This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses in Religion
Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies
Postgraduate | ACU-THE-GCE | 2023
Course information for 2023 intake
Follow your theology calling
Explore the use of biblical or ecclesial languages in the Ancient Languages stream or the Biblical World stream. Interpret texts using insights drawn from historical, cultural, literary, philosophical and theological analyses
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- No dates available
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 4
- Price from
- $9,336
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies
About this degree
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (Ancient Languages) will be able to demonstrate basic skills in the use of biblical or ecclesial languages.
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (The Biblical World) will, depending on their subject choices, be able to:
- interpret biblical texts using insights drawn from historical, cultural, literary, philosophical and theological analyses;
- give an account of key moments in Christian history and of their import for the church, society and the development of doctrine;
- use a variety of biblical and theological resources to articulate and explain the historical origins, development and interconnections of central Christian doctrines;
- demonstrate basic skills in the use of biblical or ecclesial languages.
The Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies at Australian Catholic University is a flexible qualification designed to enable students to pursue a mixture of interests or to specialise in particular areas. The degree provides students with a means of extending their skills and knowledge in specific streams: Ancient Languages or the Biblical World.
Graduates of the Ancient Languages stream will be able to demonstrate basic skills in the use of biblical or ecclesial languages.
Graduates of the Biblical World stream will be able to interpret biblical texts using insights drawn from historical, cultural, literary, philosophical and theological analyses.
Recommended study pattern
Students choose from either the Ancient Languages stream or the Biblical World stream and complete four subjects.
- Ancient Languages students select any four subjects from the Ancient Languages stream list
- Biblical World students complete the core subject THBS501 Biblical Studies plus three subjects from the Biblical World stream list
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies students must complete four subjects.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
No transition is required as there are no students enrolled in the degree.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline.
Required IELTS Score: 6.5 (with 6.0 for all tests).
RPL or credit may be granted according to ACU policies. Applicants are advised to contact the degree coordinator.
The maximum credit that may be granted on the basis of previously completed qualification(s) of equal level is 50%.
Career opportunities
Career outlook
- Ministers of Religion:
- Unknown average
- Primary School Teachers:
- $93K to $120K
- Secondary School Teachers:
- $93K to $120K
- Social Professionals:
- $75K to $93K
Degree FAQs
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.