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  • Writer's pictureCaleb Kaltenbach

Obtaining an Overseas PhD Without Moving Overseas

Updated: May 19


****This page is regularly updated****


I love education... I may have missed "my calling" to be an academic dean or professor. Anyway, one of the fascinating developments to watch has been the increased ways to study for a Ph.D. In the past, Ph.D. students would move nearby or live on-campus to undertake their studies. Over the last 10 years, many North American and overseas learning institutions have developed more user-friendly study methods. Modular programs, online classes, cohorts, intensive weeks, independent study classes, partnerships with conferences, and more are just a few of the various study methods.


Whereas most North American Ph.D. programs involve doctoral seminars before writing the dissertation, many overseas Ph.D. programs focus solely on writing the dissertation (commonly referred to as "dissertation only"). Since students have access to a major university library and can Zoom/FaceTime with their mentor professors once or twice a month, many overseas schools allow Ph.D. students to study in their home country. Such programs require either minimal or no travel before graduation.


Below are some overseas schools offering Ph.D.s (in areas like biblical studies, theological studies, religion, ministry/practical theology, philosophy of religion, missions/intercultural studies, and so on) that don't require relocation.


Hope you enjoy the post. Be sure and check out other blog posts in this series: earning an overseas master's degree, where to earn a 100% online master's degree, and Ph.D. distance learning programs in the United States.



ASIA

Asia Graduate School of Theology



AUSTRALIA

Alphacrucis University College


Australian School of Theology

**Students choose one of their schools to study for a Ph.D. or a Th.D. (click on either link and scroll down to see the schools offering the degree).

Charles Sturt University


James Cook University


Sydney College of Divinity

**Students can earn a Ph.D. or a Th.D.


University of Divinity

**Students choose one of their schools to study for a Ph.D.

University of Notre Dame Australia

**Students can earn a Ph.D. or a Th.D.

**Students can study for a Th.D. at the following schools:

University of Western Australia

BELGIUM

Evangelische Theologische Faculteit


Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

**Th.D. award



BULGARIA

Sofia University- St. Kliment Ohridski



CANADA

University of Toronto



CZECH REPUBLIC

University of New York in Prague



FRANCE

Aix-Marseille University


Université de Lorraine



KENYA

St. Paul's University

NETHERLANDS

Free University of Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

**Students can earn a Ph.D. from the Free University of Amsterdam through:

NEW ZEALAND

University of Auckland


University of Otago


NIGERIA

Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary



NORWAY

University of Olso

**Students can earn a Ph.D. or a Dr.Philos (Doctor Philosophiae)


Norwegian University of Science and Technology

**Dr.Philos award



PHILLIPPINES

Asia Pacific Theological Seminary



POLAND

University of Opole



SOUTH AFRICA

South African Theological Seminary


Stellenbosch Univeristy


University of the Free State

**Students can earn either a Th.D. or a Ph.D. in Theology


University of Johannesburg


University of Pretoria **Students can earn a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria through:


University of South Africa

**Ph.D. areas have different departmental websites with information



SWEDEN

Lund University

UNITED KINGDOM

Anglia Ruskin University


Bangor University


Canterbury Christ Church University


Coventry University


Durham University

**Students can earn a Ph.D. from Durham University through:


Liverpool Hope University

**Students can earn a Ph.D. from Liverpool Hope University through:


London Metropolitan University


Manchester Metropolitan University


Middlesex University

**Students can earn a Ph.D. from Middlesex University through:


Nottingham Trent University


The Open University


Oxford Brookes University


Oxford University

*Studying through the Department of Continuing Education


Staffordshire University


St. Mary's University


Union Theological College


University of Aberdeen

**Students can also earn a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen through:


University of Birmingham


University of Bristol


University of Cambridge

**Students can study for a Ph.D. from the faculty of Divinity with short trips to the campus.

**Students can also earn a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge through:


University of Chester


University of Chichester


University of Dublin (Trinity College)


University of Edinburgh


University of Essex


University of Exeter


University of Glasgow


University of Gloucestershire


University of the Highlands & Islands


University of Hull


The University of Kent (apply as an external research student)


University of Leeds


University of Leicester **Students can earn a Ph.D. or the equivalent DSocSci (Doctor of Social Science)


University of London (King's College London)


University of Manchester

**Students can earn a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester through:


University of Northampton


University of Nottingham


University of Reading


University of Roehampton

**Students can earn a Th.D. in Practical Theology


University of Sheffield


University of Sunderland


The University of Wales Trinity Saint David


University of Westminster


University of York


York St. John University

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