This is an alternative pathway for completing the Bachelor of Theology degree by studying for only 2 years at Wycliffe Hall, followed by 2 years of part-time study in a parish after ordination. This programme has implications for fees and for workload in the parish, and therefore needs the agreement of the sponsoring diocese.

Course Structure

The assessed papers are as follows:

Year 1

Old Testament A
New Testament A
Christian Life and Thought
Christian Witness and the Contemporary World

Year 2

New Testament B
Biblical Interpretation
Christian Doctrine
Christian Worship

Years 3 & 4

Part-time study over 2 years
Old Testament B
Christian Ethics
Christian Spirituality
Mission and Ministry

Teaching and Study at Wycliffe Hall

• Most teaching is conducted by Wycliffe Hall staff in lectures and small group seminars.
• Each subject requires 4 college-assessed essays, as well as the university assessed exam or long essay.
• Students have free access to the Theology Faculty Library and to the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.
• Students may also attend university lectures.

Second year students of the BTh 2+2 are particularly busy since they:

• do the full courses for the four second-year papers, including essays and assessment.
• also attend core teaching for the ‘third-year’ papers, but do not do any written work.
• write a placement report (which can become the assessed essay for Mission and Ministry)

Study in the Parish

This will involve:

• 4 short essays in each of the four papers = 16 essays
• 3 long essays
• Time for extra reading to cover the wider elements of the course

This workload is manageable for diligent students in a curacy, with two conditions:

• They are given one study day each week and three study weeks in their first two years.
• Their parish workload is carefully controlled, for example as part of a parish team or in a small parish

Fees

The current difference in fees between CTh and BTh 2+2 is about £1,500 per annum full-time (£750 per annum part-time). This is a small difference when compared to the total costs of ministerial training, but it needs to be found outside normal funding.

Summary

Wycliffe Hall is very happy to enable capable students with funding for two-years’ full-time study to take the BTh 2+2. However, it is vital that:

• students understand and accept the commitment and work involved.
• dioceses allow them time for this study as an ongoing part of their ministerial formation.
• the extra costs can be met.

For information about how to apply see Prospective Students