Master of Sacred Theology

School of Philosophy & Theology

Do you have excellent results from a bachelor's degree in theology/divinity or a Master of Divinity? Do you want to know more – to really delve into a theological question of interest, one that you want to study at length and at depth? If so, the Master of Sacred Theology may be the program for you.

• Why study this degree?

  The Master of Sacred Theology offers students a unique opportunity to study at an Ecclesiastical Faculty recognised by the Holy See. The STM program is a two-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) program that is the civil counterpart to the ecclesiastical Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) delivered at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. STL candidates and STM candidates study together in the coursework component of the degree adding to the richness of the learning environment. The program can be taken in conjunction with the STL, for those who hold a suitable ecclesiastical Bachelor of Sacred Theology, or equivalent, or as a stand-alone award. The STM can serve as a pathway to the HDR programs of Doctor of Philosophy (Theology) or the Doctor of Theology.

• Program summary

  As an advanced degree in theology, the Master of Sacred Theology includes higher-level coursework and research training. The program is taken with a specialisation, usually in Sacred Scripture or Dogmatic Theology.

  To be eligible for the award of Master of Sacred Theology students must complete a minimum of 400 Units of Credit chosen from the courses listed in Appendix C comprising:

  • 100 units of credit from four (4) courses in discipline of specialisation
  • 50 units of credit from two (2) courses outside discipline of specialisation
  • 50 units of credit from two (2) courses in or outside discipline of specialisation
  • 25 units of credit from one (1) course in research methods and thesis proposal
  • 175 units of credit in one researched thesis of 25,000-30,000 words.

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

• Entry requirements

  To be eligible for admission to The University of Notre Dame Australia, all applicants must meet the University’s minimum requirements for admission. The requirements for admission are detailed in the University’s Policy: Admissions.

  Applications must also meet the following requirements:

  • AQF 7 in Theology, or BDiv or MDiv or Equivalent, with a GPA of at least 2.5 overall and 3 in discipline of specialization.
  • For students without the prior study in the English language, IELTS of 7.0 in all bands.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Master of Sacred Theology, graduates will be able to:

  1. Apply an advanced knowledge of Catholic theology achieved through detailed study of one of the theological disciplines;
  2. Apply, in the light of Catholic faith, theological perspectives and methods and research principles, evident in honed cognitive and technical skills, in one of the theological disciplines;
  3. Exercise cognitive, technical and creative skills to analyse and synthesise complex information, methods, and theories in a manner that demonstrates advanced theological competence;
  4. Communicate complex theological positions, as developed in the production of a substantial thesis, in a succinct, contextualised and doctrinally coherent way, to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  5. Integrate knowledge and skills to act with competence, creativity, autonomy, and ethical responsibility in their Christian living in the world.

• Partnership with the Catholic Institute of Sydney

  This program is offered through an exclusive partnership with the Catholic Institute of Sydney (CIS) and provides the option to participate in this program externally, at one of the eligible CIS campuses or through Notre Dame, at the Fremantle or Sydney campus. By attending the CIS campus in Sydney, you will receive instruction from their internationally trained faculty and lecturers, and earn an accredited degree through the University of Notre Dame Australia.

  Learn more about our partnership.

• Career opportunities

  A Master of Sacred Theology can lead to careers in religious education (with additional training), academia, writing, communications, advertising, ministry, pastoral counselling, Church leadership roles, spiritual direction, or research.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Domestic Fee-Paying
  A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

  Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session.

  Phone: 1800 878 916
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008

  Catholic Institute of Sydney
  If you need advice about studying the dual campus program, you can contact the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

  Phone: +61 2 9752 9522
  Email: cisinfo@cis.catholic.edu.au
  Address: 99 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135