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WATS West Africa Theological Seminary
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Admissions

Admissions

General Admission Requirements.

UNDERGRADUATES

Bachelor of Arts in Religion.

Admission requirements include

  • Five credits in SSCE/GCE in not more than two sittings. Credits are required in English language, Mathematics, Christian Religious Studies, one science subject, and any other subject. In addition, candidates must register through Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to regularise their admission. Students with three credits in SSCE/GCE and a minimum of two credits from TC II are eligible to apply provided they have credits in the required subjects. In addition, candidates must pass WATS entrance exams and interviews. The details of requirements for completing the UNN-affiliated degree are available as a separate document and may be obtained by contacting the office of the Registrar.

  • Any candidate with three years Diploma in Theology from any recognized institution who wants to study BA in Religion, which is affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), will be admitted into the 2nd year.

  • Any candidate with three years Diploma/NCE in Religion from any recognized institution who wants to study BA in Religion, which is affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), will be admitted into the 3rd year.

Procedures

  • Submission of the application form; checking of the applicant’s recommendation letter, transcripts, certificates and other paper works by the Admission Officer.
  • Undergraduate applicants are required to take entrance examinations, including English Language and Bible Knowledge. The pass mark required is a minimum of 50% for English Language and 75 marks for Bible Knowledge.
  • Successful applicant proceeds to Spiritual Formation for an interview.
  • Names of applicants who scaled through the spiritual formation interview will be forwarded to the Admission Officer.
  • The Registrar issues Provisional Admission Letter to successful applicants.
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Bachelor of Arts in Theology

The entry requirements for BA in Theology includes:

  • Five credits in SSCE/GCE or three credits from SSCE/GCE and two credits from TC II, including English language, Christian Religious Studies and any other three subjects, and the passing of WATS entrance exams and interviews.
  • Graduates of institutions not formally recognized by WATS will be required to show genuine transcripts from such institutions and evidence that those institutions are getting affiliated to government-approved higher institutions and/or accredited to relevant recognized bodies, nationally or internationally. Some of such students may be asked to register for courses that will make up for the deficit content of their previously concluded programs.
  • Candidates with the requisite SSCE or alternative qualifications who wish to enter WATS from unknown or recognized institutions may be required to start from year one the program to which they have been admitted.
  • Mature candidates of not less than 60 years of age may be considered for admission based on their years of experience in their fields of Christian ministry of not less than 20 years, and they must have at least 3 credits.
  • Any candidate with a WATS Diploma or a Diploma from any other recognized institution, with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, will be admitted into the 2nd year of the BA in Theology program, or any candidate with a three-year Diploma, but less than 2.5 GPA.
  • Any candidate with a three-year Diploma from any recognized institution with a GPA of above 3.0 will be admitted into the 3rd year.
  • Any candidate with a BA/BSC/HND in another discipline will be admitted into the 2rd year of BA in Theology or MDiv program.
  • Any candidate wishing to register for the Masters in Biblical Studies program, who has no Hebrew or Greek background, will be required to undergo 1 year study in Hebrew or Greek Languages. He or she may also be asked to undertake some other relevant courses in the BA Theology Program, before being admitted into the Master’s program.
  • All our undergraduate students will be required to take World Christian Movement and Biblical Languages (Hebrew and Greek).  If they have not learnt the languages previously, or if they have learnt but are deficient in any way, no matter the level into which they are admitted.
  • No student, Post graduate, Graduate or Undergraduate, may be admitted into two programs at the same time.
  • In terms of transfer of credits from other institutions, credits are transferable only on the basis of their relevance and their similarity of those courses in which the credits were obtained, with our courses at the Seminary.
  • Only grades not below letter ‘B’ are transferable.
  • Any candidate for admission whether undergraduate, graduate or post graduate will be required to do a medical examination. Thereafter, there will be a periodic checkup at WATS Hospital. Students will be required to pay a specified medical fee (see financial information). Other conditions may apply.
  • Students in the BA program can major in theology or in Religion. In addition, they may specialize in one of the following tracks: (1) Biblical Studies (2) Pastoral (3) Missions (4) Christian Education  
  • Performance is measured by academic and non-academic criteria. If one’s average grade is below 2.0 in the previous semester, the Academic Dean will place such student on academic probation by issuing him or her a written warning which will notify the student that if, after the next semester, his or her overall average grade does not improve to 2.0, he or she will be asked to withdraw.

