Short Courses
Short courses offer many ways to study. They are an inexpensive and flexible way to build towards the vocation you want or a good way to expand your personal learning and professional development.
Short Course Options
Short courses can be taken in two ways:
For the Joy of Learning (Audit)
This option means there is no coursework or assignments but full participation in the class.
- Undergraduate course Fee: £90
- Postgraduate course Fee: £270
For more advanced learning (Credit)
Classes can also be taken for NTC credit (dependent on completing successfully the coursework or assignments) without committing to a University of Manchester programme. However, up to 6 earned NTC credit units at level 4 can be transferred into the first year of a University of Manchester undergraduate programme.
- Undergraduate course Fee: £225 for first 10 credit unit taken and £360 thereafter for each 10 credit unit
- Postgraduate course Fee: £1575 Includes coursework and credit
- Postgraduate course International Fee: £2150
Autumn 2022 Courses
Undergraduate Level
Weekly, from Monday 26th September 2022 to Wednesday 14th December 2022
- Introduction to Biblical Studies (BS4110) – In Person and Online Options
- Introduce yourself to the world of biblical studies, looking at the origins of texts and their authority, and considering a range of approaches to biblical studies, from ancient to contemporary.
- Mondays, 11:20am – 1:00pm (in person) or Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:15pm (online)
- Introduce yourself to the world of biblical studies, looking at the origins of texts and their authority, and considering a range of approaches to biblical studies, from ancient to contemporary.
- Islam in Contemporary Britain (ST6330)
- This module introduces students to Islam and the Muslim community in the UK and beyond, with a view to building relationships across cultures and religions.
- Mondays, 11:20am – 1:00pm
- This module introduces students to Islam and the Muslim community in the UK and beyond, with a view to building relationships across cultures and religions.
- Torah (OT5201)
- An overview of the content, structure and theology of the Pentateuch and the cultural and historical background that informs our understanding of these narratives.
- Mondays, 1:45pm – 3:25pm
- An overview of the content, structure and theology of the Pentateuch and the cultural and historical background that informs our understanding of these narratives.
- Knowing God: Christian Hope (CT6000)
- This course will investigate the theology of Christian hope. Students will explore how our hopes shape our lives, and learn about the particular hopes that have permeated the church across history.
- Mondays, 1:45pm – 3:25pm
- This course will investigate the theology of Christian hope. Students will explore how our hopes shape our lives, and learn about the particular hopes that have permeated the church across history.
- Contemporary Issues: Theology and Science (ST4190/6390)
- Explore aspects of a key social issue from an interdisciplinary perspective, within an open evangelical Christian context, and with application to contemporary social issues and the church.
- Mondays, 3.40pm – 5:20pm
- Explore aspects of a key social issue from an interdisciplinary perspective, within an open evangelical Christian context, and with application to contemporary social issues and the church.
- Theology and Visual Arts (ST4120)
- We will consider the relationship between visual arts, church, and culture through a range of art forms from iconography to photography, sacred spaces and representations of Biblical stories.
- Mondays, 3.40pm – 5:20pm
- We will consider the relationship between visual arts, church, and culture through a range of art forms from iconography to photography, sacred spaces and representations of Biblical stories.
- Story of God (BS4130)
- Encounter the grand narrative of scripture with focus on the mission of God from creation to the new heaven and earth and prepare yourself for further studies in biblical theology.
- Tuesdays, 9.15am – 10.55am
- Encounter the grand narrative of scripture with focus on the mission of God from creation to the new heaven and earth and prepare yourself for further studies in biblical theology.
- Knowing God as Triune (CT5001)
- Examine the explicitly Christian belief that God is “triune” as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Students will learn how the doctrine of the Trinity opens up new depths for Christian spirituality and prayer.
- Tuesdays, 9.15am – 10.55am
- Examine the explicitly Christian belief that God is “triune” as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Students will learn how the doctrine of the Trinity opens up new depths for Christian spirituality and prayer.
- Social Justice (ST6305)
- Explore concepts of Christian social justice from theological, biblical and practical perspectives and deepen your understanding of the complex world we live in, including its many injustices.
- Tuesdays, 9.15am – 10.55am
- Explore concepts of Christian social justice from theological, biblical and practical perspectives and deepen your understanding of the complex world we live in, including its many injustices.
- Knowing God in Christ (CT4000)
- Learn to think theologically through a detailed examination of Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ. Students will discover that theology is not a list of facts about belief, but a way of thinking about God and the world.
- Tuesdays, 1:45pm – 3:25pm
- Learn to think theologically through a detailed examination of Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ. Students will discover that theology is not a list of facts about belief, but a way of thinking about God and the world.
- Paul and His Epistles (NT5202)
- This course considers the life and teaching of Paul in the light of modern historical study. It draws on the relevant ancient material and surveys the contents of some of the Pauline epistles.
- Tuesdays, 1:45pm – 3:25pm
- This course considers the life and teaching of Paul in the light of modern historical study. It draws on the relevant ancient material and surveys the contents of some of the Pauline epistles.
- New Testament Greek (NT5301)
- Learn the basic elements of Greek grammar and begin translation of selected Greek New Testament texts.
- Tuesdays, 3.40pm – 5:20pm
- Learn the basic elements of Greek grammar and begin translation of selected Greek New Testament texts.
- Church History (CH4120)
- An introduction to the history of the Christian Church from its earliest beginnings in Jerusalem to the turn of the twenty-first century.
- Wednesdays, 9.15am – 10.55am
- An introduction to the history of the Christian Church from its earliest beginnings in Jerusalem to the turn of the twenty-first century.
