For some young people, the call to leadership in the church is clear and obvious. They are ready to serve God in the world and lead churches now.
The accelerated Master of Divinity takes advantage of Dio’s unique relationship with McGill University to combine a first undergraduate degree with preparation for ministry. Accelerated M.Div. students enrol in the Bachelor of Theology program at McGill University for three or four years of full-time study. This provides a broad and deep engagement with the Christian tradition at one of Canada’s leading universities while also offering opportunities for study in related disciplines, such as history, economics, literature, or any of the many others available at McGill.
Following these studies, students enrol in the In Ministry Year, where they continue to learn about ministry while putting it all into practice in a full-year church placement. Students leave prepared for faithful and creative leadership in churches charting their way to a new future. The M.Div. is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
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In the first three or four years of the program, students are enrolled in courses on the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program at McGill University. In this part of the program, students take courses at one of the leading theology faculties in Canada and learn of the historic wisdom of the Christian tradition. Required topics include the Old and New Testaments, Christian Theology, Ethics, Church History, Christianity in a Global Context, as well as elective courses. Greek and Hebrew are not required for graduation but are offered and the college strongly encourages students to take at least one Biblical language. M.Div. students also participate fully in the life of the college, including worship in the chapel and our weekly community meals. M.Div. students are also enrolled in a non-credit ministry seminar in which they begin to bring together their academic study with their calling to ministry.
The final year of the program is the college’s innovative In Ministry Year. Students are placed full-time in a parish or other ministerial setting and work closely with a designated supervisor and learning support committee. They attend that church every Sunday, leading worship, preaching, and generally becoming part of the life of the community. This in-person learning is complemented by ongoing classroom learning. Students split their week between their ministry placement and courses on subjects like pastoral care, preaching, mission, leadership, and Anglicanism. These courses are structured to enable students to reflect on their placement and further their preparation for ministry. All these courses (except Anglicanism) are taught ecumenically by faculty of the Montreal School of Theology and all courses are offered in a hybrid-online format meaning that the In Ministry Year can be completed in a low-residency format.
Over the course of the program, students write a three-part Integrative Paper that allows them to bring together their classroom and field learning and reflect on their preparation for ministry.
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Application deadline | June 15 for fall admission; November 1 for winter admission |
Supporting application material needed | Personal statement, two letters of reference, and transcripts of previous study |
Program start date | Fall or winter semester |
Full-time or part-time? | Full-time and part-time options available |
By distance or in Montreal? | Three or four years in Montreal, with distance options available for the final year |
Financial aid available? | Yes! Read our financial aid page for more information. |
How to apply | Complete McGill application and college application and submit supporting material |
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McGill’s application form is available online and includes a charge of approximately $110. The college’s application form is available on this website. There is no charge for applying to the college, though in order for your application to be complete, you must also apply to McGill. In addition to the application form, a complete application includes transcripts of previous post-secondary study, a personal statement, and two letters of reference.
Transfer credits from other colleges are accepted. Please contact us to find out more.
Under the terms of our affiliation agreement with McGill, tuition is paid directly to our college for the entirety of the program. While enrolled at McGill, students also pay student fees to McGill. See our tuition and fees page for more information, including about financial aid.
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