples with children often feel it is less pressurised if one of them takes the non-validated option, since grading in the second year is pass/fail.

Depending on your experience, education and requirement for a validated award you could study the certificate, level 5, level 6 or level 7 as a stand-alone year.

You could also consider spreading your studies out over a few years or returning when you have raised the funds to complete your studies (providing you complete within the Open University time frame).

Yes. Providing that you have satisfied the academic requirements for the Certificate and have no outstanding debts with the college, your transition to the next level is usually very straightforward. Instead of receiving a Certificate you will progress to the next level and complete the Diploma just as if you had applied for it in the first place.

Some short courses in the En Route programme can be accessed online. Postgraduate study is accessible via remote access (RAL) where classroom and remote learners learn alongside each other and also via residential delivery. It is also possible to spread the postgraduate programme over one, two or three years. The Undergraduate Programme is accessible by remote access (RAL) or residentially.  It is possible to space your study over several years. This is done by studying for anything from one term to one year and taking a study break before resuming your studies later.

Whilst cross-cultural experience is preferable, it is not essential. However, applicants with no cross-cultural experience should definitely consider starting their studies at level 4 (Certificate level).

For a postgraduate course, four years is the minimum period of cross-cultural experience required.

Only undergraduate applicants wishing to take the 2-year BA programme must have 120 CAT points in a partially related subject.

For the postgraduate programme, some formal biblical/theological training is expected and the MA bridging modules are recommended to those who require more biblical/theological training if necessary.

Our website is a great source of information about our courses but if you still have questions our admissions team would be happy to answer them. They are also able to provide you with a quick guide to how to navigate the website.

We hold several Open Days throughout the year. These are great opportunities to find out more about All Nations and the courses that we offer. If the dates are not suitable for you then we would be happy to arrange a day for you to visit us, meet students (in term-time only), attend a lecture (in term-time only), chat with a tutor to discuss which course might be right for you, and enjoy lunch.

Students may express a preference, but we expect you to gain as much cross-cultural experience as possible during your course, and this includes Christian cross-cultural experience. Churches are therefore allocated to undergraduate students with this expectation in mind.

Please contact the admissions team. If it is not possible for you to get a reference from an employer we would normally ask you to get a second reference from another Christian friend who knows you well in a different capacity. If you have recently done voluntary work your supervisor could also be a suitable referee.

Please contact the admissions team. If it is not possible for you to get a reference from your minister we would normally ask you to get a second reference from another Christian leader who knows you well.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate students will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which will cover you for regular and emergency treatment with a doctor/a hospital. You may wish to consider taking out  insurance cover to cover other emergencies, which is also recommended to those coming to study for less than six months who will not otherwise have access to free medical care..

All Nations discourages students from attempting to take paid work during term-time because of the required time commitment to study, both in lectures and private study.

During vacation periods it may be possible to get paid work at All Nations by helping with housekeeping or kitchen tasks. However, you will need to be eligible for work in the UK and have a National Insurance number. Please note that work at All Nations is not guaranteed.

Student visa students who wish to work or volunteer must comply with the terms of their visa.

The courses start mid September and the academic year finishes at the end of June/beginning of July. It is also possible to start the second and third year of the BA programme in another term, unless you need to do the Foundation course which takes place in Term 1.

Yes, but if this is problematic, please discuss this with the admissions team.

A good academic level of English is needed so that you are able to make the most of your studies with us.

For overseas students, applicants who have been educated in English must come from a country which is on the UKVI list of approved English-speaking countries to gain exemption from taking this test. Exemption is also available to people who have studied in English to at least degree level in a UKVI-recognised country. Otherwise you are likely to have to pass an English Language test. See our visa page for more information or ask the admissions team.

Accommodation is not guaranteed. Where non-sharing single room accommodation is scarce, students over 35 years of age are given priority.

Priority is always given to couples where both are studying on full-time courses. Where accommodation is available, spouses who are not studying full-time will have to pay full accommodation and food costs and sign up for at least one module, either for audit or credit. They will need to pay the student body fee and will be considered to be students and so will need to take part in chores and maintenance.

Couples to whom accommodation on site is allocated usually stay on the ‘Wainery’, a corridor with several large double bedrooms and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. For more details, visit our accommodation page.

We appreciate that overseas students may not be able to afford the cost of long-distance flights during every vacation. It might be possible to work at All Nations, assisting with housekeeping or in the kitchen to earn board and lodging whilst you are staying. The student committee organise a ‘room availability’ list for the holidays for those staff and/or students who have spare rooms, and students can arrange to stay with them.

For international students studying for 6 months or less, please click here (and follow the instructions and answer the questions) to check whether you need to apply for a UK visa.  If the answer states that you require a "Letter of Acceptance" (either as part of your visa application, or to present at the UK Border Control) please contact your course Training Administrator as soon as possible to arrange for a letter to be sent to you.

For more information on visas, please click here.

After 31st December 2020, students will need to have either a settlement or pre-settlement status, or have a visa to live and study in the UK.

For more information on visas, please click here.

All Nations can only assist with a visa for a prospective student. All Nations is not licensed to sponsor a non-studying spouse or dependants.

You may not apply for your visa until All Nations has issued you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This document is the college's confirmation to the visa office that you have a genuine place with us and that we are satisfied that you have the correct documentation.

All Nations is multicultural. Students come from all over the world. On average there are around 25 nationalities represented for every 100 students. The average age is about 27, the male/female ratio varies but tends to be approximately 40/60, and there are families, married couples and single students who attend.

Students come with a range of life experience, some students have been out on the ‘mission field’ for years, others are just starting. Students also come from a range of professional backgrounds.

Depending on the time you can devote to study, either a PG Certificate, Diploma or Masters level qualification is available. You can select from 6 - soon to be 7 -  different award options.

If you have already completed postgraduate study you may wish to use our library for ongoing research in your area of specialism. You can come to the College for private study and research which you may wish to consider during your sabbatical or time off. Or you can partake in our Advanced Short Courses which run at post graduate level.

Look at directories such as www.thomsonlocal.com, www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent.html and www.yell.com for local estate agents and house rental information. All Nations also has contacts regarding a number of properties in the area, which you may be able to rent. If you are interested in finding out what All Nations has available, contact us at enquiries@allnations.ac.uk

Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. However, if your spouse is not a student then they will be eligible to pay. If your spouse is the only adult (aged 18+) in the house then they are eligible for a single occupancy discount of 25% of the full rate. Overseas spouses who do not study and are prevented from work or claiming benefits under the terms of your visa are fully exempt from council tax. For further details on how much council tax might cost, please contact the East Hertfordshire District Council: www.eastherts.gov.uk (assuming you rent in this area).

Postgraduate students are the only families who can enrol their students in local schools. They should visit the Hertfordshire education website for information about enrolling children in a local school: www.hertsdirect.org

Post Brexit, it is not possible for overseas families on a Visitor visa to enrol their children in a local school. However schools may be willing to have your children as visitors for the period of their stay in the UK.

Contact us to find out about nursery provision available in the local area.