Admission to the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry
The MACM is a graduate-level degree. Applicants possess a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) or its equivalent earned from an appropriately accredited institution. In limited and exceptional circumstances, NSBT may admit an applicant to the MACM who does not hold a qualifying bachelor’s degree, where the applicant can reasonably be expected to successfully complete the program. Such exceptions are limited and require documentation of a clear and justifiable rationale.
Candidates will also be expected to be able to articulate in a manner that is appropriate to their own experience and faith tradition an understanding of their call to serve in Christian ministry. Third, candidates will be expected to currently belong to a faith community that recognizes them as potential ministers. Candidates will be asked to provide at least one letter of recommendation from a ministerial colleague, supervisor, or overseer confirming this requirement.
Those who complete the application process and are accepted into the MACM will be allowed to begin the program with the next scheduled class session (see academic calendar).
Admission to the Master of Arts in Global Christian Leadership
The MAGL is a graduate-level degree. Applicants possess a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) or its equivalent earned from an appropriately accredited institution.
Candidates will also be expected to be able to articulate in a manner that is appropriate to their own experience and faith tradition an understanding of what Christian leadership entails in business, government, or civil society. Third, candidates will be expected to currently belong to a faith community. Candidates will not be asked to provide a reference from a ministerial leader, but are welcomed to do so.
Applications will be received at any time.
How to apply
The Academic Dean and Director of Admissions is the only person authorized to advise an applicant, to state the terms or cost of enrollment to an individual, or to decide an admission. Questions about admission go to the Office of Student Services at studentservices@nsbt.org.
An applicant to either program possesses a bachelor’s degree, or its recognized international equivalent, earned from an appropriately accredited institution, and submits each of the following.
- The completed online institutional application for admission.
- The $50 application fee, which is not refundable outside the five-calendar-day cancellation window.
- Official transcripts from every college, university, seminary, or other postsecondary institution previously attended, sent to NSBT by the issuing institution.
- A personal statement describing the applicant’s ministry background, educational goals, spiritual journey, vocational objectives, and reasons for pursuing study at NSBT.
- Written responses to the essay prompts carried in the online application.
- Three references, each completed by a person who has known the applicant for at least five years and who is not related to the applicant; the applicant supplies each reference’s email address through the online application and the reference completes the form directly.
- Government-issued photo identification, such as a passport, driver’s license, or national identification card.
Where they apply, the applicant also submits evidence of English language proficiency and a credential evaluation.
Every application is reviewed against the same criteria, and no decision rests on a single factor. The Academic Dean and Director of Admissions communicates the decision to the applicant in writing, and an admitted applicant receives it together with the enrollment agreement and the steps to register. An applicant who is denied receives the decision and the reason for it.
An applicant permitted to begin coursework before the admissions file is complete is admitted provisionally and completes the full admissions process, including every required official transcript, within 30 days of provisional admission.
The Academic Catalog and the Student Handbook carry the full statement of academic policy, student conduct expectations, and the grievance procedure, and both are available to the applicant before signature. The applicant receives the enrollment agreement before signature and signs it before registering for a first course.
An applicant who does not hold a qualifying bachelor’s degree may be considered under the NSBT Admissions Exceptions Policy. The Academic Dean and Director of Admissions reviews each such applicant case by case and determines whether the applicant can reasonably be expected to complete the program, and the clear and justifiable rationale for any exception granted is documented in the student’s file. A request for consideration under the exception is sent to the Office of Student Services at studentservices@nsbt.org.
Language of instruction and English proficiency
The official language of instruction at the New School of Biblical Theology (NSBT) is English.
Applicants whose native or primary language is not English must demonstrate adequate English language proficiency prior to admission to ensure their ability to participate effectively in academic coursework. Applicants may satisfy this requirement through one of the following methods:
- Prior education in English: completion of secondary or postsecondary education at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Standardized English proficiency examination: submission of acceptable scores from recognized English language proficiency examinations, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test.
For master’s-level admission, an applicant demonstrates college-level English proficiency by presenting one of the following minimum results:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a minimum total score of 60 on the paper-delivered test (TOEFL PBT), or 71 on the Internet Based Test (iBT).
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a minimum score of 6.5.
- Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report: a minimum score of 50.
- Duolingo English Test: a minimum score of 100.
- Michigan English Test (MET), 4-skill: a minimum score of 55.
- Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE): a minimum of 650/LP.
- Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE): a minimum of 650/LP.
- College Board Accuplacer ESL Exam Series: ESL Language Use 85; ESL Listening 80; ESL Reading 85; ESL Sentence Meaning 90; ESL Writeplacer 4; and a Comprehensive Score for all exams of 350.
- Eiken English Proficiency Exam: a minimum grade of Pre-1.
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): a minimum B-2 English proficiency level, assessed through various ESOL examinations, including the University of Cambridge.
- A transcript indicating completion of at least 30 semester credit hours with an average grade of B or higher at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or an accepted foreign equivalent listed in the International Handbook of Universities, where the language of instruction was English.
The institutional evaluation is a documentation and verification aid that supports an applicant in demonstrating English language proficiency alongside one of the recognized pathways above. It may include a written essay, an admissions interview, or a review of academic documentation demonstrating English language competency.
Foreign-language transcripts and credential evaluation
Applicants submitting academic transcripts issued in a language other than English must provide both the original official transcript and a certified English translation. In addition, international transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized third-party credential evaluation agency to determine equivalency to United States educational standards.
Applicants are responsible for all fees associated with translation and credential evaluation services. NSBT reserves the right to request additional documentation when necessary to verify academic credentials.
Where NSBT enrolls students
The New School of Biblical Theology (NSBT) currently enrolls students who reside in the following states and U.S. territories: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students outside of the United States are also welcome to apply.
If you reside in a state not listed above, NSBT is unable to accept your application or enrollment at this time. We are working to expand the list of states we serve, so please check this page for updates.