New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies
Course details
| NZQF Level | 5 |
|---|
About the course
This diploma is designed for both students who feel called into church leadership or pastoral ministry, and those who just want to develop a greater understanding of God in their everyday life as a Christian. This programme builds a deep biblical foundation within students’ lives and prepares them for a lifetime of Christian ministry and influence within the workplace.
Students who want to study full-time can do so by being involved in an internship in their local church or Christian organisation working 12-15 hours per week, alongside six core papers delivered by block course and self-study.
For students who find that taking a year off for study is not practical, this diploma can also be completed part-time over three years, where students receive the same powerful teaching that our full-time students receive, but with minimal disruption to their employment. Through our Flexi-Study option, students can study part-time through block courses with online support and interaction. Flexi-Study consists of 8 papers delivered at block courses over three years (2-3 papers per year), along with assignments and online learning.
A blended approach will be used with the students learning through a mixture of block courses spaced through the year, individual tutor contact, work-based learning, and online learning. Students can study from anywhere in New Zealand, as the only class time required is in these block courses where students will travel from all across the country to meet and receive quality teaching from our amazing lecturers. The weekend block courses run from Friday lunchtime until Monday lunchtime (North Island) and Thursday to Saturday (South Island). In block courses, students receive quality teaching from our amazing lecturers, giving them in-depth biblical and theological understanding, without having to learn everything out of textbooks. They will also be developed in ministry skills such as preaching and leadership.
Entry requirements
- For students aged 17+.
- All applicants will be required to produce two current character references, undergo a police check, and produce two essays; one outlining their journey of faith and one demonstrating their ability to meet the written requirements of this course.
- A recommendation from a current pastor, or similar.
- Have sufficient levels of English and computer literacy skills to study at this level, as well as the ability to use the communication and collaboration technologies incorporated in the programme.
- Short-listed applicants may be required to attend an individual interview as part of the application process (can be through video call).
- Preference will be given to applicants who have a history of academic success, relevant practical experience, a commitment to undertaking all aspects of the programme and to meeting the learning outcomes.
Provisional Entry:
- Provisional Entry may be granted to domestic applicants who do not meet the criteria above, but present evidence of ability to succeed and are able to show they are well prepared to study the programme.
International Students:
- International students must be at least 18 years old and meet Visa requirements to study in NZ. They will also need to find a church placement in NZ.
- International students for whom English is a second language must have an IELTS Academic score of 5.5 with no individual band lower than 5.0, or a recognised equivalent test.
About the provider
Vision College is a division of ATctivate Training Centre which is a charitable company born out of a desire to invest into the future of New Zealand and the world by growing people. Since 1984, thousands of people have benefitted from the dedication of our staff and their support for learners of all ages and backgrounds. Our staff enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of this mission, seeing changed lives and people growing toward their full potential.
We offer a variety of programmes across multiple campuses. You can study from Level 1 Certificates through to Level 7 Degrees.
Vision College has 8 Schools incorporating the following areas of study:
All of our programmes are NZQA approved and, where applicable, eligible for students to apply for loans and allowances.