Frequently Asked Questions

Term ends: 21st June 2014

 

2014 Six Week Programme

2nd June 2014 until 12th July 2014

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What are the admission requirements?

Candidates will normally be expected to have five GCSE passes at grades A-C, one of which must be in English Language, and two passes at Advanced Level (A2)*; they will normally be expected to meet University residence requirements. Exemptions from these requirements for mature student candidates or those otherwise qualified may be made at the discretion of the B.Th Supervisory Committee. If your first language is not English, you must supply suitable evidence (an original certificate that is not more than two years old and issued by the responsible body) that you have reached the relevant standard before you may be offered a place.

Further details regarding English Proficiency can be found here .

* The majority of students attending the OCCA will typically be educated to at least bachelor degree level.

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Is the OCCA fully accredited?

The Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies offers the opportunity to spend a full academic year in the inspiring and stimulating surroundings of Oxford.
 
Students on the One Year Certificate who meet the necessary requirements will be awarded the Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies. The certificate is a one year course validated by the University of Oxford (it is at H.E. level 4/5). The completion of the CTPS carries a notional 120 CATS. Please note that the OCCA cannot provide advice on the transfer of credits to other universities - you will need to contact the University in question directly to determine whether they will accept credits under the CATS system. 

The new two year Master's programme will provide students with the University of Oxford Master of Theology degree upon succesful completion.

The six week Business programme is not accredited.

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Do I meet the English Language Proficiency Requirements?

Wycliffe Hall/OCCA English Language Proficiency Requirements:
If your first language is not English, you must supply suitable evidence (an original certificate that is not more than two years old and issued by the responsible body) that you have reached the relevant standard before you may be offered a place. Each student is responsible for arranging their testing and for covering the cost of the test. Wycliffe Hall/OCCA recognises only certain English tests and these requirements are set out below:

Certification	Standard overall score	Additional Requirement
IELTS	7.0	Minimum 7.0 per component
TOEFL	600	Minimum Test of Written English score - 5.5
Internet-based TOEFL	110	Component scores of at least: Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, Writing 24
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English	B

Further Information:

IELTS - International English Language Test - British Council TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language - ETS

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How do I apply?

All applications should be made online through this website. 
How to applyApply OnlineApplication Deadlines

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Is accommodation provided?

As members of the Wycliffe Hall community, we encourage students to make the most of this partnership by residing in a room at Wycliffe Hall. The majority of OCCA lectures take place at Wycliffe Hall or in close proximity to the Hall, the accommodation rates are competitive and the room choices are flexible. Once an offer of study at the OCCA has been made, students will be given the chance to reserve a rooom at Wycliffe Hall.

Wycliffe Hall is unfortunately not always able to provide accommodation for married couples or families. In this instance, we would encourage students to reserve a room at the North Oxford Overseas Centre or Commonwealth House, details of which are provided below. In exceptional circumstances, students choose to find their own accommodation through a letting agency, though this can be expensive and the contract length is often longer than the course itself.

North Oxford Overseas Centre (NOOC)
NOOC aims to provide pleasant accommodation at reasonable rates in a caring community for overseas students and visiting scholars from all parts of the world. The Centre has a Christian foundation seeking to glorify God an demonstrate God's love in practical ways. There is no discrimination on racial or religious grounds in the selection or treatment of residents. The aim is to serve those in greatest need and to create a multi-national home. There is a varied programme of social and cultural events.

North Oxford Overseas Centre
117 Banbury Road
Oxford, OX2 6JX
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 311277
administrator@nooc.org.uk

 

Commonwealth House
Created in 1965 to provide a home for overseas students with 'limited means' whilst providing an environment where they can meet and socialise with people from diverse racial, religious, social and political backgrounds. Accommodation is basic, with shared kitchen and communal facilities.

Mr Michael Mowat, Warden
11 Pembroke Street
Oxford, OX1 1BP
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 793132
comhouse@freenet.co.ukThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

 

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How much does it cost to live in Oxford?

The cost of living will vary depending on your individual needs and preferences. It is important to note that Oxford is one of the most expensive cities in which to live in the UK. The chart below contains estimated figures for general guidance.

Marital Status	Rent, Utilities and Food (per month)
Single Person	||||||||	£500 - £800
Married Couple	|||||||||||||||	£1,000 - £1,500
Married Couple with children	||||||||||||||||||||	£1,500 - £2,000

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What are the current course fees?

Fees

2013-14
Programme	Fee for EU Students		Fee for International Students
Two Year Masters (fee per year)*	£14,575		£18,569
One Year Course	£14,575		£16,900
2013 Six Week Programme	£5,900		£5,900

 

It is the students responsibility to meet the full cost of the year and all applicants will be asked to provide evidence of their finances and efforts to raise any outstanding funding before joining the programme.

For the two year and one year programmes, a 10% non-refundable deposit is required within 10 working days of accepting the offer of a place on the course. A payment plan will be provided to you and in line with this plan, a portion of your fees must be paid in advance of the start of term. The remaining fees are invoiced at the beginning of the programme and payment is due in full within two weeks of this invoice being issued. 

For the six week programme, a £1,000 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of accepting the offer of a place on the course. The remaining fees are due two weeks before the start of the programme. 

*Masters students: please note that the OCCA reserves the right to increase the tuition fee for the second year of study in accordance with inflation.

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What bursaries are available to me?

The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics can offer the following bursary opportunities for students applying for the One Year Course in Christian Apologetics. We regret that, at present, no bursaries are available for the Six Week or Master's Programmes.

The Michael Green Bursary Fund

   United Kingdom based applicants

The Middle East Bursary Fund

   Middle East based applicants

The Coltan Bursary Fund

   Indonesian based applicants

     Other bursaries

RZIM and OCCA are unable to provide financial support to students outside of the bursary opportunities detailed above. 

