Doctor of Theology (D.Th.)
The pinnacle of theological scholarship at NESIBIC. A 3–5 year doctoral programme for senior ministers and theological researchers committed to advancing the Church through original scholarship.
The Pinnacle of Theological Scholarship
The Doctor of Theology is NESIBIC's highest academic award, reserved for those who demonstrate exceptional ministerial experience, theological depth, and a commitment to original research. The D.Th. programme advances the frontiers of theological knowledge and equips scholars to make lasting contributions to the Church and academy.
The programme is primarily research-based, with a limited number of advanced doctoral seminars in the first year. Students work closely with a faculty supervisor to develop, research, and defend an original doctoral thesis of 50,000–80,000 words.
Year 1 — Doctoral Seminars
| Code | Course Title | Dept. | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS 601 | Doctoral Research Methodology | BTS | 3 |
| BTS 602 | Contemporary Theological Debates | BTS | 3 |
| CEL 601 | Theology, Church & Society | CEL | 3 |
| BTS 603 | Thesis Proposal Defence | BTS | 3 |
| Trimester Total | 12 | ||
| Code | Course Title | Dept. | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS 604 | Advanced Hermeneutical Theory | BTS | 3 |
| MML 601 | Transformational Church Leadership | MML | 3 |
| BTS 605 | Doctoral Seminar — Literature Review | BTS | 3 |
| Trimester Total | 9 | ||
| Code | Course Title | Dept. | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS 606 | Doctoral Seminar — Theological Writing | BTS | 3 |
| BTS 607 | Supervised Research I — Chapter Draft | BTS | 6 |
| Trimester Total | 9 | ||
Years 2–5 — Doctoral Research
Years 2–5 are dedicated entirely to supervised doctoral research. Under close faculty supervision, students research, write, and defend an original thesis that makes a substantive contribution to theological knowledge.
Thesis Requirement
An original doctoral thesis of 50,000–80,000 words, successfully defended before an internal and external examination panel.