School of Theology English

The world we live in today is cosmopolitan, globally connected, and 24/7/365, straddling both geographical and digital spaces. In Singapore, surrounding regions, or countries farther from this island nation, the dynamism of the 21st century has introduced new challenges. Serving in such a world requires understanding, perspective, competence, emotional stability, compassion, and other leadership qualities for effective ministry.

At the School of Theology (English), we are keenly aware of the changes and challenges of our generation as we train leaders for ministry in the 21st century. For that reason, we have identified four areas in our curriculum as important competencies and capacities to cultivate in our students:

UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS

Understanding of Biblical/theological/historical foundations¨Celements of our rich Christian heritage which continue to inform the ideals, identity, mission, and practices of the church.

DEVELOPING CHARACTER IN COMMUNITY

Developing character as God¡¯s created being in community, and the promotion of personal, spiritual, emotional, and moral development.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL SHIFTS

Understanding how cultural shifts impact life, church, and ministry, and developing informed responses to the rapid changes experienced in the 21st century.

DEVELOPING MINISTRY SKILLS

Development of competencies such as reading and interpreting texts, preaching, counseling, teaching, small group facilitation, mobilization, and other areas of competency needed for effective leadership and ministry.

Our vision and goal for the SOTE community is that the learning and training experience be academically challenging, spiritually invigorating, culturally diverse, and educationally engaging. Our desire is that the time spent in our learning community will inspire leaders who are biblically and theologically informed, contextually relevant, globally aware, missionally oriented, wise in judgement, and trustworthy in all matters.

From our experience, the best learning modality is still done in-person within a community. But for those unable to come onsite, from July 2024, SOTE is offering the Graduate Diploma, the first year of the Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies and Master of Arts in Christian Studies, and the MDiv/MA Preparatory Year as ¡°hyflex¡± (i.e., students can choose to study online/onsite). SBC now has new Smart and Hybrid classrooms, making online/onsite interactions even simpler and more effective.?

As enrolled students, you can apply to our generous scholarship and financial aid options. Remember to check them out!

The table below provides a summary of the programmes offered in the School of Theology (English) as well as the goals intended for each programme. Take time to discuss these programme options with your church or mission leaders and to make an informed decision about your choice of programme. Finally, if you wish to receive admissions counseling, please drop us an email and we will be glad to help with your admissions queries and questions about the application process.

Total Credits
92 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0
  • Qualified BTh graduates may receive advanced standing

Goals of the Programme
Well-rounded pastoral preparation for Christian workers, pastors, and missionaries. Students may choose from one of the following concentrations if there is a critical mass: Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministries, and Intercultural Studies

Total Credits
64 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0
  • Qualified BTh graduates may receive advanced standing

Goals of the Programme
Specialised preparation for those whose ministries are focused on studying, interpreting, and teaching the Bible

Total Credits
64 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0
  • Qualified BTh graduates may receive advanced standing

Goals of the Programme
Broad-based and holistic preparation for Christian workers and leaders with a special emphasis on instilling cultural awareness, as well as for developing and supervising outreach ministries of churches, parachurch organisations, and missions agencies

Total Credits
60 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0

Goals of the Programme
The programme offers deeper engagement for working professionals in the areas of biblical, theological, and historical foundations of the Christian faith. As part of their training, students will participate in two semesters of a Spiritual Mentoring Group that facilitates the integration of academic knowledge with inner life and spirituality, mission, and vocation.

Total Credits
32 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0

Goals of the Programme
Practical and foundational preparation for cross-cultural missionary service, including professional service and other forms of tentmaking

Total Credits
30 Credits

Entrance Requirements

  • Degree from accredited or recognised university
  • TOEFL 80(IBT)/213(CBT) or IELTS 6.0

Goals of the Programme
Foundational and flexible equipping of the whole people of God with a view to effective integration of faith, work, and family life

Total Credits
31 Credits

Entrance Requirement

  • Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent.

Goals of the Programme
Foundational course for candidates without a bachelor’s degree seeking to enter the MDiv and MA programmes

Featured Courses

SOTE allows alumni and anyone interested to access a curated set of courses each semester, even if they are not enrolled in an SBC programme.

Closing Date

  • Application for Jan semester ¨C closing date 1 Nov

  • Application for July semester ¨C closing date 1 May

Whether you are our alumni or have not taken any of our postgraduate programme, you are welcome to register for these electives at the School of Theology English.