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
- children's and youth ministry
- Christian mentoring.
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.
Find out more about this course at one of our upcoming events:
The MA Mission is a flexible programme which can be studied either full-time (over 12 months) or part-time (usually over two or three years). To complete the full MA, you would usually study four taught units plus a dissertation unit. Students can choose any four taught units from the programme. Some choose multiple units on the same theme, which make up a pathway; others choose individual units according to their interests and when the units are running.
All units (except those delivered online) are taught in five-day (Monday–Friday) intensive teaching blocks, for which students need to be present onsite at Cliff College. Following each teaching block, students complete further reading and study and write their assignments over a period of three or four months. This can be done from home or based at the College. You can read more about the units and pathways below.
Interested in when these units are running? Request the dates here.
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.
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Vice-Principal (Academic)Rev Dr Andrew Stobart
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Postgraduate Research Programme Lead
Dr Ben Pugh
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BA Theology & Ministry Programme Lead
Dr Ed Mackenzie
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BAMM Programme Lead
Dr Gareth Crispin
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Lecturer in Mission and Wesleyan Studies
Rev Dr George Bailey
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Vice-Principal (Mission
Rev Dr Jeffrey Conklin-Miller
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Lecturer in Biblical Studies
Dr Kirsi Cobb
Applications for this programme are open now - apply here! If you have any questions about the course or would like to speak to someone before applying, please contact 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.
Tuition fees
For 2023-24, the fees are £7,200 for the full MA, or £1,440 per unit.
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.