To be eligible to apply for the MTh programme, in normal circumstances, you should have a UK 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. 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.

To be eligible to apply for the MPhil/PhD programme*, in normal circumstances, you should have a UK Masters degree (or equivalent) in a theological discipline. Applicants from North America will normally have a Masters degree in a theological discipline with a GPA of 3.3. 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.

*PhD candidates initially register for an MPhil with the possibility of transferring to PhD status if their work is of an appropriate standard and with the approval of the supervisory team, Head of Research, and the university.

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

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 2025). Students are expected to have adequate personal contact with their supervisory team.

Fees are reviewed annually. Please note that there is also a £100 application fee that must be paid before the interview takes place. Scholarships are only available to enrolled students.

If you meet these entry requirements, the first step is to draft a research proposal, following the above guidelines, and complete the online application form (see the link below). 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 or not to accept you into the programme for which you’ve applied. You might be asked to revise your proposal.