My name is Revd Dr James Robson and I am the Principal of Oak Hill College in London.

Tell us a little about Oak Hill College

Oak Hill opened in 1932 – the vision of a philanthropist who wanted to make theological education more accessible. Originally training only Church of England ordinands, we now train men and women from a wide range of evangelical churches.

We offer four main types of courses, all validated by Durham University as part of the Common Awards Scheme.

The availability of our Postgraduate degree programme in this format is subject to approval by Durham University as part of the Common Awards Framework. We hope this will be approved shortly (Jan 2026).

• A Foundation Award in Theology, Ministry and Mission for those wanting an introduction to theological study. This is a part-time, online, programme requiring about a day a week of study
• Undergraduate degrees in Theology, Ministry and Mission which is our primary programme for those training for a lifetime of Christian ministry – whether in church leadership, mission or parachurch work. These are offered full-time and part-time, running from 1-6 years depending on the programme
• Postgraduate degrees in Theology, Ministry and Mission – our higher level courses aiming to equip the next generation of theologians and educators. These are offered full-time and part-time, running from 1-4 years, with the programme able to be studied both in person and online to allow Christian leaders to study for a day a week whilst continuing in post
• A MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership for those in leadership positions wanting to be equipped to handle the challenges of leadership and reflect on how to do Jesus’ work in Jesus ways. This is a part-time course over 3-4 years with in-person residentials and online seminar work to allow those in leadership positions to take the course

How do Oak Hill students fund their studies?

Students fund their studies in a variety of ways with the majority raising funds from their churches, different trusts and individuals known to them.

We also have a substantial bursary programme with a new bursary offering 50% off fees for those from smaller churches.

Does Oak Hill College take students from overseas?

Yes – a number of our programmes can be completed either without a visa or as a Standard Visitor to the UK.

• Foundation Award – as it is delivered fully online
• MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership – as most of the study happens online with occasional residential weeks
• Postgraduate programmes – offered both online and in person

For other programmes, you need the right to study in the UK.

What type of ministry is Oak Hill College intended to prepare students for?

We prepare students for a wide variety of ministry – many go to lead churches or serve as youth workers, women’s workers, parachurch workers or serve overseas as missionaries but there is an increasing number of lay people accessing our training.

Our MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership is studied by a mixture of church leaders, parachurch workers and leaders in other spheres, with any one involved in leadership able to take this course.

When students leave Oak Hill College, what kind of ministries / jobs do they go into

As outlined above – a significant number head to work for churches in a wide variety of denominations and in a variety of roles. Others head overseas to serve the church globally.

What is distinctive about what Oak Hill College offers compared with other colleges in the UK and overseas?

There are a few things which make Oak Hill distinct from some other institutions:

• A commitment to in-person and synchronous teaching – all our programmes, except our Foundation Award, have the majority of their teaching taken in person with other students and staff, learning from one another in a live learning environment. We continue to teach a significant amount of students who chose to live residentially with us, living and learning in community together
• A diverse student body – our students come from a wide variety of different churches and denominations and ethnic backgrounds. This enriches their learning as they prepare to leave and minister in similarly diverse communities.

Please tell us about the library and other research facilities

Oak Hill houses one of the finest theological libraries in the south east of the UK. It is open 24/7 and provides all the resources needed for our programmes. It has a wide range of print and electronic resources, with over 55,000 items in stock. The library provides space for quiet study, fully computerised search facilities, and a self-service issue and return system.

We have a library visitor scheme meaning anyone can join our library for a fee.

Does Oak Hill College offer a distance or on-line learning option

Yes – (outlined above)

Our Foundation Award operates entirely online, allowing students to study in community, but at a time and in a place which suits them.

Our new MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission allows students to study courses entirely online if they wish.