Bachelor of Theology (Religious Studies)

The Bachelor of Theology is a three-year undergraduate degree for people who want to study Christian faith seriously, its texts, its history, its ideas and its practice. You will work through the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, church history from the early centuries to the present, systematic and moral theology, and the practical side of ministry and pastoral care. Greek or Hebrew language study is part of the core at most theology schools, because reading scripture in its original languages changes how you read it in English. Class sizes tend to be small, so tutorials turn into real discussion rather than lectures read aloud.

The degree follows the Australian bachelor's structure: three years full time, usually two semesters a year, with eight units of study per year. Each unit carries a set number of credit points, and you need to pass a total across the degree to graduate. Most students take a mix of core units and electives, then finish with a capstone unit or a supervised research project in their final year. Some schools offer a trimester calendar instead, which lets you spread the load or finish faster. Part-time study is common, and many theology students work while they study. If you want to go further, an honours year adds a fourth year of research and a thesis.

Work-integrated learning is built into the practical side of the degree. You will usually do a supervised placement, a church, a school, a hospital chaplaincy, a community organisation or a welfare agency, where you preach, teach, lead groups, visit people in care, or help run a congregation's programmes. That placement is assessed, and it is often where students work out whether ordained ministry, teaching or chaplaincy is the right fit. The skills you build are transferable: reading closely, writing clearly, arguing a case, understanding people from different backgrounds, and handling sensitive conversations with care.

This degree suits a few kinds of students. Some are preparing for ordained ministry or another role in a church. Some want to teach religious education or work as a chaplain in schools, hospitals or the defence force. Some are simply interested in religion and want to study it properly at university level. International students should check the English requirement carefully, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, though some fields ask for higher. The Student visa also has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs, separate from the university's. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 083086B, check the official page for current fees, intake dates and unit details.

• Ordained minister or pastor in a church or denomination
• School chaplain or religious education teacher (further teaching qualification usually required)
• Hospital, aged care or defence force chaplain
• Youth worker or community services coordinator
• Pastoral care worker in schools, hospitals or welfare organisations
• Church administrator or mission coordinator
• Writer, editor or researcher in religious publishing and media
• Further study, honours year, master's degree or doctoral research in theology or religious studies