The aim of the Master of Chaplaincy (MChap) degree is to enhance chaplaincy in a whole range of contemporary settings, through engagement with current scholarship into the practice of chaplaincy.
The Master of Chaplaincy 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 requirements are a degree or equivalent three-year qualification 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 component of the degree consists of six 20-point 400-level taught papers, of which three are core papers in the area of Chaplaincy and three are selected from a list of additional papers offered in the areas of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought and History and Ministry Studies.
The degree also involves the completion of a Research Project worth 60 points in some area of Chaplaincy of around 20,000 words, related to issues emerging from the contemporary practice of Chaplaincy. The Research Methods Workshops offered by the Theology Programme, PAST 212 Research Methods, or an equivalent paper, is required as a prerequisite for enrolment in the Research Project (MINS 590). The degree is designed to enhance a graduate's professional practice of Chaplaincy and to enable advanced reflection and research on the practice of Chaplaincy.
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:
A research dissertation (MINS 590) with a value of 60 points embodying the results of supervised research.
Note: With approval from the Head of the Theology programme, MINS 590 may be taken on a part-time and/or part-year basis.
A candidate who has been awarded the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Chaplaincy may be exempted from those papers in the programme for the degree which have been previously passed for the certificate or diploma.
With prior approval, relevant postgraduate papers worth up to the equivalent of 40 points may be credited from another department or from another university or tertiary institution.
Duration of the Programme
The programme shall normally be completed on a part-time basis and requires the equivalent of 18 months of full-time study.
A candidate shall satisfy the requirements for the degree within six years of admission to the programme.
Examination of the Research Dissertation
The Head of Programme (or nominee) shall appoint a Convenor of Examiners who shall oversee the examination of each research dissertation.
The research dissertation shall be examined by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall normally be external to the University.
Where both examiners are internal to the University, the examined research dissertation shall be subject to external moderation.
The candidate's supervisor(s) shall not be an examiner.
Each examiner shall supply a written report on the research dissertation and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the work as submitted.
Where the examiners cannot agree on a result, the Head of Programme should so report to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.
Witdrawal from the Programme
Where a candidate withdraws from the programme after completing the prescribed papers, but does not complete the research dissertation, the Pro- Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects, or determine which papers shall be credited towards the Diploma.
Level of Award of the Degree
The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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