Master of Arts

The Master of Arts (MA) is an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) award. The course is designed for those who hold a tertiary qualification in a theological discipline who wish to pursue a further qualification in theology as part of their continuing education for ministry. The award provides a study of theological and related disciplines through a structure of specialisations.

The Master of Arts is classified into one of two categories, Category 1 and Category 2.

Category 1
Candidates require an AQF Level 8 award in Theology or Ministry for entry into the course.
The duration of the course is 1 year full-time or 3 years part-time.
Candidates will require 72 credit points in units to complete the course.

Category 2
Candidates with an AQF Level 7 award in Theology or Ministry for entry into the course.
The duration of the course is 1.5 years full-time or 4 years part-time.
Candidates will require 108 credit points in units to complete the course.

Perth Bible College (PBC) is a member institution of Sydney College Divinity (SCD) and offers its Master of Theology as of January 2024. SCD is a TEQSA-accredited Australian university college.

 


Course Details

Study Load

Full-time or part-time

Flexible Study Mode

Face-to-face
Livestream
Online

Future Pathways

Master of DivinityMaster of Theology
Master of Philosophy
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Philosophy

Duration

Full-time: 1.5 years
Part-time: 4 years

All applicants who endeavour to submit an application must meet the general admission requirements.

Admission to the  Master of Arts requires:

  • Satisfactory completion of either a three-year AQF Level 7 or AQF Level 8 award in the discipline of Theology or Ministry.

The Master of Arts is classified into one of two categories:

Category 1: For candidates holding an AQF Level 8 award in Theology or Ministry
Category 2: For candidates with an AQF Level 7 award in Theology or Ministry

English Proficiency: Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) score of 7.0 in all bands of the test.

Academic Level
AQF Level
Academic IELTS Band Score
Undergraduate AQF 5-7 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subset.
Postgraduate AQF 8-9 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each subset.
Research AQF 9-10 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each subset.

Applicants must confess their faith in Christ under the PBC Statement of Faith, be involved regularly in a local church, demonstrate a desire to be involved in church ministry, demonstrate the physical and psychological capacity for studying in a tertiary institution, agree to abide by PBC policies and procedures and agree to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.

Before applying, please ensure you have:

  • A Unique Student Identifier number (USI). If you don’t have one, you can apply here. To find your number, click here.
  • A colour PDF of your birth certificate, passport, and permanent resident visa (or a certified copy)
  • A digital passport-style image
  • A colour PDF of previous academic transcripts and certificates of completion(or a certified copy)
  • A page or two detailing your testimony, including how you became a Christian and why you believe the Lord would have you train for Christian life and service at PBC
  • Contact information for two chosen referees
  • Contact information for your Pastor/Leader.

When you have all the required supporting information for your application, please apply online here.

In combination with meeting the general admission requirements Overseas students must also provide:

  • Evidence of English Proficiency (please scroll down to the FAQs for more information)
  • A medical certificate verifying you are fit for studying at a higher education institution
  • $500 AUD application fee.

When you have all the required supporting information for your application, please apply online here.

The Master of Arts is a higher education award provided by Sydney College of Divinity (SCD).

CRICOS Provider Code: 02948J
CRICOS Course Code: 063708J

The Master of Arts degree requires candidates to complete course units taken from the Sydney College of Divinity Schedule of Units of Study in the 8100 and 9200 series.

The Master of Arts requires candidates to complete credit points as follows:

Category 1:  72 credit points in units whose content is not similar to those covered in their previous studies.
Category 2: 108 credit points in units whose content is not similar to those covered in their previous studies.

The course may be taken with or without a specialisation.


FAQS

Enrolment process

Before the beginning of each semester, each student shall apply for enrolment via the PBC Online Enrollment system or by completing and lodging an Enrolment Form, obtainable from the Admin Office.

The Dean of Students and the Dean of Studies will arrange enrolment appointment days for enrolling new and returning students. These meetings will allow students to receive advice on which units to enrol in, ensuring they will meet the requirements of their course.

Enrolment forms must be completed before attending lectures for that semester. All enrolments must be finalised by the census date. Students cannot add new units or transfer between units after the census date.

Students may apply to change their course enrolment at the beginning of a new semester up until the census date.

Students must complete an Application for Change of Enrolment form to make such an application. Students must meet the requirements outlined in the Course Articulation and Change of Course Policy to qualify to change course enrolment.

Deferment

PBC may permit the deferral of a course enrolment of a student in some circumstances as outlined in the Enrolment – Domestic Students Policy and Enrolment – Overseas Students Policy.

Fees and charges

PBC’s most current fee structure can be found on the Course Fees page.

Academic requirements

Please carefully read the academic requirements as listed on the award that you are interested in pursuing.

The Australian Government requires incoming overseas students to demonstrate their proficiency in English before a student visa will be granted. You are required to complete an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) assessment unless you can provide evidence of studying in English from one of the following options:

  • At least five years of study in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
  • Successful completion in Australia of a foundation course, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework, within two years of your application date.

The applicant should ask the IELTS testing authority to mail the test results directly to The Dean of Students, PBC. The following standards are the English language requirements for PBC courses:

Course
IELTS Band Score
Undergraduate Diploma 6.0 overall and in the reading and writing subsets.
Advanced Diploma 6.0 overall and in the reading and writing subsets.
Bachelor Degree 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each subset.
Graduate Diploma 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each subset.
Master Degree 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each subset.

*Please note that SCD awards may have different English Proficiency requirements. Find out more information in the general admission requirement on each course page.

Student support is an important aspect at PBC.

We take our students’ success in their studies seriously and understand that good student support requires a holistic approach. As a result of our commitment to our students, we have consistently been ranked above 90% for the student support aspect in the national Student Experience Survey facilitated by the QILT team.

Read more about Student and Campus Services.

Access and equity

PBC does not discriminate in the admission and access to its programs and activities based on disability, age, sex, race, colour of national or ethnic origin.

Apply Here    

Unsure what the right pathway is for you?
We’ll walk you through your options.

“The thing I loved most about PBC was the environment. We have a Christian community on campus, support from the lecturer, lovely students and fellowship. It has encouraged me to feel part of the community.”

OBANG BACHELOR OF MINISTRY (BMIN)