Applications and Admissions Process for the MA in Contextual
Theology at Luther King House – Open College Admissions
Introduction
Luther King House is committed to providing a professional admissions service to all those
who apply to begin a course of study. This is guided by the following principles:
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A commitment to transparency – Information provided, whether on a website or in a
prospectus, will be clear and accurate such that all prospective students have the
details and guidance they need to make informed decisions.
A commitment to fairness – The Schwartz report (2004) defines a fair admissions
policy as one that provides ‘equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of
background, to gain admission to a course suited to their ability and aspirations.’
Fairness will involve using both academic and non-academic selection criteria to
judge whether a prospective student can successfully complete the course.
A commitment to widening participation – Within the Schwartz report it is
recognized that, while prior educational attainment is an important indicator of
success, it may not reveal true potential. Thus it states that, ‘it is fair and
appropriate to consider contextual factors as well as formal educational
achievement, given the variation in learners’ opportunities and circumstances.’
The processes and procedures for admission seek to reflect these principles, both at
undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Information about our MA Degree Course
Luther King House has students studying on our theology courses from a wide range of
church traditions. If you wish to study theology with us and to develop your Christian
ministry, without seeking formal selection to train for an ordained ministry through a
particular denomination, you can apply to study with us through our “Open College”. The
application process for our Open College is outlined in this document.
General information about the MA in Contextual Theology programme can be found on the
‘MA Contextual Theology’ page of our website:
www.lutherkinghouse.org.uk/courses-learning/ma-contextual-theology/
Entry requirements, tuition fees information (including our Bursary Fund tuition fee support
for low-income Open College students) and an application form can all be found on our
‘Application and Fees’ pages.
Teaching, assessment and student support will normally take place in English. All
applicants must therefore demonstrate English language proficiency in speaking, writing,
reading and listening. This will be assessed through the admissions process.
If you would like additional information about our academic programmes, or our short
courses or other events, please contact the Registry Office at Luther King House, by
email: learning@lkh.co.uk or by phone: 0161 249 2504.
You can also arrange to visit Luther King House at a mutually convenient time for a more
detailed chat about the courses we offer and for a tour of the building and our on-site
facilities.
It is also possible for you to access our MA programme handbook, which is located on our
Moodle virtual learning site: http://learnlutherkinghouse.org.uk This handbook contains all
the key information students need about their programme regulations, including
information about how to apply for formal recognition of any Advanced Prior (Experiential)
Learning (AP(E)L) you may wish to seek credit for, where appropriate, and about the
individual modules currently on offer at Luther King House for the postgraduate taught MA
academic programme. For more information about how to set up a (free) Moodle account
and access the MA programme handbook, again, please contact the Registry Office.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the MA in Contextual Theology application form (located on the
MA page of our website).
Please complete all required sections of the form in full. Unfortunately, we are unable to
process incomplete applications. Receipt of an incomplete application may therefore
delay the admissions process, since we will need to contact you to ask for the missing
information before we can process your application further. In particular, please remember
to include all of the following information:
 Details of the context in which you will be applying your learning
 Essay on why you are interested in the course you are applying for
 How you intend to fund your studies
 If you are an international student, full evidence of how you meet the English
language requirements, plus a self-certified copy of your passport*
 Full contact details of 2 referees (where possible, one should be able to comment
on your academic ability, and one should be from your church context).
 Self-certified copies of your most recent educational qualifications, if applicable.
If you have any queries about how to complete the application form, please contact the
Registry Office and we will be happy to help.
Please note that completion of the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form on the final page
of the application form is entirely optional. This form is included for statistical monitoring
purposes only, to help us in our aims to be inclusive and fair in our selection and
admissions processes, and it is not used in the process of making decisions about
individual applications.
*Luther King House has been given Highly Trusted Status by the UKVI, which means we
are able to admit international students needing Tier 4 visas to our programmes. A
separate information sheet is available on our website for any international students in
need of Tier 4 student visas, outlining the additional requirements made by the UKVI in
relation to international student applications. This includes links to pages of the UKVI
website, where the UKVI’s current English language and financial requirements are
specified in detail.
Applications can be submitted to the Registry Office by email, to: learning@lkh.co.uk
or by post, to: Registry Office
Luther King House
Brighton Grove
Manchester
M14 5JP
Again, please note that only fully completed applications can be processed, and receipt of
incomplete applications is likely to delay the admissions process.
