The purpose of this qualification is to empower and equip people to critically engage in theological enquiry in the context of Aotearoa and Oceania. It seeks to assist the Church in its search to become contextually relevant and prophetic in its public witness. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of justice in the outworking of such enquiry with special reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the bicultural partnership. This qualification is theologically and biblically grounded, ministry oriented, ecumenically and pluralistically sensitive, integrated with practical experience, and informed by Māori and Oceanic cultural and knowledge traditions. This qualification is structured in order to recognise the advanced knowledge and skills required in a variety of professions and contexts.

Graduates will be able to:
Identify and critically analyse connections between current biblical scholarship and contextual issues and use this analysis to initiate new interpretation and radical engagements in church and society.

Understand and critically evaluate the prevailing theological discourses, and create alternative perspectives and practices
privileging the voices from the margins.

Interrogate critically the prevailing dominant exclusive and supremacist theologies, and construct theological and missional
perspectives and practices that affirm religious diversity and engage in creating life-affirming communities in communion with neighbours of other faiths and no faith.

Critically analyse both Christian history and spiritual practices with a view to transforming contemporary ministry into justice-oriented
action.

Interrogate and transform the church into a just, bi-cultural and inclusive community informed by Māori and Oceanic socio-cultural
and theological knowledge and traditions.

Level 8 postgraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees

To be admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Theology, applicants must:
* Complete the application process for admission into the College (if not a current student);
* Be 16 years old or above;
* Be a New Zealand citizen or resident;
and meet at least one of the following requirements:
* Passed NCEA Level 3 and/or University Entrance exam;
* Completed the College's Diploma in Methodist Studies (DipMS L5);
* Completed the New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies (NZDipCS L6);
* Completed the College's Advanced Diploma in Religious Studies (ADipRS L7);
* Hold a qualification in a related field from a New Zealand or an overseas provider.

Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction
may be admitted to the award providing they have achieved competency in English by
* achieving an IELTS (or equivalent) result of 6.5 with no score below 6.0 in all bands of the test or
* achieving an IELTS result of 6.0 with no score below 6.0 in all bands of the test providing they pass all course units
in the first two semesters of the course.