Course summary
The Theology and Worship Studies programme is unique within Europe, equipping students to reflect on, plan and lead worship across a broad spectrum of worshipping traditions, musical styles and church contexts, within a robust theological framework. This programme, offered at Certificate, Diploma and Degree levels, is aimed at those with a keen interest in music and worship ministry who would like to develop their knowledge and practical skills as musicians and reflective worship practitioners. The core curriculum encompasses vocal and instrumental studies, ensemble work, practical worship ministry, history, fieldwork and case studies, together with essential theological learning. In the second and third year, students select from a range of options to further their learning in theology, worship and/or creative music skills. Musical training is a core part of the programme, and we cater for people from a range of backgrounds. Through weekly group classes, students have the opportunity to strengthen and consolidate both vocal and instrumental skills, specifically for use in the context of musical worship. Those who already have a more established performance practice (with a minimum standard of grade 5 or above) can apply for weekly one-toone tuition on their chosen instrument/voice, in lieu of the group vocal and instrumental classes. This is offered on a case-by-case basis, and students pursuing this option will be required to dedicate significant time to honing their practice, and to perform in a public recital each year. All students are encouraged to sing in one of the choirs. Students learn from highly respected names in worship, theology, and the arts. Faculty members and visiting lecturers have published in leading publications on music, worship and theology. They regularly speak at national and international conferences, lead worship at major Christian conferences around the world, and have contributed to BBC programmes like Songs of Praise and Sunday Worship. Their work includes producing worship resources, creating interactive faith-based art, and leading longterm church ministries. Every lesson blends their academic expertise and cutting-edge research with real-world experience and a strong theological foundation. The music and worship modules are only available on-campus although theology modules on this programme can be studied either on-campus or online. You can change study mode each academic year, though not halfway through the year as the modules are taught and timetabled differently in each mode. Time Commitment For full-time students it is expected that you will be able to commit around 40 hours per week to your studies. For on-campus study, this normally equates to around 12 hours of lectures and 30 hours of personal study time with onsite lectures taking place 9am– 6pm on Mondays to Fridays. Students studying online modules will need to commit the same amount of time, though students can work more flexibly to complete their weekly study hours. Online and blended students may work more flexibly but will need to be able to commit the same amount of time overall.
Modules
Core Modules: Person and Work of Christ, Jesus and the Gospels, Genesis Prophets and God, Spiritual Theology 2, Corporate Worship Studies, Congregational Worship Studies: Theory and Method. Optional Modules: Youth and Worship, Multimedia and Multisensory, Rehearsing for Worship, Songwriting, Ethnomusicology, Ensemble Performance, Sequencing and Arranging, Music Philosophy and God, Relational Theology, Sin Grace and Eschatology, Scripture Exegesis and Hermeneutics, Pastoral Care, Old Testament Hebrew 1, New Testament Greek 1a, Preaching. Music for Worship: Vocal Studies, Instrumental Skills.
Assessment method
Because we are seeking a broad range of learning in the programme, assessment takes a variety of forms as appropriate to the topic being studied both for Onsite and Distance Education / Online students: ▪ Essays, which allow a student to develop a line of thought around a set question or topic. ▪ Presentations to a class, which can include written notes of the presentation. ▪ Quizzes and tests, which focus on particular areas of knowledge and understanding and take place in the classroom. ▪ Examinations, which may be ‘unseen’ or ‘seen’ in advance of sitting the paper. These permit a range of material to be assessed, notably in courses which have a strong survey or content focus. These are formally assessed and take place under exam conditions. ▪ Sermon scripts or other teaching material, especially where a module focuses on developing skills in oral communication with others. ▪ Theological reflection on practice, which brings together theory and practice. This can take a journal form or a specific reflection on a particular incident or issue. ▪ Portfolio of material of a variety of kinds, which enables students to engage with wide-ranging assessments. ▪ Level 6 project of a variety of kinds, undertaken by all students, provides the opportunity for you to explore a particular issue in more depth with guidance and supervision provided by an appropriate faculty member. ▪ Musical examinations – These can be in the form of a recital, performance, rehearsal, and other live forms of examination. ▪ Compositions – These consist of musical scores written or on Sibelius, and also Logic arrangement files and audio.
How to apply
This course is not open to application until the 13th May 2025.
15Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
We welcome applications from people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities on our programmes. We are proud to have a thriving international body of students living and studying at LST. All non-UK students will need to apply for a visa to study at LST. To apply for a student visa to study in the UK you must be aged 16 or over andhave the offer of a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. LST is a licensed sponsor for all undergraduate programmes. - You have enough funds to support yourself and pay for your course. - You will need to take an IELTS to prove your proficiency in English. As of 1 January 2021, EU students are required to apply for a student visa under the new PBS. Assessment of an applicant's eligibility for a visa will precede an offer of a place. Applicants (even from within the UK) for whom English is not a first language must ensure that their level of English is sufficient to undertake study at LST. If English is not your first language, you may be asked to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), although this will be discussed prior to or during the interview. For some students, accessing all courses at our campus is not an option, so we offer some courses online, and others in blended mode – partly online and partly in-person. If you are unfamiliar with higher education in the UK, be assured that LST will provide support in the form of study-skills - which all new students are required to attend – and learning support. Additionally, LST lecturers operate an open-door policy, which together with peer-to-peer support, ensures that your experience at LST is a positive one.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
A level - CC
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants to this programme are expected to demonstrate a keen interest in, and preferably some experience of, worship ministry broadly defined. Applicants might have played an instrument or sung in the band for musical worship, had some involvement using other artistic forms as part of worship, or perhaps been involved in planning and leading full worship services. Applicants will be asked to complete an information profile giving specific details of their worship experience prior to interview. Applicants will need to demonstrate a good level of musicianship. The ability to read music or play an instrument is not essential, but applicants must be able to sing in tune, keep to a pulse, and show a high level of accuracy in pitch and rhythm tests. Musical aptitude will be assessed through an audition (vocal or instrumental) and aural tests. For international students, a validated audition-recording is acceptable in lieu of an audition on campus. The requirements above are in addition to the institutional entry conditions for study at London School of Theology. These require that students must demonstrate the ability to successfully undertake an undergraduate programme of this nature. This will normally mean two A levels plus three different GCSE passes at grade C or above (one GCSE must be English) or equivalent for students under 21. Mature students (aged 21 and over) without these qualifications will be considered individually. If you do not meet any of the above entry requirements, please contact [email protected] who will be happy to discuss your situation informally.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Audition
Applicants to this programme are expected to demonstrate a keen interest in, and preferably some experience of, worship ministry broadly defined. Applicants might have played an instrument or sung in the band for musical worship, had some involvement using other artistic forms as part of worship, or perhaps been involved in planning and leading full worship services. Applicants will be asked to complete an information profile giving specific details of their worship experience prior to interview. Applicants will need to demonstrate a good level of musicianship. The ability to read music or play an instrument is not essential, but applicants must be able to sing in tune, keep to a pulse, and show a high level of accuracy in pitch and rhythm tests. Musical aptitude will be assessed through an audition (vocal or instrumental) and aural tests.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 |
To study in the UK, you will need to take a British Council IELTS test. You can take the IELTS test at any British Council office in your country, or at the British Embassy. We ask that you send us a copy of your certificate when you apply. Your ability to speak English will be assessed during an interview. An IELTS test is compulsory for anyone requiring a student visa. You can find out if your country is exempt at www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £9275 | Year 1 |
| International | £9275 | Year 1 |
| England | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Tuition fees total £9,275 per year. This is made up of £7,650 for programme fees, and £1,625 for amenities fees (only applicable to those studying onsite and blended).
Programme Fees
Tuition Fees cover tuition for the whole academic year and are not refundable if a student withdraws part way through the year. Students who withdraw from their course of study during the year are liable for fees for the entire year.
Middlesex University Registration Fees
Included in the Tuition Fees that students pay to London School of Theology are fees the School has to pay to Middlesex University to cover the costs of registration and other academic administration associated with their validation of programmes at London School of Theology.
Amenities Fees
Amenities Fees cover the use of School facilities, use of the library (both on campus and online), and IT and admin support. Online students are not required to pay amenities fees.
Fees are reviewed annually in accordance with the most recent Office for Students guidelines.
You can find out more information about fees and funding at LST on our website, lst.ac.uk/fees-funding
Programme Fees
Tuition Fees cover tuition for the whole academic year and are not refundable if a student withdraws part way through the year. Students who withdraw from their course of study during the year are liable for fees for the entire year.
Middlesex University Registration Fees
Included in the Tuition Fees that students pay to London School of Theology are fees the School has to pay to Middlesex University to cover the costs of registration and other academic administration associated with their validation of programmes at London School of Theology.
Amenities Fees
Amenities Fees cover the use of School facilities, use of the library (both on campus and online), and IT and admin support. Online students are not required to pay amenities fees.
Fees are reviewed annually in accordance with the most recent Office for Students guidelines.
You can find out more information about fees and funding at LST on our website, lst.ac.uk/fees-funding
Sponsorship information
London School of Theology offers a range of annual scholarships to students who demonstrate a financial need, exceptional academic ability/potential, or both. London School of Theology also offers bursaries for students in financial need, but these are only available to students once they have commenced their studies with us. Our Raising Theologians Awards are available at undergraduate and postgraduate level and across all programmes. They include scholarships covering fees and/or accommodation for one or more years. To apply for any scholarship with London School of Theology you should already have been accepted a place to study with us. To qualify for an undergraduate financial need-based award, you must fulfil the following criteria: 1. Have an annual family income as assessed by Student Finance England at below £35,001 2. Not be in receipt of a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan from Student Finance England Our scholarships are targeted at students most in need. LST will pay additional support for £1000 to students who meet the above criteria and one or more of the following: 1. Students who are carers, care leavers or at risk of becoming homeless 2. Mature students aged 21 or over at the start of their undergraduate course 3. Students in receipt of the Parents Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant, Adult Dependents Grant or increased student maintenance loan from the UK Government as part of their student support package 4. Students in receipt of Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Other scholarships may be available, if funds allow. Please speak to the admissions officer or visit our website lst.ac.uk/scholarships to find out more.
Provider information
London School of Theology
Green Lane
Northwood
London
HA6 2UW