Confirmation of receipt of your application will be sent to you immediately upon receipt of
your application. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within 2 weeks of sending us
your application, please contact us to check if your application has been received.
How We Decide Who to Admit to our Courses
In deciding whether to admit you to one of our academic programmes, we are trying to
assess whether:
a) you are open to learning new things about yourself, faith and ministry;
b) you have the potential both to successfully complete a programme of academic
study with us, and to integrate and apply your learning to your own context within
your own lay or ordained ministry.
Entry Requirements:
The standard entry requirement for the postgraduate taught degree course is a relevant
undergraduate degree (e.g. Religious Studies, Theology or a related subject) at a
minimum level of 2.2 (Lower second class) Honours, or equivalent.
However, it is also possible for mature entrants to be admitted to our undergraduate or
postgraduate programmes without standard entry requirements, as it is recognised that
standard procedures for assessing applications may not always provide an accurate
understanding of an applicant's suitability or potential to complete the course of study. In
such cases alternative evidence is required. These non-standard entry requirements,
together with the process framework for assessment, are followed by all the University of
Manchester ‘Religions and Theology’ partner institutions, including Luther King House.
Prospective students for our postgraduate taught degree courses are assessed on a caseby-case basis. They will normally be required to:
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Participate in a formal interview,
II. Provide evidence of theological reading and engagement at an appropriate
level,
III. Demonstrate the ability to develop a critical argument, and
IV. Provide a piece of written work at an appropriate academic level.
Through these processes you will need to demonstrate you meet the general criteria
outlined above. We assess whether you meet these criteria by considering the following
questions:
 Do your interests correspond with what we are offering on our courses?
 Do you show evidence that you are open to learning new things, and are able to
respect and learn from a diverse range of Christians from many different cultures,
and with a wide variety of faith backgrounds, church traditions and beliefs?
 What is your previous education and do you have any formal academic
qualifications?
 Do you meet the standard entry requirements specified for the programme of
academic study you wish to apply for?
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If you don’t have formal academic qualifications, or don’t meet the standard entry
requirements, what evidence have you shown of your informal learning – what you
have read or done that shows you can engage with this course? How might your
wider life experiences help to equip you for studying on this course?
Is the short essay you wrote as part of your application written with an appropriate
standard of English and critical thinking ability for the course concerned, and does it
show that you know something about the course you are applying for and have
thought about why it is the right course for you?
Do you have a context in which you will be able to engage in the practical tasks
associated with the course, putting your learning into practice in a church, work or
community context?
Will you be able to devote enough time to studying on the course?
Do you have the ability to finance your studies (either yourself, or through another
organisation)?
If you are an international student, do you meet the requirements of the UKVI for
studying in the UK?
If we can see that you meet the above criteria through the combination of your application
form and any accompanying documentation, your interview and your references, we will
offer you a place on the appropriate programme, provided there are still places available at
the time that we receive your references (the last stage of the application process). We
have a maximum of 25 places available on the MA course. Those who satisfy the
assessment process but do not have the required background in theological study (for
example, a good qualification in another area of study) may be admitted to the Diploma
with the possibility of progression to the MA dependent on marks achieved, or may be
required to complete additional study prior to admission. Responsibility for who is admitted
to the programme lies with the MA Programme Leader, in consultation with the President
as appropriate.
Interview and Admissions Processes
Once we have received your fully completed application, this will be passed on to the MA
Programme Leader. Normally, a mutually convenient interview time will be arranged with
you for a face-to-face interview. The interview will usually be conducted by the MA
Programme Leader plus an additional member of the MA programme staff. If you are
currently living overseas, an interview will normally be arranged to be conducted by Skype,
though telephone interviews are possible where there is no internet availability.
However, if you have recently completed a BA in Religious Studies, Theology or a related
subject, and have achieved a 2:1 classification or above, and if it is clear from your
application form that you have a suitable context in which to engage in your experiential
learning, we may be able to offer you a place without needing to arrange an interview. If
this is the case, you will still be invited to visit Luther King House for an informal chat about
the course with the MA Programme Leader, and to be given a tour of the facilities, should
you wish to do so.
