Ready for research?

The basic requirements for entry to the PhD program are:

• Completion of a minor thesis of no less than 16,000 words with a grade of 75% or higher,
• Completion of a postgraduate degree or a four year undergraduate degree from an approved institution,
• Demonstrated English language competency for ESL students.

Once you have demonstrated that you meet these requirements, ALC Research will work with you to find a supervisor and develop a research proposal.

If you have fulfilled most of these requirements, or you have extensive professional experience in your intended field of research, you may still qualify. Contact ALC Research to discuss your options.

ALC does not offer specific scholarships for research degrees. However:

• An interest-free loan may be available for students intending to work or who are already working full-time in lay or ordained ministry in the LCA. Ministry includes service in a Lutheran school, child care centre or kindergarten.
• The University of Divinity (UD) awards a limited number of scholarships to PhD students for full cover of tuition fees. These can be awarded to both full-time and part-time students, and favour applicants with high quality research proposals. Scholarships for living expenses may be awarded in exceptional cases. See Research scholarships for further information.

Yes. We work with students who plan to reside in Australia on a student visa for the length of their study, as well as students who plan to do their research while living partially or entirely in their own countries. The ALC Research team can work with you to organise enrolment.

We recommend looking into the qualifications offered above:

• Graduate Certificate of Research Methodology (GCRM)
• Graduate Diploma of Divinity (GDDiv)
• Minor Thesis, or
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS).

Alternatively, the Master of Philosophy degree may suit for smaller-scale research. It has a shorter duration and lower cost, and can be upgraded to a PhD with the required level of progress. Contact ALC Research for further information.

The GCRM combines a Research Methodologies coursework unit and a minor thesis. It can be completed in 1 semester full-time, or up to 2 years part‑time.

If you have professional expertise or a high level of knowledge in your intended field of research, but have no research training, the GCRM will teach you the skills required to undertake research at Masters or PhD level. You will be required to gain a grade of 75 or higher (Distinction or High Distinction) for the Minor Thesis.

The GDDiv is recommended for students who have bachelor level qualifications but have not yet studied at the postgraduate level. It is the equivalent of an Honours year, is shorter than a coursework Masters by one full-time semester and is a perfect opportunity to study in theological areas at depth, prior to enrolling in a research degree.

It allows you to take three coursework units first to gain deep background knowledge or required language skills in the area you intend to research, then to add one semester of units from the Graduate Certificate in Research Methodology. If your bachelor degree was in theology or a related discipline, the initial units allow you to practise the analytical and writing skills required at the postgraduate level before you embark on the Minor Thesis.

However, if your bachelor degree was not in theology or a related discipline, we suggest you consider enrolling in a (coursework) Masters in Theological Studies or Masters in Education and Theology, in which you incorporate the Minor Thesis or a 2-unit capstone research project. This will allow you to gain required foundational knowledge.

The shortest path is to enrol in the Minor Thesis. This can be done as a stand-alone non-award unit. You won’t receive a certificate or any other qualification, but can prepare your enrolment for the PhD while researching and writing the thesis. Admission to the PhD is not automatic and will be conditional on the grade that the thesis receives on examination.