However, we are actively pursuing additional partnerships and bursary opportunities for other geographical areas. New bursary opportunities will be advertised on the website as they arise and we would encourage applicants to keep up to date by checking the website regularly. 

There are many ways that students raise funds outside of these bursary opportunities, through support from church, family and friends, to small donations from grant-making trusts, to bank loans and student finance. We encourage you to commit your financial situation to prayer and if God is calling you to OCCA, then He will find a way.

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Can I transfer credits from another degree programme to the two-year Master's degree?

Unfortunately, University of Oxford regulations do not permit students to transfer credits obtained during a previous course of study for the two year Master's programme. For more information see the University of Oxford's FAQ page.

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Can I continue onto the Master's programme after I have completed the OCCA One Year Course?

Unfortunately the OCCA one-year course does not provide a direct path to the two-year Master's degree. Candidates who have completed the one year course and wish to apply for the Master's degree must meet the requirements necessary for the Master's degree and submit a new application for this programme. The one year course does not provide the qualification needed for admission onto the Masters programme - you will require an undergraduate degree in Theology.

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I don't have an undergraduate degree in Theology, can I apply to the Master's degree?

The two-year Master's programme has strict entry requirements, particularly in relation to academic qualification. Applicants are expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first class or upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international equivalent) in Theology, Religious Studies or a closely related field. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA requirement is 3.7 out of 4.0.

Candidates who do not meet these requirements are most welcome to apply for the OCCA One Year Course, or may wish to complete the one year Postgraduate Diploma in Theology through our partner institution Wycliffe Hall. The PGDip provides the academic qualification required for study on the Master's programme, but please note that students on this programme are not guaranteed a place on the Master's course and would need to reapply on completion of the PGDip. Please contact the OCCA Admissions Office directly if you are interested in this option.

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Does The OCCA offer any online courses?

Unfortunately, OCCA does not yet offer online or distance learning courses, though we are working towards providing an online course within the next two years. We recommend signing up for the RZIM electronic newsletter E-Pulse and RSS Feeds to stay in touch with the work of the ministry and be notified of the release of the new online course. We also provide ministry updates, details of upcoming courses, events, and publications through these forums.

In the meantime, we recommend the RZIM DVD 'Foundations of Apologetics' Study Programme. This is a 12 part course supplied on DVD, complete with study guides. The DVDs feature one of the team from RZIM worldwide speaking on a topic of which they have specialist knowledge, for example, Amy Orr-Ewing on the trustworthiness of the scriptures, Ravi Zacharias on God, evil and suffering and L.T. Jeyachandran on the Trinity. Each set (1DVD plus study guide) is available to buy individually and the full list of titles and speakers is on the website.

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Do you have any bursaries for students outside of the UK, Middle East and Indonesia?

RZIM and OCCA are unable to provide financial support to students outside of the bursary opportunities detailed on our Financial Assistance pages for students in the UK, Middle East and Indonesia.

However, we are actively pursuing additional partnerships and bursary opportunities for other geographical areas. New bursary opportunities will be advertised on the website as they arise and we would encourage applicants to keep up to date by checking the website regularly.

There are many ways that students raise funds outside of these bursary opportunities, through support from church, family and friends, to small donations from grant-making trusts, to bank loans and student finance..

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Can I work part-time during an OCCA course?

The OCCA timetable is very intensive and we do not recommend that students work during the programme. If you do seek part time work, we would advise taking no more than 10 hours per week and these hours should not clash with OCCA teaching and placement commitments. Work commitments will not be accepted as a reason for the late submission of essays or absence form class, placement or mission obligations. For international students, please also note that your visa may restrict your ability to work in the UK. Please consult the UK Border Agency website for further details.

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I'm applying to study from outside of the UK/EU. What immigration requirements should I consider?

Six Week Programme: students do not require a study visa and should progress with a visitor visa where applicable.

One Year and Two Year Master's Courses: international students will require a Tier 4 (General) Visa. Successful applicants will be sent all the relevant information regarding visa requirements and applications by the OCCA Admissions Office, and you should not begin applying for a visa until you are in receipt of these details. However, you should ensure that you have a valid passport that does not expire before the end of the course, and you may wish to read the information on the UK Border Agency website to familiarise yourself with the process and documentary evidence required for the visa. 

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Can my spouse and/or family join me in Oxford?

UK and EU students are welcome to travel to Oxford with their spouse/family.

One year programme: for international students on this programme, the visa regulations restrict travel with your spouse/family. Your spouse and/or family will not be able to join you under a Tier 4 (General) visa for the full duration of the programme, as the course duration is less than 12 months and under NQF 7. They will only be able to travel with you for a maximum of six months under a visitor visa, and if you follow this option, we would strongly recommend a spouse/family joining you from January to June of the academic year. If your spouse plans to take their own course of study with a recognised institution in the UK, they would be able to apply for their own Tier 4 visa and travel with you for the duration of the course if they are successful in their application. Please refer to the UK Border Agency website for more details.

Six Week Programme: your spouse and/or family will be able to join you under a standard visitor visa.

Two year Master's Course: your spouse and/or family will be able to join you as dependents, as your course will continue for more than 12 months and is above level NQF 7. Please refer to the UK Border Agency website for requirements for dependents (proof of financial provision etc).

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Can I join OCCA for a single term/semester?

We are unable to accommodate students for shorter periods than advertised programmes, due to the nature of the timetable. If you are unable to commit to a programme of six weeks, one or two years, then you may wish to consider other training opportunities with RZIM, including informal courses and training resources. 

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