As an alternative to traditional residential study, online learning offers flexibility and utilises the best in digital learning resources.

Our online MTh and PGDip offer the same high standards of teaching, assessment and award as its campus-based equivalents.

Your degree certificate will be identical to the degree certificates received by students who have completed their study on campus in Belfast.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has had a theological training institution in Belfast since 1853. Initially called Assembly’s College, it was later renamed Union Theological College by Act of Parliament. In 1881 the college was awarded a Royal Charter empowering it to grant its own degrees in theology. This authority resides in the theological professors of the college who together constitute the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland (PTFI). Union Theological College programmes are awarded by this body. The PTFI is recognised as a university under UK law and the work of the college is regulated by the independent body that maintains standards within UK higher education sector and by the Council for Training in Ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

UK and EU Per Module: £1,000 For Dissertation: £1,500 Programme Total: £5,500 International Per Module: £3,000 For Dissertation: £3,500 Programme Total: £15,500 Fee information is subject to change and is for guidance only.

The BibleMesh platform will provide you with digital copies of each module’s resources. You will also have access to the e-book collection of Union College’s Gamble Library. Some other resources may have to be purchased.

In UK higher education a full-time postgraduate course is designed to involve the same time commitment as full-time employment, so taking on a part-time degree is like taking on a part-time job. All of this is calculated by way of CATS points (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme). The taught modules in our Masters programme are weighted at 30 CATS points. Our programme is designed to offer real flexibility with teaching occurring over a 12-week semester and students having a further three weeks to submit their final long written piece of work. Students work at different rates, but you would technically need to allow for 20 notional hours of work per week during any given semester.

There are five compulsory modules to the programme.

For the taught modules students can expect to watch a number of video lectures and engage in directed reading assignments. There will be online tests or quizzes, discussion forums, the Cerego learning app and written assignments. You will also have access to a number of books through the BibleMesh e-book reader and the e-books of the Gamble Library at Union.

The CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points system is recognised by Union, and most other UK Higher Education institutions, as a method of quantifying credit within academic programmes, functioning as something of a common currency. According to this system, one UK credit point equates to ten notional hours of study. For American students, please note that there is no exact correspondence between the UK and the US system. Credit hours are based on the time spent in class each week over a semester and our system is based on the total hours of study to be undertaken in a module or programme. Conversion between credit hours and UK credit points is not straightforward but, as a rough and inexact rule of thumb, for American students: 10 CATS credit points broadly are equivalent to 3 US credit hours; and 20 CATS credit points broadly are equivalent to 5 US credit hours. Credit points convert to European academic credits (ECTS) as follows: 10 CATS credit points are equal to 5 ECTS credits; and 20 CATS credit points are equal to10 ECTS credits.

The full-time course lasts twelve months. The part-time course may be completed in a period of time between two to four years.

While you study with us, you will be well supported by the programme team with a wide variety of additional one-to-one support. Every student is assigned a personal tutor who will: Guide you through the matriculation process and the course schedule Help you become a confident, active member of the online learning community Help you with any concerns or problems that might affect your studies Students access materials, discussion forums and a range of learning tools via the Virtual Learning Environment. Our platform is designed to be easy to use and we incorporate familiarisation training into the programme induction. Tech support will be via BibleMesh. You will also be able to take advantage of digital library access to the e-books in Union’s Gamble Library. In consultation with an appointed supervisor, students prepare a dissertation of 15,000 words on a research topic in New Testament or on any of its cross-disciplinary interfaces. Within set parameters for its timing, nature, and degree, formative feedback will be given by the supervisor on elements of the developing project, covering both the research topic and the dissertation itself.

Applicants should normally have completed at least one full year of academic study of Koine Greek at the undergraduate level for entry into the MTh. For prospective applicants with a strong profile in Biblical Studies but less or no study of Greek, flexible accelerated provision prepares them for entry into the MTh programme.

Please email our programme administrator at research@union.ac.uk who will be happy to try to help you.