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The Government has announced the addition of a new Undergraduate Certificate to the AQF which can be taken at level 5, 6, or 7. Undergraduate Certificate is a short award to help meet a need during this COVID19 time to help people study/upskill.
Undergraduate Certificate Programs & Specific Regulations
| Entry Requirements | – Satisfactory completion of Year 10 in the Australian school system, or its equivalent and if still in the secondary school a written recommendation from the school principal; OR – Special Entry Admissions for those with evidence of capacity for successful study at this level. |
| Duration | Six months full-time or two years part-time. |
| Mode | Full-time, part-time. |
| Structure | 36 credit points (4 units) from the list of approved units listed in **Schedule 1. |
| English Proficiency | Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.0 with no result below 5.5. |
Enrolment
Contact the Registrar of the college with whom you intend to study for enrolment and fee details.
Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry (CertMin) is offered at:
International students cannot enrol in the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry.
Graduate Profile and Rationale
The Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry provides students with the opportunity to undertake AQF Level 5 study in practical ministry-oriented disciplines, in order to enhance their prospects of employment in a ministry setting, within a church or para-church context.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry provides an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills appropriate for engagement in practical Christian ministry within a limited scope of defined operation.
Outcomes
Graduates will have:
Knowledge
Introductory biblical and theological knowledge and knowledge of technical concepts and processes involved in a practical area of service as a basis for effective performance and for further learning
Skills
Cognitive, communication, and technical skills in a ministry-related body of knowledge, so that they are able to:
Applications of Knowledge and Skills
The ability to:
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS for the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry
| 1 | Admission to Candidature | |||
| 1.1 | An applicant for admission to candidature for an Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry shall: | |||
| 1.1.1 | have satisfactorily completed Year 10 in the Australian school system, or its equivalent; and if still in secondary school have a written recommendation from the School Principal; OR | |||
| 1.1.2 | have adequate grounds for Special Entry with evidence of capacity for successful study at this level. | |||
| 1.2 | A candidate for the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry shall be designated as full-time or part-time. A student is designated as full-time if enrolled in three units (27 credit points) in one semester or part-time if enrolled in less than three units (27 credit points) in one semester. | |||
| 1.3 | No candidate for the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry may be concurrently enrolled in any other undergraduate or postgraduate course within the Sydney College of Divinity. Candidates may enrol in awards of other tertiary institutions with the approval of the Academic Board of the Member Institution. | |||
| 1.4 | Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally will be required to demonstrate competency in English by an IELTS (or equivalent) result of 6.0 with no score below 5.5. | |||
| 1.5 | Application for enrolment in the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry is made to the Registrar of the appropriate Teaching Body offering the program. | |||
| 2 | Course Structure | |||
| 2.1 | The Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry requires the completion of 36 credit points (4 units) which shall include: | |||
| 2.1.1 | 9 credit points from the list of units in Part A of **Schedule 1 of units for the award; | |||
| 2.1.2 | 18 credit points from the list of units in Part B of **Schedule 1 of units for the award; | |||
| 2.1.3 | 9 credit points from any other units in **Schedule 1 of units for the award. | |||
| 2.2 | Where equivalent AQF 7 units are available, the above requirements may be met through the taking of AQF 7 units instead. | |||
| 3 | Period of Candidature | |||
| 3.1 | The period of candidature for the Undergraduate Certificate shall be 0.5 year (one semester) full-time or two years (four semesters) part-time. | |||
| 3.2 | In certain circumstances, the Student Support and Administration Committee may grant extensions. | |||
| 4 | Leave of Absence | |||
| 4.1 | The Student Support and Administration Committee may grant leave of absence from the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry. The period of leave shall not be counted as part of the period of candidature for the Certificate. | |||
| 4.2 | The period of leave shall normally be one semester after which a candidate may apply for a further period of one semester or will be required to complete candidature. | |||
| 5 | Assessment | |||
| 5.1 | The assessment of subject units shall be in the manner approved by the Academic Board in line with the College’s established guidelines for assessment packages. | |||
| 5.2 | Students may be required by the Academic Board to present themselves for oral examination. | |||
| 5.3 | Academic and non-academic misconduct will be penalised in accordance with the regulations of the Sydney College of Divinity, whose stipulations are severe. | |||
| 6 | Credit | |||
| 6.1 | A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 18 credit points in the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry. | |||
| 6.2 | Credit will be granted for units that are from an equivalent award or institution and have outcomes, content, demand hours, and assessment equivalent to that of units in the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry. | |||
| 7 | Progress to Further Awards | |||
| 7.1 | Students who complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry will be eligible to proceed to the SCD Diploma of Ministry or Diploma of Theology with full credit of 36 credit points. | |||
| 7.2 | Students who complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry with AQF 7 units in the award will be eligible to proceed to the Bachelor of Ministry or Bachelor of Theology with a maximum of 36 credit points according to the number of AQF 7 units taken (9 credit points each). | |||
| 8 | Saving Clause | |||
| 8.1 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Academic Board of the Sydney College of Divinity may, in any case in which it may deem it appropriate to do so, vary, dispense with or suspend any requirement or prescription by these regulations, and report forthwith to the Council of the Sydney College of Divinity. | |||
The list of approved units for the Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry:
| Entry Requirements | – Satisfactory completion of Year 12 in the Australian school system, or its equivalent and if still in secondary school a written recommendation from the school principal; OR – Mature Age and Special Entry Admissions for those with evidence of capacity for successful study at this level |
| Duration | Six months full-time or one year part-time. |
| Mode | Full-time, part-time. |
| Structure | 36 credit points (4 units) comprising one 9 credit point unit in each of Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology and 18 credit points in elective units, as listed in **Schedule 1. |
| English Proficiency | Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 with no result below 6.0. |
Enrolment
International students cannot enrol in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology.
