The College is always happy to answer any query you may have via e-mail at admissionspg@heythrop.ac.uk. We also greatly encourage prospective postgraduate students who have not studied with us before to come to one of our Open Evenings.

International students please look at our International students pages.

Postgraduate applications

Visiting Students

Applicants with a disability 

What do we look for when considering applications?

What happens when we receive your application?

Entrance requirements

English language requirements

Postgraduate tuition fees

All MA and MRes programmes start in September. The application deadline is 1st September, however, international applicants who need to obtain a student visa to study in the UK must apply by 1st August to ensure that there is sufficient time for both the College application process and the visa application procedure to be completed.

You can request an application form via e-mail to admissionspg@heythrop.ac.uk or by telephone to 020 7795 4120. You can also download the Postgraduate Application form and associated guidelines below.

You must send your completed form as a signed hard copy. You also need to send your references, a transcript of your first degree studies and your Equal Opportunities Form, which you can also download.

Academic entry qualifications are shown on each MA course page. If English is not your mother tongue the College asks for an IELTS score of at least 7.0 (with not less than 7.0 in Listening, Academic Reading and Academic Writing). We also accept TOEFL with a score of at least 250.

In both cases, these qualifications must have been gained not more than two years before the start of your programme

Please download ALL of the following :

Postgraduate Application Form - This form can be filled in electronically. Please save the form to your computer, fill it in, print it out and return it to the Academic Registrar

Postgraduate Application Form (Pdf document)

Guidance notes for completing the Postgraduate Application Form

Postgraduate Reference Form (.doc)

Equal Opportunities Form  (.doc) 

Visiting Students who only wish to complete an individual module(s) (instead of an entire MA programme) need to use the postgraduate application documents available on this page. As their 'Programme of Study' they need to indicate on the front of the application form that they are applying as a Visiting Student. For fee information please click here.

Visiting Students complete all assessment tasks and obtain a mark/credit for their module(s). Auditing Students are those who wish to only audit (attend) the module(s) and not do any assessment task.

We welcome applications from those with disabilities and do all we can to ensure that your participation in both the academic and social life of the College is as successful as that of other students.

If you have a disability, we strongly encourage you to complete the declaration of disability and indicate any special needs on the UCAS or College Application form.  Having a disability will not affect your chances of being offered a place but will help us to ensure we can liaise with you on your specific needs in good time. We will send you the College's disability statement which provides some advice for disabled applicants.

We think it is a good idea for you to visit the College before applying and we therefore suggest you contact us to make these arrangements at opendays@heythrop.ac.uk if you are applying for an undergraduate programme, or openpg@heythrop.ac.uk  if you are applying for a postgraduate place.  We also arrange and discuss further support for applicants and potential applicants during interviews.

In considering applications, we try to achieve a good match between the abilities and interests of students and the subjects, learning opportunities and ethos of the College. The aim is that those who are offered a place and choose to take it up will benefit, will usually be able to complete their studies, and will find their time at the College satisfying. They will have a good idea what to expect and their expectations will usually be met or exceeded.

Broadly, we look at the following things:

• Your academic qualifications – actually achieved or predicted
• Your ability to study at the relevant level. This may be demonstrated by other evidence as well as, or occasionally instead of, your qualifications.
• Your potential to take increasing responsibility for your own learning.
• Your motivation to engage intellectually with issues in theology or philosophy.

In doing this we take account of:

• the content of your personal statement – in particular:

- your reason for applying for a particular programme;
- (for undergraduates) why you have chosen subjects at A Level or equivalent?
- any work or related experience you have - paid or unpaid – and any other positions of responsibility you have held.
- If you are applying from school of university, any extra-curricular activities you have been involved in.
- whether you intend to take a gap year.

• your academic reference. We need information about your academic development and progress as well as what grade predictions they have for you.

• We need to know about any health, personal or academic problems you have encountered during your studies. Sometimes, short-term
problems which affected your achievement or your grades may be taken into account when considering your application.

Heythrop will normally acknowledge your application within one week. The College prefers to do this by email.

Your application is checked to ensure it is complete and includes academic references and documentary proof of your qualifications.
You will be contacted if anything is missing.  Your application will not be processed until all paperwork is received.

Normally, all applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements will be asked to attend an interview at college, and will be advised of the outcome of their interview within one week. If a place is offered conditionally, you will need to provide evidence to the College by a certain date that you have met the conditions.

MA Philosophy
Applicants must normally hold a first or second class honours degree in Philosophy (or with Philosophy as a major subject).

MA Canon Law
Applicants must normally have a first or second class honours degree in Theology, Religious Studies or Law. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered.

MA Psychology of Religion
Applicants must normally hold a first or second class honours degree in Theology, Religious Studies or Psychology. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered. Applicants will also be asked to provide a sample of written work, prior to the interview.

MA Christianity and Interreligious Relations
Applicants must normally have a first or second class honours degree in Theology. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered.

Other MAs
Applicants must normally hold a first or second class honours degree, or equivalent.

MPhil/PhD
Applicants must normally hold a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject.

MRes Christianity and Interreligious Relations / MRes Philosophy
Applicants for the MRes degrees must normally have an Honours degree (2.1 or above) in the subject (Philosophy / Theology and/or Religious Studies respectively). Applicants also need to supply a statement of their intention to progress on to PhD study (500 words), which should detail both their interest in research and the topic/area which they wish to research.

If English is not your first language, you will be required to prove your proficiency in English by providing an IELTS* score of at least 7.0, with no less than 7.0 in Listening, Academic Reading and Academic Writing.

Equivalent English qualifications, for example TOEFL CBT at 250, are accepted. Your score should have been obtained within the last two years.  Please see the table below for details of the types of English Qualification that we accept:

Please look at our Money Matters pages for information on postgraduate fees and financial support available to students.