- Hermeneutics (BS6310)
- An overarching view of the history and philosophy behind biblical interpretation with particular attention to the relationship between Bible and theology and questions of the adequacy of a variety of approaches to the text as Christian scripture.
- Wednesdays, 9.15am – 1:00pm (with a 20 minute break)
- An overarching view of the history and philosophy behind biblical interpretation with particular attention to the relationship between Bible and theology and questions of the adequacy of a variety of approaches to the text as Christian scripture.
- Early and Medieval Church (CH5201)
- This unit gives detailed attention to important historical and theological developments in the Early Church from Pentecost and concluding with close of the Middle Ages at the end of the fifteenth century, just prior to the advent of the Reformation.
- Wednesdays, 11:20am – 3:35pm (with a 45 minute lunch break)
- This unit gives detailed attention to important historical and theological developments in the Early Church from Pentecost and concluding with close of the Middle Ages at the end of the fifteenth century, just prior to the advent of the Reformation.
- Spiritual Formation (PT4130) – In Person and Online options
- Explore the voluntary responses of the individual believer to the saving grace of God in Christ, individual relationships with God through the Holy Spirit and the community of believers.
- Wednesdays, 1:45pm – 3:25pm (in person) or Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:15pm (online)
- Explore the voluntary responses of the individual believer to the saving grace of God in Christ, individual relationships with God through the Holy Spirit and the community of believers.
- Contexts of Mission (ST4180) – Online
- Learn how to identify diverse contexts and challenges of mission, with practical understanding of methods and processes and biblical and theological evaluation of current trends and localised factors.
- Wednesdays, 7:30pm -9:15pm
- Learn how to identify diverse contexts and challenges of mission, with practical understanding of methods and processes and biblical and theological evaluation of current trends and localised factors.
Postgraduate Level
Weekly, from Monday 26th September 2022 to Wednesday 14th December 2022
- Holiness in Biblical Perspective (BS7600)
- Develop a critical and coherent biblical theology of Christian holiness based upon representative samples of sound biblical interpretation.
- Mondays, 2:00pm – 5:00pm, In Person and Online
- Develop a critical and coherent biblical theology of Christian holiness based upon representative samples of sound biblical interpretation.
- Models of Theological Reflection (PT7620 )
- This unit examines the fundamental approach of practical theology, including action research and a variety of models for theological reflection. The models are explored in detail and located within practical and theoretical ministry experience.
- Tuesdays, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
- This unit examines the fundamental approach of practical theology, including action research and a variety of models for theological reflection. The models are explored in detail and located within practical and theoretical ministry experience.
- Prayer and Personhood (CT7650)
- The unit examines the construction of the self in the Christian practice of prayer, explores different accounts of personhood, and examines how the Christian practice(s) of prayer constitute identity as identity-in-relation.
- Social Entrepreneurship (PT7633)
- Reflect critically on essential characteristics of entrepreneurial leaders – how can Christians be such leaders in churches, social enterprises, and the charity sectors? This unit focuses particularly on the personal qualities required of social entrepreneurs, to ensure that such leadership is faith based, sustainable, and innovative enough for long term change.
- Offered in Birmingham (via Seedbeds) over 3 residential weekends in November – all day Friday / Saturdays – Nov 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
- Reflect critically on essential characteristics of entrepreneurial leaders – how can Christians be such leaders in churches, social enterprises, and the charity sectors? This unit focuses particularly on the personal qualities required of social entrepreneurs, to ensure that such leadership is faith based, sustainable, and innovative enough for long term change.
- Foundations of Understanding and Practising Community (ST7701)
- This course asks what we mean when we say that we want to change the world. It addresses the dislocation and injustice present in people, communities and whole systems in society. It challenges students to develop a new ‘godly imagination’ for restoration, hope and shalom, and looks at frameworks for activating that imagination.
- 29th September – 1st October (all day) + online weekly evening seminars + 7th – 9th November (all day)
- This course asks what we mean when we say that we want to change the world. It addresses the dislocation and injustice present in people, communities and whole systems in society. It challenges students to develop a new ‘godly imagination’ for restoration, hope and shalom, and looks at frameworks for activating that imagination.
- The Kingdom of God, Power and Social Change (ST7702)
- This course aims to equip Christian practitioners with tools to seek God’s shalom in their contexts, working to transform organisations, communities and systems. It engages with ideas of God’s kingdom, and asks if participatory engagement leads to ‘a deeply rooted change in people’s economic, social, political, spiritual, and behavioural conditions resulting in their enjoyment of wholeness of life under God’s ordinances.’ (Myers 2011)
- 9th – 11th November (all day) + online weekly evening seminars + 15th – 17th December (all day)
- This course aims to equip Christian practitioners with tools to seek God’s shalom in their contexts, working to transform organisations, communities and systems. It engages with ideas of God’s kingdom, and asks if participatory engagement leads to ‘a deeply rooted change in people’s economic, social, political, spiritual, and behavioural conditions resulting in their enjoyment of wholeness of life under God’s ordinances.’ (Myers 2011)
Online Units
Each year, a number of our modules are available to study online. These are ideal as CPD for teachers and ministers, or for those looking to fit their learning around work, or those who live further afield!
NTC Online
NTC Online is an exciting new initiative, of non-validated short courses, designed for persons who have an interest in learning more about the Bible, theology, church history, or ministry, but do not have the time, nor the need, to pursue a degree-level qualification*.
Manchester Bible School
Manchester Bible School courses are suitable for Christians with a basic grounding in the faith, but who want to increase their knowledge of God’s Word to help them in their Christian lives and service. Some courses aim to introduce topics, while others will build on previous courses to deepen engagement with the topic.
Manchester Bible School Homepage