/ Postgraduate Taught /
Start date:
September 2025
Duration:
Stage 1 (taught): 2 years part time
Stage 2 (research): 3-4+ years part time
An experience like no other. A part-time professional doctorate programme which will enhance the evaluative and reflective skills required to go further in your career.
Did you know?
University of Roehampton London is ranked top 10 in the UK for postgraduate student satisfaction (PTES 2022, 2023).
Modules
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Skills
The Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology (DTh) provides an opportunity to research at doctoral level a matter of theological importance that makes a critical intervention to both practice and scholarship.
This incorporates;
- Allowing students to continue in professional roles and / or to research an area of importance in a relevant practical context.
- DTh students are part-time, integrating their study and research with a wide variety of professional and practical contexts – in voluntary organisations and faith sector work, in lay work and ministry, in social justice movements and education.
- Focusing on using research to develop theological practice, to the mutual enrichment of both academic theology and faith practice.
Research strengths of those involved in the delivery of the DTh programme include empirical, pastoral, systematic and public theology across a range of UK and global church traditions and mission contexts, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and Pentecostal. We also have a particular strength in Black Majority Churches.
Open to researchers from a diversity of faith backgrounds
Whilst the programme works largely within Christian paradigms of practical theology, the programme is open to researchers from a diversity of faith backgrounds where staff are equipped to teach and supervise.
Learning
A course that works for you.
This programme will help those already engaged in professional contexts relevant to Christian theology to develop the advanced research, evaluative and reflective skills necessary to further their professional and career profile, and contribute form their practice to wider theological discourse.
It is expected that students will commit, on (calendar year) average, around 15-20 hrs per week to their doctoral research.
Students will prepare for more senior level, national or international roles, as leaders, advisers or consultants in faith-practice and ministry. As a practitioner of Practical Theology, this course will encourage you to reflect technically and theologically on your practice, and on the application of scholarship and research to a range of faith, ecclesial and missiological contexts.
In order to develop your research skills, the programme will provide you with extensive knowledge and understanding of areas of Practical Theology and the critical methods practised at the forefront of the discipline. Students be enabled to reflect on these research methods in looking at their own practice, researching this both empirically (where appropriate) and from theological discourses, producing findings that satisfy peer scrutiny and are deemed to be of publishable quality, making an original contribution to knowledge.
Careers
A career with meaning awaits.
The DTh professional doctorate is intended to enable existing professionals working in church ministry, mission, education, development or the para-church sector to move into senior or national positions within visionary research-led organisations.
You could work in roles such as:
- Pastoral Councillor
- Chaplain
- Theological Educator
- Community Outreach Coordinator
- Spiritual Director
- Worship Leader
- Nonprofit Programme Director
- Church Administrator
How our career service supports you
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. We will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers.
Open days
Get a real taste of our campus, community and what it’s like to study at Roehampton
Applying
UK postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.
General entry requirements
September 2024 entry tuition fees
UK: £3,470
The Susanna Wesley Foundation DTh Scholarship
The Susanna Wesley Foundation (SWF) is a community of scholars and practitioners based at the University of Roehampton. SWF promotes dialogue, supports research, and creates resources in order to equip churches and those who work in them, with the intention of facilitating transformative change. It is a project of the Southlands Methodist Trust.
The Foundation is pleased to offer one scholarship each year to an individual seeking to study for their Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology – the DTh – at the University of Roehampton. The scholarship will cover the part-time tuition fees (at the UK level) for (normally) up to five years, subject to satisfactory progress evidenced in an annual review. As well as active participation in the research community within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (including attending the Practical Theology Seminars), we also expect award holders to attend and participate in the annual conference of the Susanna Wesley Foundation. The scholarship will include travel expenses to attend the conference.
The Foundation particularly encourage applications from those whose proposed research aligns with any of the following themes:
- Well-being and mental health
- Systemic change
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
- Issues around sustainability
While the scholarship is open to all, applications are particularly welcomed from Black and Global Majority candidates.
Successful candidates will (normally) hold a merit or distinction in their MA dissertation.
To apply, please download and complete SWF’s Grant Proposal Form. As part of the application, we require the submission of a writing sample of around 5000 words which can be drawn from your MA coursework or dissertation.
The deadline for applications is the end of June. Candidates will normally be notified of the decision in early July. Please direct enquires to the convener of the DTh programme, Dr Ashley Cocksworth (ashley.cocksworth@roehampton.ac.uk).
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries. See our 2024 financial support pages for UK students.
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including free buses and on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London. Find out more about how we can support you.
International postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.
General entry requirements
September 2024 entry tuition fees
To be confirmed.
The Susanna Wesley Foundation DTh Scholarship
The Susanna Wesley Foundation (SWF) is a community of scholars and practitioners based at the University of Roehampton. SWF promotes dialogue, supports research, and creates resources in order to equip churches and those who work in them, with the intention of facilitating transformative change. It is a project of the Southlands Methodist Trust.
The Foundation is pleased to offer one scholarship each year to an individual seeking to study for their Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology – the DTh – at the University of Roehampton. The scholarship will cover the part-time tuition fees (at the UK level) for (normally) up to five years, subject to satisfactory progress evidenced in an annual review. As well as active participation in the research community within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (including attending the Practical Theology Seminars), we also expect award holders to attend and participate in the annual conference of the Susanna Wesley Foundation. The scholarship will include travel expenses to attend the conference.
The Foundation particularly encourage applications from those whose proposed research aligns with any of the following themes:
- Well-being and mental health
- Systemic change
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
- Issues around sustainability
While the scholarship is open to all, applications are particularly welcomed from Black and Global Majority candidates.
Successful candidates will (normally) hold a merit or distinction in their MA dissertation.
To apply, please download and complete SWF’s Grant Proposal Form. As part of the application, we require the submission of a writing sample of around 5000 words which can be drawn from your MA coursework or dissertation.
The deadline for applications is the end of June. Candidates will normally be notified of the decision in early July. Please direct enquires to the convener of the DTh programme, Dr Ashley Cocksworth (ashley.cocksworth@roehampton.ac.uk).
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries. See our 2024 financial support pages for international students.
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including free buses and on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London. Find out more about how we can support you.
Need help or advice before applying?
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