Procedures

  • Submission of the application form; checking of the applicant’s recommendation letter, transcripts, certificates and other paper works by the Admission Officer.
  • Undergraduate applicants are required to take entrance examinations, including English Language and Bible Knowledge. The pass mark required is a minimum of 50% for English Language and 75 marks for Bible Knowledge.
  • Successful applicant proceeds to Spiritual Formation for an interview.
  • Names of applicants who scaled through the spiritual formation interview will be forwarded to the Admission Officer.
  • The Registrar issues Provisional Admission Letter to successful applicants.
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GRADUATES

(MA in Divinity, Biblical Studies, Intercultural Studies, Christian Education and Christian Leadership)

General Requirements for Admission

Applicants generally must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in religion or theology, with a second-class pass, from any recognized university or theological college or seminary which is either affiliated with a Nigerian university at the degree level or accredited by the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) or any candidate with equivalent qualification(s) from outside Nigeria. Admission into all master's programs is monthly, except the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, which has been upgraded to include a Fast Track option of 2 years (January, April, July and October) in addition to the Regular 3 years January and July contacts depending on availability.

Admission Procedure

Candidates are required to write entrance examinations and must fulfil all general and departmental requirements. Also, they are required to fulfil the following:

  1. Purchase and complete Application Forms
  2. Provide an official transcript of previous academic work
  3. Provide three letters of recommendation from the following: one from the candidate’s denominational leader; one from a former professor/instructor; and one from a professional colleague
  4. Write a biographical essay (not less than 500 words) on their lives before and after conversion and their call to ministry.  
  5. Attend and pass an oral interview

Preferences for admission will be given to those holding accredited Bachelor’s degrees in religion or theology. Candidate(s) with first degrees in non-religious areas may be admitted into WATS’ Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, or Master of Arts in Christian Education. A Bachelor’s degree in education will be an added advantage for a Master of Arts in Christian Education.

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POST-GRADUATES

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

Admission Requirements

  1. Completion of the application form for admission to West Africa Theological Seminary.
  2. Completion of a Master of Divinity degree or its educational equivalent from an accredited seminary.  The education equivalent is 75 hours of masters-level work with 30 hours in Bible, Theology and Church History, including at least one completed Master degree.
  3. Official transcripts from postsecondary school attended.  A grade point average of 3.00/4.00 in previous graduate work is required.
  4. Two references from episcopal level church leaders and one academic professor (Three referees).
  5. Three years of full-time ministry experience subsequent to the Master degree.
  6. A letter of congregational, institutional or episcopal approval.
  7. Access to the internet—registration, course schedules, syllabi, and much of the program’s communication is online.
  8. In special cases (international applicants, or applicants whose grade point average in previous graduate degree work is less than 3.00) a research paper must be submitted.

Admission Procedure

The application deadline is typically two months before the orientation with which the applicant intends to begin.  Under extenuating circumstances these deadlines can be extended if a written request from the applicant is received by the Admissions Office.  Applications may be submitted online.

  1. A personal interview is required with the Admissions Committee.
  2. Prospective applicants may request a campus visit.
  3. For applicants who do not hold a Master of Divinity degree, educational equivalency may be accepted upon the completion of a minimum of 75 hours of master’s-level courses, including one master’s degree and a minimum of 30 hours of course work in Bible, theology, and church history.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the DMin comes after:

  1. The student has completed nine (9) courses with a 3.00/4.00 grade point average.
  2. The participant submits a degree plan, including declaration of concentration.  
  3. The participant’s dissertation proposal has been approved by his/her dissertation committee (faculty mentor, second reader, DMin representative).
  4. The required journal work, spiritual direction/field mentor sessions and research reflection team reports are up-to-date.
  5. The student submits an “Application for Candidacy” form, along with a mentoring fee.
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