Graduate Profile and Rationale
The Undergraduate Certificate in Theology is a higher education qualification at AQF level 7. It qualifies students with foundational knowledge and skills in Christian theology, equipping them for further study, professional upskilling, ministry practice, or lifelong learning.
Outcomes
Knowledge
Graduates will have introductory biblical and theological knowledge which will serve as a basis for further learning.
Skills
Graduates will have cognitive, communication, and technical skills, so that they are able to:
Applications of Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will have the ability to:
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS for the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology
| 1 | Admission to Candidature | |||
| 1.1 | An applicant for admission to candidature for the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology shall: | |||
| 1.1.1 | have satisfactorily completed Year 12 in the Australian school system, or its equivalent; OR | |||
| 1.1.2 | have reached the age of 21 and so satisfy the requirements for Mature age entry with evidence of capacity for successful study at this level; OR | |||
| 1.1.3 | have adequate grounds for Special Entry. | |||
| 1.2 | A candidate for the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology shall be designated as full-time or part-time. A student is designated as full-time if enrolled in three units (27 credit points) in a semester or part-time if enrolled in less than three units (27 credit points) per semester. | |||
| 1.3 | No candidate for the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology may be concurrently enrolled in any other undergraduate or postgraduate course within the Sydney College of Divinity or any other tertiary institution unless approval has been granted by the Academic Board. | |||
| 1.4 | Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally will be required to demonstrate competency in English by an IELTS (or equivalent) result of 6.5 with no score below 6.0. | |||
| 1.5 | Application for enrolment in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology is made to the Registrar of the appropriate Teaching Body offering the program. | |||
| 2 | Course Structure | |||
| 2.1 | The Undergraduate Certificate in Theology requires the completion of 36 credit points (4 units) which shall include | |||
| 2.1.1 | 9 credit points in Biblical Studies from the list of units in section A of **Schedule 1 of units for the award; | |||
| 2.1.2 | 9 credit points in Systematic Theology from the list of units in section B of **Schedule 1 of units for the award; | |||
| 2.1.3 | 18 credit points from any other units in section C of **Schedule 1 of units for the award. | |||
| 3 | Period of Candidature | |||
| 3.1 | The period of candidature for the Undergraduate Certificate shall be one semester full-time or two semesters part-time. | |||
| 3.2 | In certain circumstances, the Student Support and Administration Committee may grant extensions. | |||
| 4 | Leave of Absence | |||
| 4.1 | The Student Support and Administration Committee may grant leave of absence from the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology. The period of leave will not be counted as part of the period of candidature for the award. | |||
| 4.2 | The period of leave shall normally be one semester after which a candidate may apply for a further period of one semester or will be required to complete candidature. | |||
| 5 | Assessment | |||
| 5.1 | The assessment of subject units shall be in the manner approved by the Academic Board in line with the College’s established guidelines for assessment packages. | |||
| 5.2 | Students may be required by the Academic Board to present themselves for oral examination. | |||
| 5.3 | Academic and non-academic misconduct will be penalised in accordance with the regulations of the Sydney College of Divinity, whose stipulations are severe. | |||
| 6 | Credit | |||
| 6.1 | A candidate may seek credit for up to a maximum of 18 credit points in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology. | |||
| 6.2 | Credit will be granted for units that are from an equivalent award or institution and have outcomes, content, demand hours, and assessment equivalent to that of units in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology. | |||
| 7 | Progress to Further Awards | |||
| 7.1 | All units satisfactorily completed in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology may be credited towards an SCD Diploma, Associate Degree, or Bachelor award, on condition that a completed CertTh will be surrendered prior to graduation in that award. | |||
| 8 | Saving Clause | |||
| 8.1 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Academic Board of the Sydney College of Divinity may, in any case in which it may deem it appropriate to do so, vary, dispense with or suspend any requirement or prescription by these regulations, and report forthwith to the Council of the Sydney College of Divinity. | |||
**Schedule 1
The list of approved units for the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology:
