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Master of Theology in Scottish Church History and Theology

by Taught Courses

A unique postgraduate programme, exploring our theological heritage within the context of Presbyterianism, Scottish Theology and Scottish Church History.

This degree programme is validated by the University of Glasgow.

This is a programme delivered by means of prescribed courses involving either one year of full-time study or two years part-time study. The courses are provided by means of supervised research and short essays rather than by classroom-based lectures.

The programme is designed primarily for graduates in History or Theology and will serve as an introduction for further research in Scottish Church History and/or Scottish Theology at doctoral level. It will also be attractive to those whose desire is to develop their academic interests without necessarily proceeding to doctoral level.

The programme will also provide a useful historical and theological framework for church leaders who are assessing the need for change in the contemporary church.

This programme is proving to be attractive to people who wish to study Presbyterianism, Scottish Theology, Scottish Church History or even Gaelic historical and theological documents. The range of students, thus, is international and national.

In the full-time programme, during the first semester, students will be required to complete a compulsory Research and Study Skills module which will introduce them to the world of postgraduate study in the relevant areas together with the first of three main modules. In the second semester, students will study the second and third main modules. Each main module will be assessed by means of two 4,500-word essays. Part-time students will normally complete the same programme over two years.

At the completion of the taught modules, students will then write a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor. The main supervisor for each candidate will be a member of ETS academic staff.

Students will select any three of the following modules in consultation with the Programme Director.

Scottish Church History

  • The Scottish Reformation (including the pre-Reformation period)
  • The Second Reformation to the Marrow Controversy (1578-1723)
  • The Scottish Enlightenment to the Twentieth Century (1723-1929 and beyond)

Scottish Theology

  • The Doctrine of the Church in Scottish Presbyterianism, 1560-1690
  • The Political Theology of Scottish Presbyterianism, 1560-1707
  • The Doctrine of the Atonement in Scottish Theology, 1740-1920
Play Video

In this video, Dr John R. McIntosh and MTh graduate Allan Shearer explain to prospective students what the Master of Theology (Taught) programme involves.

Distance Learning

While being present on campus may help with access to research resources, all the Masters programmes can be completed on campus, off-campus or a mixture of both.  This can enable you to remain in your present position, if desired, making trips to ETS when required.

See Distance Learning FAQ for more information on distance learning at ETS.

Further Information

The Postgraduate Admissions Policy can be found here.

Applicants for admission would normally be expected to hold a good honours degree in History or Theology/Divinity of a recognised university or college/seminary, or the Bachelor of Theology degree of Edinburgh Theological Seminary at distinction or merit level.

In exceptional circumstances, applicants without this qualification might be admitted subject to having an alternative qualification, at an approved level of achievement, appropriate to their proposed field of study, and subject to any conditions laid down by the Seminary Senate with the agreement of the Higher Degrees Committee of the University of Glasgow.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to sit a Secure English Language Test (SELT) and achieve an equivalent of IELTS 6.5 prior to entry onto the programme. 

Find out more here.

Course fees can be found here.

For further information, please email ETS Offices or Dr Alistair Wilson, Postgraduate Studies Director.

Apply Now

We will be accepting applications from November 2023 for September 2024 entry.
"The first lesson that students learn in the programme is that church history and historical theology serve the church by telling the truth about the past. In lectures and seminars, students work through rich primary source material and become adept at integrating cultural, social, and doctrinal history. They gain a deep understanding of how the history of the church has been told and written. They are welcomed into a vibrant community, challenged to read carefully and to write thoughtfully, given unique opportunities for specialised research, and connected with an extensive network of scholars and pastors. Our graduates report that they are well prepared to undertake doctoral study, to use their training in ministry, and to fulfil other vocations. At ETS, you will become an important part of a great tradition!"
Dr Zachary PurvisProgramme Leader, MTh Scottish Church History and Theology
Dr Zachary Purvis
"The MTh in Scottish Church History and Theology at ETS has given me the opportunity to study a past that has at times puzzled and even frustrated, but which has always stimulated, often encouraged, and provoked an increased appreciation for its ability to inform the thinking of the present day. Studying this landscape in detail opens to the student a world in which one’s theology mattered - a world in which theology was not just a matter for the individual or even the church, but which was a shaper of society at large. Participating in the course through one-to-one supervision with an experienced academic historian and pastor, together with self-directed study, has certainly contributed to my own approach towards, and understanding of, what Christian life and ministry ought to look like today in Scotland and beyond."
Sam CunningtonPostgraduate Student, Edinburgh
Sam Cunnington
"I knew that I wanted to learn more and study matters related to Scottish Theology and Church History and that I wanted to do so at a graduate level, but I wasn't familiar enough with this vast academic field to "zero-in" on a specific research topic at the outset. This MTh programme served me exceptionally well in this regard. It allowed me to read broadly within the field and to gain a "lay of the land", so to speak, of the various topics and subcategories within this academic discipline, and then it allowed me to narrow my research interest in order to write at length on a thesis of my choosing. The academic rigour, coupled with traditional theological commitments, was an excellent combination that honed my writing and research skills and set me up well for the PhD programme which I am currently pursuing. I am grateful for my time at ETS and thankful for the tremendous partnership between ETS and the University of Glasgow which has continued to serve me well professionally, academically, and ecclesiastically." 
Sean MorrisAcademic Dean, Blue Ridge Institute for Theological Education

Minister, Presbyterian Church in America

Sean Morris
“I’m deeply thankful I was able to pursue an MTh at Edinburgh Theology Seminary. It undoubtedly sharpened my theology and enriched my ministry. The coursework (in church polity, the atonement, and political theology), the academic rigor of the program, and the guidance of my supervisor all instilled in me a sense of theological judgment and practical wisdom that I dearly need for my work in the church. I praise God for ETS.”Participating in the course through one-to-one supervision with an experienced academic historian and pastor, together with self-directed study, has certainly contributed to my own approach towards, and understanding of, what Christian life and ministry ought to look like today in Scotland and beyond."
Roy McDanielGraduate Student, Louisville, Mississippi, United States
Roy McDaniel
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