Research

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Full-time: 2 years, Part-time: 3 years. Assessment: Thesis of up to 50,000 words and an oral examination (viva).

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Research programmes are a collaborative research initiative between London School of Theology and Middlesex University.

My time as a research student has been amazing. Postgraduate research at London School of Theology has truly transformed me both as an academic and as a Christian.

Laura Evans

Who is it for?

Here at London School of Theology, we believe in making research accessible and relevant. The MPhil degree is aimed at those who have completed formal theological training and who wish to pursue a specific topic rather than commit to a taught programme.

The full or part-time options offer flexibility and allow you to pursue further studies whilst you continue in work or ministry.

Programme Summary

London School of Theology and Middlesex University jointly offer research supervision for the MPhil degree.

For an MPhil you need to offer a careful and critical investigation and evaluation of an approved topic, and demonstrate an understanding of the research methods appropriate to your chosen field.

Your thesis does not necessarily need to be ‘original’; however, it must offer a distinctive independent contribution to knowledge, including the ability to critique new ideas and a sense of proportion in evaluating evidence and scholarly interpretations which is ultimately worthy of publication.

While you would normally be expected to read the language of your primary sources for an MPhil, you would not be expected to engage with untranslated secondary literature.

Research Supervisors

London School of Theology has a large number of research supervisors covering a wide variety of research subjects.

From London School of Theology’s own Faculty, the research supervisors include:

William Atkinson, Jeremy Perigo, Conrad Gempf, Tony Lane, Graham McFarlane, Marvin Oxenham, Julie Robb, Graham Twelftree, Ekaterina Kozlova, John Dennis, Chloe Lynch.

Time Commitment

This programme is available both full-time and part-time. Usually, full-time study will take 2 years and part-time study will take 3 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 undertaking research from a distance are expected to fulfil a 2 weeks’ residency per annum if full time and one week per annum if part-time. New research students are also expected to attend a 3-day research induction which usually takes place at the start of October.

Entry Requirements

In normal circumstances students will be required to have at least a UK Masters level (or equivalent) theological degree.

For a North American Master’s degree, you should have a GPA of at least 3.8 for the MPhil.

Candidates registered for the MPhil only, and whose work proves to be of the appropriate standard, are entitled to transfer their registration to PhD (with the agreement of their supervisor(s), the Director of Research, and Middlesex University).

Applicants for whom English is not their first language must take the Secure English Language Test (SELT).

Accreditation

This programme is a collaborative research initiative between London School of Theology and Middlesex University.

Find Out More
Doreen Rosser
Research Admissions
Doreen Rosser

If you wish to find out more or have an informal discussion, please complete the form to send an email to Doreen Rosser.

    Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology
    Graham McFarlane
    Research Programmes Administrator
    Sandra Khalil
    Recent MPhil Theses

    Certificate

    • Thomas Parkins, Liquid Modern Relationality
    • Gerald Hovenden, The Metaphor of Slavery and the resolution of conflict in Paul
    • Rosemary Ashley, An Investigation into Authority in the Church from a Biblical Perspective
    • Katarina Almonte, The link between Charismatic Experiences and Revelation in John’s Gospel
    • Berhane Asmelash, The History of the Khatmiyyah Tariqah of Eritrea and the Impact of its Rituals and Ceremonials on Pre-existing Beliefs and Practices of the People of Eritrea

    Apply for BA (Hons) Theology