Interviews normally last between half an hour and an hour, and follow a simple discussion
format. They are an opportunity for us to find out a little more about you, but also an
opportunity for you to find out more about the course. Our hope is that this will give you
and us a good opportunity to decide if this course is the right course for you. We want to
help all our students achieve their potential in their studies and in their faith and ministry,
and to do that successfully it’s important for you to feel you’re on the right course for you.
You will also be given a guided tour of the buildings and facilities if you have not visited
Luther King House previously. We will also arrange for you to meet with the Academic
Registrar, usually on the same day as your interview, but occasionally at a separate time,
to give you the opportunity to talk through any financial, personal or educational needs you
may have which we can assist you in getting appropriate support for. However, you are
welcome to contact the Academic Registrar at any time during the application and
admissions process for further guidance and support in respect of practical and
administrative issues relating to your application and to preparing for your future studies.
Following your interview, we will aim to contact you in writing (normally by email) within 5
working days, to notify you of the outcome of the interview. If we are able to offer you a
place, subject to satisfactory references, these will then be sought by the Registry Office.
Upon receipt of satisfactory references, and once you have also met any other conditions
of admission specified in our email to you, we will send you a formal offer letter, together
with terms and conditions of your programme, and some key documents you may wish to
refer to in advance of the course. You are asked to sign and return a copy of your offer
letter to us at your earliest convenience, to confirm your intention to take up a place on the
course. If you wish to accept the offer of a place on the course, but to defer your entry,
this is normally possible, but please let us know this at your earliest opportunity before the
course starts for the current year. During the summer, we will then send out detailed
timetables and information about induction and registration processes, in preparation for
the course start in September. Whilst we make every effort to provide the programme as
publicised, there are rare occasions when significant unexpected changes need to be
made to a programme of study at short notice, for example due to unforeseen staffing
changes, changes in university validation arrangements or UKVI licensing status. Where
this is the case, we will endeavour to contact all applicants concerned, at the earliest
opportunity, to inform them of any such changes and to advise on the options available to
them.
If your application has been unsuccessful, we will seek to give you a brief explanation of
the reasons for this, together with guidance on applying again in the future, where
appropriate, or suggestions of alternative courses which may better meet your individual
needs. You are also welcome to contact us for further informal feedback on your
application should you wish to do so. Any such requests for feedback should be made
within 1 month of your receipt of notification that your application has been unsuccessful.
International Students Requiring Tier 4 Visas
As indicated above, international students requiring Tier 4 visas are able to apply to study
on our MA programme, as we have been awarded highly trusted status by the UKVI.
Requirements and application processes for international students requiring Tier 4 visas
are the same as for other applicants in most respects. However, please note the following
differences in the application process for those requiring Tier 4 visas:
 You must meet the UKVI’s English language requirements for studying on courses at
the level you wish to study (in addition to any requirements set by Luther King House
and the University of Manchester, which are noted on the application form).
 You must meet the UKVI’s requirements regarding demonstration of your ability to fund
your studies and to fund your living costs whilst studying in the UK.
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You must be able to demonstrate that the course you are applying for involves
academic progression from any previous UK studies, or to give a clear explanation of
why the course you are applying for does not involve such academic progression.
 Before we can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which you
will need from us in order to apply for your Tier 4 visa, we will expect you to do the
following in order to demonstrate that your application is in compliance with the above
UKVI regulations:
a) If English is not the official language in your country of birth, provide acceptable
evidence of your English language ability. This should take the form of either
the results of a standardised test recognised by the UKVI or a degree certificate
from a UK university;
b) pay your first academic year’s tuition fees in full*;
c) show us bank statements for the last 3 months demonstrating sufficient money
in your bank account to meet the expected living expenses as set out by the
UKVI on their website;
d) in your application and interview, give clear reasons for why you wish to do this
course, and how it represents progression from any previous academic study
you have embarked on in the UK.
*If, following our provision of a CAS to you, your visa application is refused for any reasons
beyond your control, which you could not have reasonably anticipated, then provided you
have been honest in your application to us, we will refund your tuition fees to you, minus
the cost of payment for the CAS and minus any bank charges or exchange rate costs
incurred in the refund process.
Disability Support and Inclusion
Luther King House is committed to providing excellent standards of education and support,
to help ALL our students to fulfil their academic and vocational potential. We seek to
provide equality of opportunity to all our students, through a flexible and inclusive
approach to teaching and learning which minimises barriers to learning and takes
individual needs into account, providing reasonable adjustments for students with
particular needs wherever necessary.
