Master of Theology (Pastoral Leadership) (240 credits)

The Master of Theology (Pastoral Leadership) is the summit of Laidlaw’s Pastoral Leadership pathway — designed for experienced ministry leaders ready to engage their calling at the highest academic level. Combining advanced coursework with a thesis or dissertation, this programme weaves rigorous theological study with the Pastoral Leadership Pathway, producing leaders of exceptional depth and capability. If you’ve led well and want to lead even better, the MTh(PL) is where that journey culminates.

Arts & Professional Studies, Bible & Theology

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This programme is designed for experienced ministry leaders who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Theology (Pastoral Leadership), with a GPA of at least 7.0 (B), or who hold prior academic degrees in undergraduate theology/ministry and significant leadership within a recognised ministry context.

Students in this programme will also engage in the Pastoral Leadership Pathway.

The MTh(PL) can be made of four to six level 8 courses of 30 credits each and a level 9 Thesis or Dissertation. Within each semester there will be required and/or recommended courses that are specific to the MTh(PL) programme.

The 240-credit MTh(PL) combines a programme of level 8 taught courses and level 9 research, structured in one of the following ways:
- four level 8 courses (including R351 Postgraduate Research and Writing) plus 120-credit 40,000 word level 9 thesis
- five level 8 courses (including R351 Postgraduate Research and Writing) plus 90-credit 30,000 word level 9 thesis
- six level 8 courses (including R351 Postgraduate Research and Writing) plus 60-credit 20,000 word level 9 dissertation.
Dissertation and theses courses last six months each (with two being taken concurrently for full-time study. To allow time for writing and approval of a research proposal before starting, there are multiple enrolment intakes for theses/dissertation courses throughout the year. Please refer to additional information for intake dates.

There are recommended and/or required courses specific to the MTh(PL) programme. Please refer to the programme summary for more information.

GPA of 7.0 (B) or higher in BTh.
The normal pathway to MTh is through a PGDipTh.
Additional to the Postgraduate entry requirements: • Admission in the programme requires evidence of a minimum of five years’ recognised ministry leadership experience (or similar approved experience); • Applicants must complete a police check; • Applicants must complete a questionnaire and may be required to have an interview. • Applicants must provide a written reference from a senior ministry leader.
Special Entry* Special admission for the Master of Theology (Pastoral Leadership) is possible for students with a GradCertTh(PL) and a GPA of 7.0 or higher.

Please refer here and here for full entry requirements.

* Transport costs to or from gatherings not included

What makes the counselling program so great is definitely the formative aspect — from year one, we have process groups where you're practicing counselling skills and sharing stories with one another. It's teaching that's both personal, coming from the lecturers' own experience, and knowledge-based — you've got your head, heart, and hand."

Charity Brons | Bachelor of Counselling Student

Additional Information

Students with a GPA of 7.0 (B) or higher in their PGDipTh courses are eligible to progress to MTh through one of the following options:

Enter the 120-credit MTh programme which consists of a 40,000 word Level 9 Thesis.*

Transfer their PGDipTh credits to a 240-credit MTh

enrolment and complete:

One more L8 course plus a 90-credit, 30,000 word L9

Thesis.*

Two more L8 courses plus a 60-credit, 20,000 word L9

Dissertation. *

*A pre-requisite for L9 entry is successful completion of
the R351 Postgraduate Research and Writing course. If a PGDipTh student plans to progress onto the 120-credit MTh this course needs to be taken as part of the PGDipTh.

Graduate Outcomes

Evaluate critically a wide spectrum of literature in each of the coursework areas and in the areas of research undertaken.
Demonstrate mastery of the isssues of debate in each of these areas.
Give a fair and informed account of representative points of view in each subject area.
Write a coherent narrative survey which is internally consistent, interacts critically with central issues, and demonstrates ability to form a reasoned opinion.
Utilise sound hermeneutical principles in contextualising biblical theology within the subject areas studied.
Demonstrate the distinctive contribution of biblical and theological principles to central issues in their subject areas.
Participate in the international academic discussion of their field of study with a competence appropriate to Master’s level.
Reflect on the professional, ethical and relational implications of their study for ministry in the modern world.
Make available to the service of the church appropriate aspects of current scholarship in their field of study.