Earning an Overseas Masters Degree Without Moving Overseas
Updated: Mar 22
****This page is regularly updated****
In previous years, earning a gradulate/postgraduate degree from an overseas school meant moving and living near the university for a year or more. Today, through various platforms (like online study, Zoom/FaceTime, independent studies, intensive classes, live-streaming classes, etc.), an increasing number of institutions have strived to make it more realistic for students to finish an overseas degree without moving to another country.
While some degrees include taking classes/modules, many are referred to as "by research" and are research-based/thesis-only programs. MPhil (Master of Philosophy), MTh/MTheol (Master of Theology), MRes (Master of Research), MLitt (Master of Letters), MA (Master of Arts), MS/MSc (Master of Science). For perspective, whereas a PhD/ThD requires a dissertation of 80,000-100,000 words, MPhil and MLitt degrees usually require writing a thesis of around 40,000–70,000 words, an MTh 30,000-50,000 words, and a MRes or MA (by research) 20,000–30,000 words (I am not including any info on the degree of postgraduate diploma).
Overseas graduate/postgraduate programs are often perfect for students who have an undergraduate degree in a ministry or biblical studies-related field (especially the research-based/thesis-only programs). Such degrees are also well suited for seminary graduates who desire further study or individuals with degrees in fields similar to ministry or biblical studies.
Below are a few overseas schools that have degrees (with majors like biblical studies, theological studies, religion, ministry/practical theology, philosophy of religion, missions/intercultural studies, etc.) requiring either no travel or extremely minimal travel to the school campus.
If you enjoy this post, take a look at some of my other blog posts in this series: where to earn a 100% online masters degree, obtaining an overseas PhD, and PhD distance learning programs in the United States. Anyway, happy reading!!!
AUSTRALIA
Australian School of Theology
**Click on the link and scroll down to see the schools offering the degree.
Charles Sturt University
Sydney College of Divinity
University of Divinity
**You choose one of their schools to study for an MPhil (by research) or MTh (by research)
University of Notre Dame Australia
MPhil in Philosophy & Theology and MTh (by research)
NEW ZEALAND
University of Otago
SOUTH AFRICA
South African Theological Seminary
University of Pretoria
**Students can earn a master's from the University of Pretoria through:
Cape Town Baptist Seminary: MTh (by research)
University of South Africa
MTh in various theology-related fields
SWITZERLAND
University of Geneva
University of Lausanne
UNITED KINGDOM
Anglia Ruskin University
Bangor University
MA in Philosophy & Religion (by research)
Cardiff University
Durham University **Students can earn a master's from Durham University through:
Trinity College Bristol- MA in Theology, Ministry, & Mission
Liverpool Hope University **Students can earn a master's from Liverpool Hope University through:
Spurgeon's College- MA in Digital Theology & Master of Ministry
London Metropolitan University
London School of Theology
**The degrees are awarded by Middlesex University
MA in Aspects & Implications of Biblical Interpretation
Manchester Metropolitan University
MPhil (by research) and MRes (by research)
The Open University
MPhil (by research) **Students can earn a master's from The Open University through:
Union School of Theology: MTh in Scripture & Theology
Oxford Brookes University
MA (by research) or MPhil (by research)
Oxford University
St. Mary's University
Union Theological College
MTh in Old Testament, New Testament, and Reformed Theology
University of Aberdeen
MTh (by research) or MLitt (by research)
**Students can also earn a master's from the University of Aberdeen through:
Trinity College Bristol- MTh (by research)
University of Birmingham
MA in Theology & Religion (by research)
MA in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics
University of Bristol
MPhil in Religion & Theology (by research)
University of Chester
MA in Religious Studies **Students can also earn a master's from the University of Chester through:
King's Evangelical Divinity School: MA in Theology
Westminster Theological Centre: MA in Kingdom Theology
University of Edinburgh
MS in Philosophy, Science & Religion
University of Essex
MA (by dissertation), MS (by dissertation), and MPhil (by dissertation)
University of Exeter
MPhil (by research) and MA in Theology & Religion (by research)
University of Glasgow
**Students can also earn a master's from the University of Glasgow through:
Edinburgh Theological Seminary: MTh (by research), MTh in Missiology, and MTh in Scottish Church History & Theology
University of Gloucestershire
University of the Highlands & Islands
University of Leeds
MA in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics
MA in Theology & Religious Studies
University of London
University of Manchester
**Students can earn a master's degree from the University of Manchester through:
Cliff College- MA in Mission
Luther King Centre- M.Phil (by research)
Nazarene Theological College- MA in Christian Thought & Practice
Spurgeon’s College- MPhil (by research)
University of Northampton
University of Nottingham
MA in Systematic & Philosophical Theology
University of St. Andrews
MLitt in Bible & the Contemporary World
University of Sheffield
University of Sunderland
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David
MRes in Biblical Interpretation
University of Westminster
University of Winchester