Common Awards Explained

Common Awards are qualifications for ordinands and lay ministers within the Church of England and its partners in the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed churches, delivered in a three-way partnership between theological education institutions, the churches, and Durham University.^{[1] [2]}

Description

Before 2014, Theological Education Institutions (TEIs) within the Church of England had used local universities to validate their qualifications but since September 2014 they have been offering awards common across all institutions, validated by Durham University.^[3] The intention behind the move to Common Award was to offer greater coherence and consistency across training institutions.

A wide variety of courses are offered at various levels of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ):^[4]

• Foundation Award in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 4; 60 credits)
• Certificate of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 4; 120 credits)
• Certificate of Higher Education in Christian, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 5; 180 credits)
• Diploma of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 5; 240 credits)
• BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 6; 360 credits)
• Graduate Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission to postgraduate studies (FHEQ level 6; 60 credits)
• Graduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission to postgraduate studies (FHEQ level 6; 120 credits)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 60 credits)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 60 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 120 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 120 credits)
• MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)
• MA in Chaplaincy Studies (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)
• MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership (FHEQ level 7; 180 credits)

Participating institutions

The Theological Education Institutes validated by Durham University on the Common Awards are:^[5]

• All Saints Centre for Ministry and Mission, Warrington
• Cambridge Theological Federation
• Cranmer Hall, Durham
• Cumbria Christian Learning, Cumbria
• Lincoln School of Theology, Lincoln
• Lindisfarne College of Theology, North Shields
• The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham
• Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire
• St Mellitus College, London
• St Stephen's House, Oxford
• St Augustine's College of Theology, West Malling, Kent
• South West Ministry Training Course, Exeter
• Trinity College with Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
• Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (until 2022)
• Yorkshire Theological Education Partnership
• South Central Theological Education Institution, Guildford, Oxford, Salisbury and Winchester
• Scottish Episcopal Institute
• The Eastern Region Ministry Course, Cambridge
• Luther King Centre, Manchester
• St Padarn's Institute, Llandaff
• Emmanuel Theological College, Liverpool and the North West

External links

• Common Awards at Durham University
• National Ministry Team of the Church of England

Notes and References

1. Web site: Common Awards (Theology, Ministry and Mission). Durham University. 31 January 2023.
2. Web site: October 2013. The Common Awards in Theology and Ministry. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220120213431/https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/common.awards/INTRODUCTION.pdf . 20 January 2022 . 11 August 2020. University of Durham.
3. Web site: About the Common Awards. The Church of England. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313123022/https://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/ministry/ministerial-education-and-development/common-awards-in-theology,-ministry-and-mission/about-the-common-awards.aspx. 13 March 2016.
4. Web site: Programme Specifications. Durham University. 1 November 2021. Common Awards.
5. Web site: Our partner Theological Education Institutions (TEIs). 27 October 2021. Durham University. Common Awards.