First year (Level 4)
Full Time Undergraduate Study
In addition to being the first year of the degree, successful completion of the first year (Level 4) means students can be awarded a Certificate in Higher Education by the University of Manchester (for one year’s full-time study, or its equivalent credit value).
Subject to satisfying other requirements, students may progress to the second year (Level 5) of the BA in Theology offered at the College, or through the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) to a Level 5 course at another University.
The course is a one year full-time course starting in September, but it may be possible to consider other patterns for its completion, such as part time or entry at a different time of the year.
Course structure 2013 – 2014
To obtain a Certificate a student must gain 120 credits by successfully completing units which are normally worth 10 credits each. The units focus on key aspects of the Christian life: Biblical Studies, Theology, Cultural Studies, Evangelism, Mission and Ministry.
CORE UNITS (8):
- Introduction to Christian History
- Church, Community & Society
- Mission Placement
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Introduction to Theology
- Introduction to Evangelism.
- Research Skills
OPTION UNITS (students take four from the following):
- Christian Discipleship
- Christian Leadership
- Christian Mentoring
- Preaching Practice
- Resourcing Christian Worship
- Children's & Youth Ministry
- Theological Exploration for Methodist Preachers.
- Pioneer Ministry
In consultation with a personal tutor, you can put together the course most suited to your goals and interests. You will be helped to make these decisions when you arrive.
All students engage in the equivalent of 20 days of practical mission placements in the UK or Europe in each year of their programme – at least 10 of these must be under the supervision of Cliff College staff, although the other 10 can be with other mission agencies or programmes.
Teaching and Assessments
Most units entail around 15 hours contact between the tutor and the student group. There is a flexibility of approach, dependent on the unit and the number of students, that will typically be a mixture of lecture, plenary discussion and group or individual supervised work. Where units have substantial practical elements, additional members of the tutorial and evangelistic staff assist. Tutors are available for individual consultation outside class time.
Units are assessed in different ways; through the writing of essays, preparation of resource material, project work and reflection. Methods of research and analysis are taught and encouraged, and mission assessment requires reflective work that makes connections between practice and theory. Some units have exams which form a small part of the assessment for those units. For most units, written work of around 3,000 words is required, and marking is usually done anonymously. Attendance is required at all the relevant lectures or classes.
All students who complete the course with adequate application, including all who fail to attain the Certificate standard, will receive a Cliff College certificate of attainment.
For further information please download the prospectus here, and to apply, download the application form here.
For further help, please contact our Academic Registrar.