We use the term "disability" to identify a wide range of physical impairments, mental health
needs and other medical conditions, and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and
dyspraxia, based on the definition of disability in UK legislation.
You are fully entitled to keep any disabilities or medical conditions you have confidential,
and not to disclose them to anyone at Luther King House. However, most students find it
helpful to let us know about their circumstances, because it enables us to help you to
access appropriate support so that you can gain maximum benefit from your learning
experiences. If you think you may have a disability and would like guidance about the
potential support available to you, please speak to the Academic Registrar, Clare
Richardson, who is also the official Disability Adviser for Luther King House. The
Registrar can help you to obtain whatever additional support may be needed through both
in-house provision and external support services, to help you achieve your potential,
including helping you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance, which is a government
funded grant to give support to those with a disability who want to engage in study.
Recognition of Advanced Prior and Experiential Learning (AP(E)L)
AP(E)L is the award of credits on the basis of demonstrated learning that has occurred at
some time in the past. It is stands for Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning.
There are two main categories within the accreditation of prior learning: ‘APL – the Accreditation of Prior (Certificated) Learning’- learning which has been
formally assessed and certified by an educational institution or education/training
provider;
 ‘APEL – the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning’ – the formal recognition of prior
learning gained through other experience, including paid or unpaid work, self-directed
study or through leisure pursuits.
Applicants may apply for credits to be awarded for APL on the basis of prior certificated
learning in higher education in which the learning outcomes were sufficiently close to those
of one or more of the modules that comprise the Faith in Living programme.
Applicants may apply for credits to be awarded for APEL on the basis of experiential
learning where the prior learning can be demonstrated to be broadly equivalent to the
learning that would otherwise have been assessed during the course unit.
Where the Postgraduate Certificate is a standalone programme, AP(E)L will be permitted
up to a maximum of 15 credits.
Where the Postgraduate Diploma is a standalone programme, AP(E)L will be permitted for
up to a maximum of 45 credits.
For a Masters award, the maximum amount of credits which can be permitted for AP(E)L
is 60.
A maximum time limit of 5 years should apply between award and consideration of
AP(E)L.
If you wish to claim AP(E)L, you should enquire about this as early in the application
process as possible, and in any event should discuss at interview any AP(E)L for which
you would like to apply. It is your responsibility to submit a written application for AP(E)L
to the LKH academic registrar as part of your application process.
To apply for APL, you should ask your previous university or awarding body to send
relevant supporting documentation such as a transcript of your previous study, syllabus,
and module outlines directly to the Academic Registrar. Advice may be sought from the
principal of the college admitting applicants to the programme.
To apply for APEL, you should supply a portfolio of evidence of your prior experiential
learning, showing how your prior learning covers the learning outcomes of the relevant
module(s) you wish to seek exemption from. You will need to identify what you have
learned, provide a reflective and analytical account summarising your experiences and
how the learning maps onto the intended learning outcomes for the course unit(s) for
which you wish to apply for APEL exemption and collect and collate any evidence relevant
to the account. This should be done in a way that demonstrates that your learning is based
upon the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes gained and used, and is not just
what has been experienced. You will need to relate the experiential learning that you have
identified to the intended learning outcomes of the course unit(s) that you anticipate you
will be undertaking. In submitting a claim for APEL exemption you will have to adequately
demonstrate that you have the learning for which you are claiming credit. Submitting a
claim for APEL exemption is not an easy option and should not be undertaken lightly.
More detailed information about applying for AP(E)L is provided in the BA Programme
Handbook on our Moodle Virtual Learning Site. Please ask the Academic Registrar for
details of how to access this document.
Appeals and Complaints Processes
If at any stage in the application and admissions process, you feel that the processes
outlined above have not been properly followed, or that your application has been treated
unfairly, you have the right to lodge an appeal or a complaint in writing with the Academic
Registrar. More information about the Appeals and Complaints Procedure for Applicants
can be found on the “Appeals and Complaints” section of the website.
How to Get in Touch
If you have any questions about the above applications and admissions process, please
do not hesitate to get in touch for clarification. We look forward to hearing from you, and
wish you every success with your application.
Email: learning@lkh.co.uk
Phone: 0161 249 2504
Luther King House
Brighton Grove
Rusholme
Manchester
M14 5JP