Liverpool Hope University’s MA African Christianity engages with one of the most vibrant and exciting dimensions of Christianity in the world today. Students will study the worship, faith and life of African Christians – both in their historic and contemporary dimensions, within Africa and across the world.
Access to the degree will be facilitated by the blended learning approach that it follows – combining classroom and on-line line learning. The classroom teaching will be delivered during intensive residential by Hope staff at our Hope Park campus. Students will have monthly monitoring conversations with supervisors using Hope’s Moodle and where necessary, via other platforms such as Skype.
Top quality teaching and research environment: Our Department of Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies here at Liverpool Hope University is a first-class learning environment that will give you a first-class qualification.
Blended-learning: This program blends the teaching between face-to-face seminars and online classes. Therefore, it will have less impact on your schedule. You will need to come to Liverpool for a weekend of teaching three times a year. In addition, you will be required to attend a week-long summer school.
Practically and missiologically grounded: The program is designed by practising church leaders for other church leaders. Therefore, it is informed by real life situations of African Christianity, both in Africa and in the African Diaspora. The program will also equip you with the theoretical understanding and practical knowhow to strengthen your cross-cultural work.
Research Centres: You will have access to Liverpool Hope University's research centres including the Andrew Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity (with its expansive library) and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies. The output from these research centres ensure that the department and its students are consistently adding to scholarship within the fields of African Christianity and Theology.
Conferences and research seminars: Postgraduate education is not just about being in a classroom and completing assignments. Masters students require determination, critical thinking and exposure to a variety of resources. As well as an international faculty, the department has an on-going research seminar and conference schedule where Masters students are invited to sessions from faculty staff, external academics from both national and international universities, and leading figures from the area of African Christianity and theology. The more opportunities you have to gain knowledge and network, the more opportunities you have for success.
All classes are held at Liverpool Hope University's main campus, Hope Park. The campus is situated just four miles from the city centre and offers superb academic and support facilities including an on-campus library with extended open hours, free computer and wi-fi access, and a careers service for advice on part-time work opportunities and post-study careers.
Key Themes in African Christian History and Thought (30 Credit): to explore the history of African Christianity covering 2000 years and highlighting its key theological and ecclesiastical leaders and some of the major events that have shaped the history.
Religion, Life and Society in Africa (30 Credit): discusses the outworking of Christianity in the religious and cultural context of Africa, focussing on some key issues that connect Christianity and public life. The module also explores how religion permeates into all aspects of life in African cultures and how this then shapes African Christianity.
Christianity and African Literature (15 Credit): African literature reveals a great deal about religion (including Christianity) shapes the African life. This module explores the way African writers reflect on Christianity. Students are exposed to the world of African literature.
Women in African Christianity (15 Credit): This module intends to explore how Christianity impacts the lives of women in Africa.
African Diaspora, Christianity, and Mission (15 Credit): This module focuses on the growing presence of African Christians in continents outside Africa, highlighting their contributions, missional potential and challenges.
African Pentecostalism (15 Credit): African Christianity is greatly influenced by the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. Even in the African Diaspora, an overwhelming majority of their churches are Pentecostal or charismatic. This module explores the reasons for this and how it has come to be like this.
African Primal Religions (15 Credits): This module focuses on traditional religions in Africa, and how they relate to African Christianity. Most of these religions thrived before the advent of Christianity in the 19th century in Africa and made way for Christianity once the missionaries arrived. They continue to shape the way Christianity is perceived and received in the continent.
Jesus in Africa (15 Credit): This module provides students with an opportunity to explore the ways in which Africans think and talk – or theologise – about Jesus and how Jesus.
Issues of Mission and Culture in early Christian North Africa (15 Credits): This module explores the African contribution to the history of the early Church, focussing on the complex relationship between culture, mission and theology in the patristic era.
Negotiated Learning Contract (15 Credits): This module offers students the opportunity to pursue an in-depth study of a topic in the field, agreed by the teaching team, and under supervision.
After this, students will have to write a dissertation (60 Credits).
Normally a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours Degree not necessarily in Theology or Religious Studies.
For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this also we accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.
For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages.
You will be studying within our Department of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Studies which is a high-profile department with a strong research reputation. All academic staff are research-active, publishing and contributing to the development of their disciplines in the UK and overseas. This is reflected back in your teaching and learning. The programme itself draws on the internationally acknowledged research expertise of existing members of the Department and that of our visiting Professorial staff. The Department has high quality expertise in African Christianity and Theology. The Department also houses the Andrew Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity — a great collection of resources that will make your learning experience better.
Tuition fees for Home/EU students for 2019/20 are £5,200
We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.
Tuition fees for International students for 2019/20 are £11,400
If you are an international student, visit our international scholarships pages.
The program opens up a vast array of career opportunities as you develop your wide range of knowledge- and skill-bases with theories and experiences that can be applied in a variety of contexts; from congregational ministry to mission agencies and diplomatic organisations. As a graduate of this program, you will be empowered as a cross-cultural African minister in the Diaspora, or as foreign missionaries serving among Africa peoples, or as a cultural interpreter in a diplomatic agency like the UN. You will also be equipped for further studies if you are interested in a PhD.