Guided by wonderful faculty, and encouraged by a community of fellow Postgraduates, London School of Theology drives Researchers towards the highest academic standards, and enriches our wonder and worship of God.
Programme Overview
The MTh is a first research degree, combining training in research, research method and writing skills. Candidates for this degree follow a programme of study approved by the Director of Research and supervision team and write their thesis on a topic in one of the major theological disciplines. The thesis must be at (or informed by) the forefront of an academic discipline, field of study or area of professional discipline and be an independent contribution to a distinct critical survey of knowledge. It must include a critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline and be appropriately presented with clarity and conciseness of expression. The full or part time options offer flexibility and allow students to pursue further studies whilst continuing in work or ministry. The MTh can provide an opportunity to reflect more deeply on issues arising from ministry or professional life; and for pastors to engage with their congregations with expertise and critical judgement. The MTh provides an excellent apprenticeship in research and research writing for those who wish to progress to a PhD programme. It is also ideal preparation for a future in teaching, writing and pastoral work.
Who is this Programme for?
The MTh is an ideal programme if you want to dig deeper into a specific area, as supposed to exploring the wider variety of questions posed by one of the taught MA programmes.
An MTh provides an excellent apprenticeship in research and research writing for those who wish to progress to a PhD programme. It is also ideal preparation for a future in teaching, writing and pastoral work, as well as providing you with the opportunity to reflect in more depth using the experience you have in your vocation or ministry.
Summary of Programme Structure
London School of Theology and Middlesex University jointly offer research supervision for the MTh degree. The MTh is a first research degree, combining training in research and writing skills.
Candidates for this degree follow a programme of study approved by the Director of Research and write their thesis on an approved topic in one of the major theological disciplines.
The thesis must be an independent contribution to knowledge by the discovery of new facts or a distinct critical survey of knowledge. It must be well argued and be appropriately presented with clarity and conciseness of expression.
Programme Documents
Research Programmes Handbook – Click here
Research Academic Regulations – Click here
Time Commitment
This programme is available both full time and part time. Full time study will take 1 year and part time study will take 2 years.
It is expected that full time students commit around 40 hours per week to study whilst part time students will be expected to commit around 20 hours per week to study. Students pursuing research from a distance will be required to attend LST for two weeks residency if full time and one week per year if part time. All research students are required to attend the 3-4 day Research Student Induction held the week before the academic year begins in October.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible to apply for the MTh programme, in normal circumstances, you should have a BA Honours degree in a theological discipline at 2:1 level (or equivalent). During this degree, you should have completed some supervised but self-directed research writing, such as a final-year project.
Applicants from North America will normally have a BA or an MA majoring in a theological discipline or an MDiv with a GPA of 3.3 for application to the MTh. If your GPA is under this, but very close, and your transcript shows that you did better on modules relevant to your proposed research, the Head of Research will judge on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants will need to give full details of their qualifications and provide transcripts. Applicants with non-UK qualifications should provide proof of how any national qualifications relate to the stated UK minimum requirements. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must take a Secure English Language Test (IELTS) – please refer to section 6 of our Admissions Policy for more details.
Accreditation
This programme is a collaborative research initiative between London School of Theology and Middlesex University.
Recent MTh Theses
Joshua Shek – Adoption: Exploring a Neglected Doctrine of Salvation
Colin Schofield – This is the Word of the Lord: Nicholas Wolterstorff’s Account of Scripture, Appropriated Discourse, and Divine Authorship
Simon Robert Hill – Hybrid Christian Youth Ministry. A study of Closed-Group Social Media
Matthew Whyte – David’s Political Mourning in the Hebrew Bible: An Analysis of How David Mourns in instances of Political Significance
Reuben Zwiggelaar – The Doctrine of Heaven and New Heaven: coming to a doctrine of heaven and new heaven through Karl Barth and Jürgen Moltmann’s work on creation and eschatology
Jack Beattie – Jewish Jesus, Gentile Church – Jewish meal? The Origins and Development of the Lord’s Supper through a Jewish Prism
Matthew Visk – A Taxonomy of Contemporary Versions of Penal Substitutionary Atonement
