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Courses

MTh in Reformed Theology

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Online

1 year full-time, over up to 4 years part-time

This programme enables students to gain an advanced historical and theological knowledge of central Christian doctrines. As part of a rich and diverse online community, you will engage in a high a degree of interaction and critical analysis within the field of Reformed Dogmatics.

The BibleMesh virtual learning environment provides video lectures, discussion forums, quizzes for self–assessment, a digital copy of the textbook and extensive additional e–resources. You will also have access to the teaching of leading theologians such as Sinclair Ferguson and Fred Sanders via video lectures. You will also be able to benefit from the Cerego app, an online tool for your desktop, tablet or mobile device that builds on the latest in cognitive science to help you learn faster and remember longer.

Download Specification

Programme Structure and Modules

This programme consists of 4 core modules and a dissertation (180 credits). The Diploma is available for those who complete the taught modules without the dissertation.

Creeds, Councils and Confessions

Creeds, Councils and Confessions - 30 credits 3-4 months

Videos by Justin Holcomb will lead you through the church’s great statements of faith and summarise the key points of these crucial and contested doctrines. Video lectures by Martyn Cowan will lead you through each chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith. You’ll have questions to answer with four 1,500–word essays that help you engage in a careful reading of the Westminster Confession of Faith and Barrett's 'The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church' (Grand Rapids, 2023). This will prepare you for a 3,000–word guided research essay.

Reformation Theology: Past, Present and Future

Reformation Theology: Past, Present and Future - 30 credits 3-4 months

This module will ensure you gain familiarity with the Reformed tradition from its roots in medieval scholasticism, through the Reformation and Post–Reformation era, right up to current trends in modern Reformed theology. You will be helped by watching a series of lectures by Martyn Cowan on the history of the Reformation. Once again, you’ll be reading a primary text and a textbook – in this case Book 1 of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion and Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary (Wheaton, 2017). The 6,000 words you will write on these books will leave you well placed to write a 3,000–word essay in the area.

The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity

The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity - 30 credits 3-4 months

You’ll watch the Fred Sanders lectures and read your way through his The Triune God(Grand Rapids, 2016), writing two 1,500–word essays on various themes in Trinitarian theology. You’ll engage in a careful guided reading of John Owen’s Communion with the Triune God with the help of Union faculty member and Owen specialist, Dr Martyn Cowan. You will produce some 3,000 words on topics which arise from the text. Once again, the major piece of assessment for this module will be a 3,000–word guided research essay.

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit - 30 credits 3-4 months

Your final video lectures are by Christopher Holmes and these will be complemented by reading his book, The Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids, 2015). In this module you’ll be helped in your engagement with Jonathan Edwards’ Treatise on Grace by Michael McClenahan, Professor of Systematic Theology at Union and a specialist on Edwards. Four 1,500–word pieces will be written and the module concludes with another 3,000–word written assessment.

Capstone Dissertation

Capstone Dissertation - 60 credits 4-12 months

The feedback received on the 12,000 words of essays will have helped you to nurture your critical research and writing skills in preparation for the 15,000–word capstone dissertation. In this thesis you will choose to specialise in an area of advanced Reformed Theology and exercise your research skills and integrate your knowledge from the rest of the course to hone your scholarship.

Students have written dissertations of subjects such as:

Of Free Will: Providing a new perspective on the Reformed credentials and theology of Jonathan Edwards

 Critically assess Edward Reynolds' contribution to Reformed orthodoxy in The Sinfulness of Sin (1631)

 A Sabbath rest remains for the people of God' - John Owen's exposition of Hebrews 3-4 and the abiding significance of the Sabbath day.

 A critical analysis of the early modern debate surrounding the extent of the Canon of Scripture with a particular focus on the Bellarmine-Whitaker exchange.

 A critical assessment of John Owen’s appropriation of the Cappadocian Fathers, with particular reference to his doctrine of the Trinity.

 A comparison between the Christology of John Calvin and John Chrysostom in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

 Robert Harris on the ministry of the Reformed pastor

 Sinful self-love in the writings of Jonathan Edwards

 Richard Hooker’s view on ministry: an examination of the orders and jurisdiction of the minister in Elizabethan England

Programme Fee

Tuition fees are subject to annual revision and are typically increased by approximately 4% per annum for programmes longer than one year. For part–time intermittent study, the schedule for the payment of fees is arranged by the College office.

Fees for entrants in 2023–24 are as follows:

£6,120 (UK/ROI)

180 CATS points - £34.00 per CATS
Annual Registration - £190

£16,440 (International/EU)

180 CATS points - £91.33 per CATS
Annual registration - £190

Entry Requirements

Please check you meet all the entry requirements for this programme before you submit an application. These are detailed in the Programme Specification document, found at the beginning of this page.

Helpful links

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Sample of academic work
  • Letter of intent
  • Two signed letters of reference in support of your application
  • Academic transcript(s) and a copy (or copies) of degree certificates
  • English language requirement certificate (if applicable)
  • A document to confirm your identity, name and date of birth
  • Application fee

MTh in Reformed Theology

Thank you for your interest in this programme. Our admissions team will be in touch with more information, and how to arrange a 1:1 consultation.


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