Bachelor of Theology

The Bachelor of Theology at Australian University College of Divinity is a three-year degree for people who want to understand Christian faith seriously, its texts, its history, its ideas and its practice. You study the Bible in its original languages and in translation, work through the major periods of church history, and wrestle with theology and ethics as they are argued today. Units in pastoral care, ministry practice and mission sit alongside the academic core, so the degree is not just about reading, it is about what you do with what you read.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to accumulate a required total across your degree, usually 144 credit points over three years of full-time study. Most institutions run two semesters a year, with some using trimesters, and you can generally choose to study full-time or part-time. The first year builds your base in biblical studies, theology and church history. Later years let you specialise, in biblical languages, pastoral theology, ethics, or a particular tradition, through elective units. Many students finish with a capstone unit or a supervised research project in their final year, which is where you pull the threads together and produce a substantial piece of work on a question you care about.

What you actually learn

You learn to read a text closely and ask hard questions of it. You learn to write clearly and argue a case. You learn how theological ideas developed and why they still matter. If you take biblical languages, you learn to work with Greek or Hebrew directly rather than relying on someone else's translation. Pastoral units teach you how to listen, how to lead a group, and how to handle the ethical complexities that come with caring for people. Some programmes include supervised field education or placement in a church, chaplaincy or community setting, which gives you real experience before you graduate. Assessment is mostly essays, exegesis papers, exams and a final project.

Who it suits

This degree suits people preparing for ordained ministry or lay leadership in a church, but it is not only for them. It also suits teachers of religious education, chaplains, people working in faith-based NGOs, and anyone who wants to think carefully about religion and its place in the world. If you are coming from school, you do not need to have studied theology before. If you are coming back to study as a mature student, that is common in this field. International students should note that Australian student visas allow you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are set by the institution and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa itself, so check both. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, confirm the current figure and all entry details on the official page before you apply.

• Ordained minister or pastor, in local churches, denominational bodies and church planting.
• Chaplain, in hospitals, schools, universities, prisons and the defence forces.
• Religious education teacher, in faith-based schools, usually with a teaching qualification on top of the theology degree.
• Pastoral care worker, in aged care, disability services and community welfare organisations.
• Faith-based NGO worker, in aid, development and community development organisations in Australia and overseas.
• Church administrator or ministry coordinator, running programmes, volunteers and operations for a congregation or diocese.
• Writer, editor or researcher, in religious publishing, media or academic support roles.
• Further study, honours, a master's or a research degree in theology, biblical studies or related fields.