Why this programme

• It enables chaplains to evidence the Spiritual and Religious Care Capabilities and Competences for Healthcare Chaplains and demonstrate fitness to practice as a Healthcare Chaplain and so become Board Registered.
• You will learn to assess and meet spiritual and religious care needs, develop educational support for quality spiritual and religious care and facilitate professional role development and staff support.
• Commissioned by NHS Education for Scotland and it enables chaplains to evidence the Spiritual and Religious Care Capabilities and Competences for Healthcare Chaplains and demonstrate fitness to practice as a healthcare chaplain and so become Board Registered, subject to satisfying eligibility criteria of the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.

Fees & funding

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to:

1. Have an undergraduate degree in theology, religious studies or philosophy or a degree containing significant elements of such or a degree in a healthcare or social care discipline.
2. Evidence a minimum of previously working 50 hours in a voluntary chaplaincy role in a healthcare context with a reference from a supporting chaplain or current or previous healthcare chaplaincy employment with reference from a relevant chaplaincy line manager.
3. Write a personal statement, using the linked pro-forma, of no more than 1000 words exploring why they desire and feel they have the potential ability to work in healthcare chaplaincy. As ‘the intentional use of self’ is the primary tool for healthcare chaplains the statement requires to evidence a degree of self-awareness and a mature reflective life stance. Healthcare Chaplaincy Personal Statement Proforma.
4. Have a successful selection interview.
5. Either provide evidence of participating in regular, ideally pastoral, supervision, or be willing to enter a pastoral supervisory relationship for the duration of the programme. Suitable evidence would normally be a short letter from the supervisor.

Note applicants require to be in a remunerated chaplaincy post or be prepared to participate in a voluntary chaplaincy placement for the duration of the programme. Those applicants not employed as chaplains are required to speak to the programme lead prior to application regarding placement. All applications close 31 May 2024. Spaces are limited on this programme. Interviews will take place on 12 June 2024.

Currently, the PG Cert in Healthcare Chaplaincy currently consists of 3 modules which can be completed over 1 or 2 years. It is recommended that students new to chaplaincy or not in chaplaincy employment take the programme over 2 years. Over those 2 years, students would normally complete blended learning modules 5029 Practicing Spiritual and Religious Care and 5027 Professional Practice in Spiritual and Religious Care in their first year. This would require students not working in paid healthcare chaplaincy employment to obtain a voluntary placement (80 hours per semester) in a healthcare setting with support of an experienced chaplain plus pastoral supervision (see above).

In addition to these arrangements, participation in the third module 5049 Advanced Healthcare Practice, a practice-based learning course assessed by portfolio, requires students based in Scotland to work with a trained Professional Placement Assessor (PPA), allocated to each student.

Students working in other parts of the UK will be supported by a relevant mentor in their reflective learning, after prior consultation with the programme lead. This module runs over 2 semesters and requires 200 hours commitment to chaplaincy practice, meetings with a PPA/mentor and personal reflection.

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

• Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
• Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
• Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
• Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
• English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
• Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2024

• 31 May 2024