Overview

The aim of the Postgraduate Diploma in Chaplaincy (PGDipChap) is to enhance chaplaincy in a range of contemporary settings through engagement with current scholarship into the practice of chaplaincy.

The Diploma is designed as a professional qualification for those who serve as chaplains in a variety of settings and who seek advanced professional education to enhance their work, and for those who want to train to be chaplains.

The admission requirement is a degree or equivalent three-year qualification (not necessarily in Theology) with satisfactory grades. In cases where a person's prior qualifications do not include theological study, he or she may be required to undertake one or more 300-level papers in Theology in order to satisfy the prerequisites for specific 400-level papers in Biblical Studies (BIBS) and/or Christian Thought and History (CHTH).

The coursework consists of six 20-point 400-level taught papers, of which three are core papers in the area of Chaplaincy (within the Ministry study area) and three are selected from a list of additional papers offered in the areas of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought and History and Ministry Studies.

Please note: The majority of this programme of study is taught via Distance Learning.  This means that an international student who wishes to enrol for this programme will almost certainly be unable to be granted a student visa to study in New Zealand. Such a visa requires the majority of study to be in-person learning, and this programme does not fulfil this requirement. However, international students can enrol for this programme, remain in their home country and undertake the programme via distance learning (mainly Zoom videoconferences).  Conditions of a student visa in New Zealand are explained here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/#44871.htm