International Students

Belfast School of Theology welcomes students from all over the world to study with us in Northern Ireland .

Why choose

Belfast School of Theology?

For which courses can

you apply?

 Courses open for International Applications

International Students can apply to study one of two in-person courses at BST:

• BA(Hons) Degree in Theology

A three-year full-time Undergraduate Degree.

See BA (Hons) for more information on the course and academic requirements.

• Graduate Diploma in Theology

One-year Full Time course for Graduates*

See Graduate Diploma for more information on the course and academic requirements.

*Please note that our Graduate Diploma does not result in a Postgraduate (Level 7) qualification – that means that you will not be able to bring your family with you on a Student Visa.

*Please note our Graduate Certificate is a part-time course and is not open to International Students.

The BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma are the only BST courses for which international students are eligible to study with a student visa sponsored by BST.

Scroll down for more information on application process and financial requirements.

Online Courses for which International Students can apply

• Master’s Degree in Practical Theology 
• Postgraduate Certificate   
• Postgraduate Diploma

Our MA in Practical Theology and the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Practical Theology are delivered fully online.

This means all our Postgraduate courses are open to international students to study in their home countries.

For more info, and to apply, see the appropriate course pages here: Postgraduate Courses

More Information

You will find information about course fees and entry requirements on each relevant course page.

How to apply and

application process…

To Apply 

You may apply to the course you wish to study directly via the ‘Apply Now’ button on each course page.

All applications must be submitted via application form on the appropriate course page. To be considered, the application form must be completed in full. BST will respond as soon as possible on receipt of application.

Requirements for admission for International Applicants to Undergraduate Courses

 International Applicants to the above must follow the normal BST admissions process and requirements set out on BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma course pages and in our Admissions Policy. 

This includes:

• 2 acceptable references as requested on application form.
• Submission of all required academic certificates during the application process.

International applicants need also to adhere to the following entrance requirements, to be fulfilled by dates set out via email on receipt of an acceptable application form:

1. £50 Application fee

To be paid to BST before application proceeds. 

2. Copies of Academic Certificates

For qualifications that are not in English, an official translation must be submitted with the copies of the originals.

3.  UK-ENIC statement

Must be submitted to assess the applicant’s qualifications  against BST’s entry requirements.

4. English Language Requirement

For the Undergraduate courses this is:

IELTS Academic – Overall 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each area

or

LANGUAGE CERT – B2: Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.

This must be from within the 2 years prior to application.

For a list of exempted countries, see Admissions Policy.

5. Proof of funds- see ‘Finance’ section below.

6. Interview

If the above have been provided satisfactorily, the candidate will be invited to an online interview and assessed under certain criteria as per the admissions policy.

If the interview is successful, an offer is made and on acceptance of the offer a CAS number will be issued for the candidate to then apply for a visa.

Requirements for admission for International Applicants to Postgraduate Courses 

International Applicants to the above must follow the normal BST admissions process and requirements set out on BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma course pages and in our Admissions Policy.

These requirements include 2 suitable references as requested on the application form.

1. £50 Application fee

To be paid to BST before application proceeds.

2. Scanned copies of Qualification Certificates

or equivalent. For qualifications that are not in English, an official translation must be submitted with the copies of the originals.

3. UK-ENIC statement 

Must be submitted to assess the applicant’s qualifications against BST’s entry requirements.

4. English Language Requirement

For Postgraduate courses this must be one of the following, from within the two years prior to application:

IELTS ACADEMIC – Overall 6.5 with 5.5 minimum in each area.

TOEFL iBT – Overall 80 Reading – 18; Listening -17; Writing – 17; Speaking – 20.

LANGUAGE CERT – B2: High Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.

For a list of exempted countries of study for English Language Requirement, see Admissions Policy.

Finances & Fees

Fees

Enrolment fees and Annual Course Fees are posted on each individual course page. These are the same for all students. 

Additional Costs for International Applicants during admissions process 

• £50 application fee
• UK ENIC and Language Certificate. These are the responsibility of the applicant to provide to BST during the admissions process.

Proof of Funds 

For BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma, international applicants will also be asked to demonstrate proof of funds for study and living costs in their personal bank account.

Visa & Immigration Costs 

For BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma, applicants pay Visa application cost and other related costs for international study in UK. Full information about costs and fees for Visas can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money

Funding your Studies

There is currently no financial support available directly from BST.

Scholarships

If scholarships are available at any time, they will be publicised via a ‘Scholarships’ page on our website. If none are listed on are website, that means no scholarships are currently available.