Third Year
The aim of the third year is to provide significantly more depth to the principal areas of study covered in the first two years. It also provides a substantial optional element which enables students to choose areas of study in which they wish to specialise or in which they have particular interest.
The focus of the third year remains pastoral and preaching ministry - the third year is not an ‘academic’ option. Hence time is given in each subject area to working out the pastoral and preaching implications of what is studied.
The third year course is divided equally into four subject areas:
Old Testament
New Testament
Systematic & Historical Theology
Options
Biblical Studies: Old and New Testament studies focus on exegesis and theology, based on the original languages, with time set aside in the timetable for consideration of the practical and pastoral implications of the passages studied and for preaching from those passages. A small number of OT and NT books or passages is selected for study over the year, so as to enable in-depth attention to be given to them.
Systematic & Historical Theology: During the third year, a small number of systematic and historical theology topics is studied in depth; again, time is set aside for consideration of practical & pastoral implications and for preaching.
Options: The inclusion of options in the course allows students to select a topic or topics of particular interest to him, for further research and study and, where appropriate, practical experience. The topic(s) selected must fall outside the compulsory areas of study in the third year. They might include, by way of example: church planting, evangelistic work, apologetics, ethics, contemporary issues, prison, armed forces or hospital work, church history. The Options part of the course must involve at least some practical element, as well as research and writing elements (with a dissertation generally being part of the end-result). Each student’s study is individually guided and supervised by tutor(s) with expertise and experience in the Options topic(s) selected.
Teaching methods: Most third year classes take the form of seminars and discussion. In Biblical Studies, classes usually work through a passage in the original language, translating, exegeting and discussing the theology and practical outworking of the passage. A similar approach is adopted in systematic and historical theology - examining texts of theological importance both of the past and the present, alongside the biblical text. Optional subjects chosen involve a greater proportion of private study, research and practical work.
Assignments during the third year generally involve set reading, research and other preparation, together with some written work. Students have to prepare to give oral presentations and/or lead seminar discussions. A longer piece of written work may be required as part of the optional subjects studied.
Visa students: We are currently not in a position to offer the third year of the course to visa students, as we are at present licensed by the UK Border Agency to offer only a two-year course to visa students. We are considering applying to extend our licence to cover the third year, which may therefore be possible for future years.