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Postgraduate

Build healthy spiritual and biblical foundations for transformative, life-changing work. Whether you're looking for cross-cultural mission training or you are supporting others in cross-cultural mission, we have something for you.

The All Nation’s Postgraduate programme has been equipping mission leaders globally for over 30 years. The postgraduate programme is aimed at those with relevant experience who would like to gain a deeper understanding of issues within the discipline of mission studies. It has Biblical, theological, historical, cultural, creative and religious dimensions, and is ideally suited for those who have some years of Christian mission and ministry experience.

The programme will help you reflect on your experience and equip you for your next stage of service and ministry, expanding your knowledge, and equipping you with skills, based on cutting-edge practice in your focus area.

The programme offers opportunities for both personal growth and professional development, and can be accessed either residentially on campus or remotely through technology enhanced learning, without the necessity to leave your ministry context and responsibilities.

The All Nations Postgraduate programme is validated by The Open University.

The programme offers 8 awards

>  Missiology (PG Certificate, PG Diploma, MA)

>  Intercultural Leadership (PG Diploma, MA)

>  Transformational Development (PG Diploma, MA)

>  Church, Mission and World Christianity (PG Diploma, MA)

>  Diaspora and Intercultural Church (PG Diploma, MA)

>  Contextual Theology (PG Diploma, MTh)

>  Staff Care and Wellbeing (PG Diploma, MA)

>  Arts & Intercultural Worship (PG Diploma, MA)

Cross-cutting issues

The following topics that cut right to the heart of missional work are considered across the programme as a whole:

  • Recognition of power differentials due to race, gender, disability, finance and language, and wider issues of marginalisation;

  • Decolonisation – exploring the links between mission and colonisation and proactively addressing practices and issues that perpetuate colonial attitudes and power inequalities in mission thinking and practice;

  • Ecology and environmental concerns – understanding the impact of the global environmental crisis on all aspects of people’s lives;

  • The polycentric and polyphonic nature of mission – perspectives on practice in recognition that mission is now from everywhere to everywhere;

  • Interculturality – how to move towards intercultural communities which foster understanding and respect for all cultures, the mutual exchange of ideas and cultural norms and deeper relationships, resulting in no one being left unchanged because everyone learns from one another and grows together.

Key Points of Information

  • Programme structure

  • Course Duration

Your Programme Leader

Mark Galpin, has over 30 years’ experience of cross-cultural mission, particularly in the area of leadership and community development. He lectures in Poverty & Justice studies and Leadership and has been leading the postgraduate programme since 2019. Mark previously served in Nepal as the Executive Director of the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) from 2009 to 2016 and prior to that served with the International Nepal Fellowship (INF). He has an MSc and PhD in Agricultural Development from the University of Reading (2000), contributed to and co-edited 'Undivided Witness' , and is former chair of the Global Connections Integral Mission Forum. Mark has a passion for linking theology with community development.

When can I start?

All postgraduate courses have one point of entry in September each year.

The application deadline is 15 June each year.

What Students Say

The Postgraduate Programme has been running since 1992 and has attracted Christian workers from around the world, many of whom have gone on to play significant roles in mission both locally and globally. Here are quotes from some of our former students:

“ANCC has been instrumental in making me the kind of leader God has called me to be. It helped me better understand the Bible I loved, but had little knowledge about, by teaching me how to critically approach it with respect and rigour while always seeking to missiologically apply its teaching to my context.” (Emmanuel Ndikumana. Regional Director for the Lausanne movement in Francophone Africa)

‘My training at All Nations was absolutely essential for where I am today.’ (Jay Matenga, Director of the Global Witness dept. and the Mission Commission for the World Evangelical Alliance)

“My MA studies at All Nations made me the unique priest that I became….I believe I am a Bishop in the church because of the output of the work that I learned to do from here.” (The late Rt Rev Karowei Dorgu, Former Bishop of Woolwich, London)

The following comments are from recent programme evaluations by students.

“I deeply enjoyed the high academic standards set and maintained by All Nations Christian College, plus the theological and missiological balance. All the modules were of the highest standards possible yet they also maintained incredible balance in navigating the diverse theological and missiological contours.”

“It has been a very positive experience studying together with different nationalities and students based in different countries / contexts. This has been very valuable. The support from staff, teachers and tutors has been excellent.”

“It was a wonderful journey, both intellectually and spiritually. The lecturers are very committed and and take teaching as their ministry from their hearts. They are good examples for the students. I will surely recommend All Nations Christian College to my mission friends.”

“This course has been invaluable in shaping missional engagement and reflection for the rest of my life. I am so grateful.”

