Research Admissions Guidance
Ready to apply, and wondering what happens next? Please read the following guidelines to make sure you are able to meet the requirements before applying to Research with us.
Applying to Research at LST
We welcome you to apply to Research at LST regardless of your age, background or nationality.
London School of Theology (LST) provides the opportunity to research at a high level in an interdenominational, evangelical context.
All entry requirements can be found on the programme pages. Before you submit your application, please make sure you have checked your programme’s specific entry requirements and the admission guidelines listed below.
Our research programmes are a collaborative research initiative between London School of Theology and Middlesex University.
The Research programmes have two intakes each year: in October and February. The next intake will be in October 2026.
Academic Entry Requirements
Please make sure you have checked your programme’s specific entry requirements before you apply. These can be found on the Programme pages: MTh, MPhil, PhD.
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 (see services provided by Ecctis – Statement of Comparability)
International Requirements
If you are an international student and intending to study with us here at LST, you should read the UK government website carefully, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa, taking particular note of the requirements relating to finances and language qualifications.
Even if you are intending to study at distance, if you are an international student and English is not your first language, you must take a UKVI International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) (Academic) test in the country you are applying from at your own expense. You must score a minimum of 6.5 in each category and an overall score of at least 7.0 to be considered for admission, unless you qualify for an exemption. There is more information at https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english.
Alternatively, Ecctis can provide an English Language Proficiency Statement – you can find more information about the services provided by Ecctis here: Visas and Nationality Services.
Residency Requirements
Students can choose to apply for residency on campus and work on campus, where personal study spaces are available.
Distance students are expected to fulfil a minimum of 1 week residency per year. This is reduced to 1 week every two years for part-time students.
New research students are also expected to attend a research induction at the start of the academic year (from 29th September to 3rd October). Students are expected to have adequate personal contact with their supervisory team.
The Application process
If you meet the entry requirements, the first step is to draft a research proposal, and complete the online application form. We ask all applicants to upload a copy of their research proposal, academic transcripts and CV as part of their application via the online form.
Once your application has been received, your documents will be reviewed by the Head of Research who will be able to advise if suitable supervision might be available (if you already have a potential supervisor in mind, there is space in the application form to provide details). At that point, you will be invited to a formal online interview at which there will be a detailed discussion of the content of the research proposal and the academic skills and experience that you have developed to enable you to conduct the research.
The interview panel will then make a decision whether to accept you into the programme for which you’ve applied. You might be asked to revise your proposal as part of the application process.