MA Mission
Cliff College is an approved partner of The University of Manchester, developing programmes delivered by Cliff College, approved by and leading to an award of The University of Manchester. On the MA Mission programme, there are multiple pathways taught at postgraduate certificate, diploma and degree levels.
With some of the foremost international experts in Christian mission and leadership, the MA Mission is designed to enable in-depth engagement with a variety of themes, including:
- pioneering mission and church planting
- responses to church decline in the west
- missional movements and networks
- the Holy Spirit in leadership
- evangelism in a digital age
- church history
- biblical theology
- global justice
- missional spirituality
- literature & culture.
The postgraduate degree is validated by The University of Manchester, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
The MA Mission postgraduate degree programme is highly flexible and is normally studied full-time or part-time over one to three years. This means it is ideal both for those pursuing an academic vocation as well as for those currently involved in mission or ministry who need to juggle their studies with their church/mission commitments.
Structure and Qualifications
To complete the MA, students must complete any four units from the programme, and then a dissertation in their final year. You can find more information about the different pathways and units under 'Course options'.
All units (except those delivered online) are taught in five-day (Mon–Fri) intensive teaching blocks, enabling students from across the British Isles, Europe and beyond to participate while remaining in employment. A list of upcoming units and dates is available on request from enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk.
Find out more about this course at one of our upcoming events:
Pathways
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MA Mission (Biblical Theology (BTM))
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MA Mission (Children's and Youth Mission (CYM))
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MA Mission (Christian Mentoring (CM))
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MA Mission (Evangelism in the 21st Century (ETC))
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MA Mission (Leadership, Mission, and Ministry (LMM))
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MA Mission (Literature, Theology and Culture (LTC))
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MA Mission (Mission and Global Justice (GM))
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MA Mission (Pioneer Mission in the 21st Century (PMTC))
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MA Mission (Preaching in the 21st Century (PTC))
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MA Mission (Wesleyan Theology and Spirituality (WTS))
Standalone Units
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Christian Spirituality and Mission (CSM1)
This unit offers the opportunity to explore the oft-neglected relationship between spirituality and mission.
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Disability, Theology and Mission (DTM)
This unit is an ideal study opportunity for anyone interested in reflecting upon mission and ministry amongst people with disabilities.
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Mission and Islamic Contexts (MRP3)
This unit investigates the complexities around Christian mission to Muslims.
Empowering. Life transforming. Accessible. Brilliant.
I have felt consistently supported, encouraged, and inspired by the staff at Cliff, and am grateful for the opportunity to learn in an environment as deeply committed to mission and discipleship as it is to academic rigour.
Abby Clayton
It was stimulating, challenging, practical and everything I hoped I would explore during ministerial training but never did.
The MA experience has been a powerful journey through which I have learned so much about my faith. It has been a rich tapestry of experiences, new knowledge, insights, and challenge. It forced me to overcome self-doubt and those feelings that you don’t belong. It has been transformative. I pray that many others take up the opportunity to study at Cliff and use it to frame their own journeys of faith.
Neil Mayne (PMTC pathway)
Thought-provoking, challenging and potentially life-changing.
If you are ready to apply, contact us on enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk for an application form. When completed, your application should be returned to admissions@cliffcollege.ac.uk or to:
Admissions,
Cliff College,
Calver,
Hope Valley
Derbyshire
S32 3XG
If you have any questions about the course or the application process, get in touch with us at enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
Applicants must usually:
(a) hold a relevant undergraduate degree with a minimum grade of 2:2 or equivalent
OR
(b) be able to satisfy the Non-Standard Entry process. Such applicants are strongly advised to discuss their
circumstances with our admissions team before submitting an application.
English language requirements for international students
For full details around English language requirements for visa purposes, please see English language requirements here. For this course, international students will need to achieve:
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum score for the Writing element of 6.5 and no other element scored below 6.0; or
- PTE Academic UKVI 59 overall, with no one element lower than 59; or
- LanguageCert SELT B2 39 overall, with a minimum score for the Writing element of 39 and no other element scored below 33.
This must have been achieved no longer than two years before the date of enrolment on the course.
Employment Opportunities
Students completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Mission, Postgraduate Diploma in Mission, or MA Mission could be employed as paid staff or volunteers by churches, parachurch organisations or charities to work in various capacities, depending upon their particular module focus, or chosen pathway.
The programme provides specialist training and expertise to equip students for a variety of areas. Students gain practical, academic, critical and reflective skills related to mission, ministry and teaching both within and beyond the Church. They will have gained key discursive and communicative skills throughout their training which will enable them to work well within numerous interactive working environments. Furthermore, their writing assessments will have given them the ability to work independently and to enhance their organisational, critical and evaluative capacities. These might be applied well within occupations requiring regular administration and writing, such as office environments, but especially in occupations in which a critical reflection upon practice is a regular feature of the job, such as with charity work, mission agencies, churches and civic authorities.
The MA Mission provides a platform not only for the student’s own training towards mission projects but a platform for them to train others. As such, many organisations directly or indirectly involved in mission may see a candidate with an MA Mission as a valuable asset to them for the training and development of future leaders and workers.
Audit a Unit
You may also wish to audit one or more of our MA units, for experience and private learning rather than for accreditation. Please get in touch if this is of interest, or you wish to explore either by phone (01246 584200) or by email: enquiries@cliffcollege.ac.uk.