“A great programme. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“The MTh has given me deep rooted skills for cross-cultural, urban, global missional thinking and acting. I am so grateful for the prayerful, knowledgeable and caring staff who have impacted wisdom and worked to bring out the best of me - seeing potential even when I did not know it was there myself. This experience has enhanced and empowered me for mission both now and in the future. Thank you.”

"The tutors of All Nations are brilliant; you cannot single one out. Their approach in teaching, explanation and their relationships are excellent ."

FAQs

There are two entry routes to the Postgraduate Programme: an academic entry route and a professional entry route.

For academic entry, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in theology or religious studies (usually 2.1 pass or above) or, if in another subject, at least one year of formal Biblical or theological training (or complete the All Nations bridging modules - see below for information on this). In addition, you should have a minimum of two years' cross-cultural ministry or mission experience.

The professional entry route is open to applicants with appropriate professional qualifications and a minimum of four years' experience in a mission context.

Those doing awards in specialist fields are expected to have a background in the relevant field e.g. development, leadership, or church-based ministry.

For those for whom English is not a first language, proof of English competency will also be required (IELTS - 7.0 or Cambridge - Proficiency at C grade or above).

Applicants are required to complete a book critique as part of the application process and may be required to complete bridging modules to ensure they are equipped for the start of their postgraduate studies.

For full details of all the entry criteria, please see the College Admissions Policy. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for the programme please contact us to discuss this further.

Postgraduate course applicants who do not meet the criteria for entrance on application (for example due to lack of theological training), can access bridging modules prior to starting the postgraduate programme. The bridging modules are available both residentially and online, and will be adapted to meet each student’s specific needs. The bridging modules involve accessing relevant Undergraduate modules over a period of one to three terms. These will normally be selected from the following:

  • Pentateuch

  • Synoptic Gospels

  • Theology of Mission

  • Pauline Epistles

  • Acts of the Apostles

  • Hermeneutics and Homiletics

  • Johannine Literature

  • Religion and Society

  • Old Testament Theology

  • Isaiah

  • New Testament Theology.

Applicants requiring additional intercultural experience can gain this by participating as a residential student on campus. For further information about the bridging modules, please email ma@allnations.ac.uk.

The Postgraduate Programme is delivered through technology-enhanced learning and can be accessed in two ways:

1. As a campus-based programme at the College, in the beautiful rural setting of Easneye House near Ware, Hertfordshire just north of London. Students may live on campus (subject to availability) or off campus.

2. Remotely from anywhere in the world, through technology enhanced learning, allowing students to continue in their ministry contexts and apply their learning as part of a global learning community.

Both campus-based and remote-access students study the same modules as one integrated cohort. The majority of modules are delivered weekly during the college year. Some modules are delivered as short intensive modules over 4–5 days. While remote access students can access these remotely, they are encouraged to attend these in person if possible.

The Postgraduate Certificate qualification is only available in Missiology. Students must complete a total of three modules including Holistic Learning Foundations and Biblical and Theological Foundations for Mission. The third module is either Anthropological Foundations for Mission or one of a range of specialist elective modules available across the programme.

Postgraduate Diplomas are available in the various awards. Students must complete the three core modules, two specialist modules associated with the award, and either complete an independent study module or a research proposal.

Master’s degree students will complete the Diploma followed by a research dissertation (15,000 words) or practice-based project (certain awards only) in a subject related to their award.

The MA and MTh requires completion of 180 academic credits. It is estimated that it takes approximately 10 hours of study for each credit. Students should therefore expect to commit a total of 1800 hours for the completion of the programme. The work load depends on how the student is accessing the programme, with some variation in intensity over the year.

Full-time students generally spend 6-10 hours a week in lectures. The rest of the week (30–35 hours) is spent in self-study, working on reading, assignments and research. For student’s resident on campus, assisting with cleaning and kitchen duties are also part of college life, fostering a servant heart within community and helping to reduce student fees.

Part-time and remote access students spread their work over a longer period of time. On average part-time students (completing in 2 years) are expected to commit 18 - 22 study hours per week, and students completing in 3 years are expected to commit 10–15 study hours per week over the period of the course.

All lecture sessions are recorded, to ensure students who miss a lecture due to unforeseen circumstances can catch up. However, the majority of lectures should be accessed in real time to ensure student engagement in class discussions with other students and the lecturer.

Potential students should be aware that postgraduate study involves a continuous and sustained workload until the end of the degree. Part-time students are encouraged to discuss their proposed studies with their employers and gain approval for their studies as part of their work / ministry commitments.

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