Common Awards
Common Awards are qualifications for ordinands and lay ministers within the Church of England and its partners in the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed churches, delivered in a three-way partnership between theological education institutions, the churches, and Durham University.[1][2]
History=
[edit]Before 2014, theological education institutions (TEIs) within the Church of England used local universities to validate their qualifications. From September 2014 they have offered awards common across all institutions, validated by Durham University.[3] The intention behind the move to Common Award was to offer greater coherence and consistency across training institutions.
In 2022, St Stephen's House, Oxford was forced to give up its status as a Permanent Private Hall (PPH) of the University of Oxford in order to continue delivering Common Awards as that university decided not to allow a PPH to deliver qualifications from another university.[4]
Description
[edit]The Common Awards include certificates, diplomas and degrees. They provide for ordinands from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, with entry requirements of one A level or equivalent and an allowance for admission based on 'relevant work experience'.[5]
A wide variety of courses are offered at various levels of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ):[6]
- Foundation Award in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 4; 60 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 4; 120 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education in Christian, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 5; 180 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 5; 240 credits)
- BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 6; 360 credits)
- Graduate Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission to postgraduate studies (FHEQ level 6; 60 credits)
- Graduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission to postgraduate studies (FHEQ level 6; 120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 60 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 60 credits)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 120 credits)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 120 credits)
- MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)
- MA in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)
- MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)
Participating institutions
[edit]The Theological Education Institutes validated by Durham University on the Common Awards as of June 2026[update] are:[7]
- Cambridge Theological Federation
- Cranmer Hall, Durham
- Lindisfarne College of Theology, North Shields
- The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham
- Ripon College Cuddesdon and Oxford Ministry Course, Oxfordshire
- St Mellitus College, London
- St Stephen's House, Oxford
- St Augustine's College of Theology, West Malling, Kent
- South West Ministry Training Course, Exeter
- Trinity College with Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
- Yorkshire Theological Education Partnership
- South Central Theological Education Institution, Guildford, Oxford, and Winchester
- Scottish Episcopal Institute
- The Eastern Region Ministry Course, Cambridge
- Luther King Centre, Manchester
- St Padarn's Institute, Llandaff
- Emmanuel Theological College, Liverpool and the North West
- Sarum College, Salisbury
- Oak Hill College, London
References
[edit]- ^ "Common Awards (Theology, Ministry and Mission)". Durham University. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "The Common Awards in Theology and Ministry" (PDF). University of Durham. October 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "About the Common Awards". The Church of England. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
- ^ Andy Wei (30 December 2022). "St Stephen's gives up PPH status to exclusively train priests". Cherwell.
- ^ Madeleine Davies (25 June 2021). "Ordinands without higher-education qualifications can thrive, say principals of theological colleges". Church Times.
- ^ "Programme Specifications". Common Awards. Durham University. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ "Our partner Theological Education Institutions (TEIs)". Common Awards. Durham University. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Common Awards at Durham University
- National Ministry Team of the Church of England