Our programme, developed in collaboration with our professional partners, will give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to exercise leadership within your chaplaincy specialism. Studying at St Padarn’s will expand your thinking and broaden your awareness of both the theoretical and practical aspects of your work. You will undertake assessments designed to enhance your professional effectiveness.
At St Padarn’s, we offer learning focused on your specialism. Most of your modules will be studied with peers working in the same or a similar sphere. Your learning will also be enriched by studying alongside chaplains serving in other sectors, for example, health, military, prison, education, and sport. We are proud to have held the national Ministry of Defence contract since 1999 and work with many healthcare organisations across the UK. St Padarn’s is accredited by the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy as an approved training provider for students seeking professional registration.
Given our 23 years’ experience at equipping chaplains from across the UK and beyond, there are plenty of good reasons to join us at St Padarn’s. The St Padarn’s Chaplaincy Studies programme focuses on providing advanced continuing professional development for chaplains but may be suitable for others.
Learner information
How the programme is delivered
Our residentials are all face to face. There are proven formational advantages that face-to-face teaching and residentials give. We have seen firsthand the value of the conversations our students have together both in the lectures, and over meals and during evening social activities. The learning that takes place at residentials outside the lectures is an essential part of learning with St Padarns.
Learning Outcomes
Our Learning Outcomes for each module rely on a combination of lectures, seminars (discussion based), engagement with tutors and debates with other students and tutors. That interaction between tutors and other students performs an invaluable role in helping you explore the subject matter, by challenging and developing your thinking to deepen understanding. This is when formation happens, and that’s why we teach face to face.
Our goal is to craft an experience, rather than simply delivering a set of lectures, but we do that against a solid structure. The programme has been designed specifically to meet the needs of your specialist field.
Method of delivery
3 modules a year for two years
Followed by 1 year of added input and dissertation writing.
Delivered in three intensive blocks a year (Monday to Wednesday) for three years ( 9 days onsite each year).
Residentials are all held at St Padarn’s Cardiff site which boasts en-suite accommodation, modern catering facilities, well equipped teaching rooms and a comfortable student common room.
Modules
Moral issues in Chaplaincy
As a chaplain, you spend much of your day taking difficult decisions. Postgraduate training in ethics will sharpen your thinking, boost your confidence, and enable you to understand your colleagues’ perspectives. This module explores resources for ethical thinking and ethical approaches. You will get a chance to investigate an issue within the context of your organisation, faith (if appropriate), and society.
Research and Reflection: Resources and Methods
Providing a foundation in research, this module introduces some of the study skills you’ll need for more advanced study. It will help you produce a research proposal and grasp how research shapes both policy and practice. (It is optional for those seeking the PG Cert only).
Chaplaincy in Organisational Context
Today’s rapidly changing chaplaincy contexts require flexible responses. This module will introduce you to organisational theory. It will explore the strengths and underlying assumptions of various approaches to chaplaincy. It critiques chaplaincy in its wider context of globalisation, diversity, and inequality. It will equip you to use the resources of practical theology on the frontline.
Reflective Practice Relationships and Emotional Management in Ministry
We want to do everything we can to enable you to practice safely and effectively. We explore issues related to stress in ministry, resilience, and safe practice. We’ll give you some tools to explore the subject. You then negotiate what you want to write about in more depth. It’s a great chance to share experiences of chaplaincy with others.
Reflective Practice Placement
Reflecting on our professional context and being self-aware helps ensure we are both a safe and effective practitioner. Reflecting on our regular place of employment enables us to see fresh possibilities and develop as a leader.
Chaplaincy and Christian Mission
Making sense of our relationship with our sending church (or other faith community) and our chaplaincy role is not always straightforward. This module will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of chaplaincy’s historical roots, and its relationship with theology and culture. It will help you critically reflect on your role.
Dissertation in Chaplaincy Studies (MA only)
This triple module equips you to become a researcher. Supported by a supervisor, you agree a subject. You then get a chance to navigate research libraries and ethics committees before working with participants. Your 15,000-word dissertation will be something well worth the effort! If you do well, it could be your first step to an MPhil or Doctorate!
Your learning will be assessed using a wide range of methods. These aim to prepare you for further academic study and equip you to be effective in the workplace. They include essays, preparing resources for others, producing a business plan, evidencing theological reflection, and reporting on your workplace experience.
7-9 October 2024
20-22 January 2025
17-19 March 2025
2-4 June 2025
Our tutorial team comprises a carefully chosen yet diverse blend of senior practitioners and academics. See Tutorial staff and Operational Team.
Accommodation charges are additional to your fees and charged fully inclusive at £180 per residential, full-board.
Fees for 2024/25 are as follows:
Qualification
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
PGCert
£3640
N/A
N/A
PGDip
£3640
£3640
N/A
MA
£3640
£3640
£1040
Students may be eligible for postgraduate loans/grants through Student Finance. To find out please contact Student Finance for the home nation where you usually live:
The programme is currently undergoing course designation to enable students who qualify for it to apply for Student Finance.
Learning support is at the heart of our practice, from application to graduation. Our friendly team is only a phone call or email away and we want you not only to succeed academically but also thrive during your time alongside us. Our Learning Support Team are on hand to advise students with additional learning needs.
We are keen that everyone on the Chaplaincy Studies programmes should enjoy their time at St Padarn’s. We hope that whatever your perspective, you will encounter respect, humility, and hospitality. To help you decide whether you’re likely to be comfortable studying with us, we thought we’d offer some additional information. You may wish to view our Equality and Diversity Policy.
You will be studying alongside professional chaplains who by their very nature tend to be welcoming and respectful of a range of opinion. Similarly, we employ staff who reflect the diversity of our local area.
There are however some distinctively Christian aspects of the programme that may not suit everyone:
tutors may well start or finish lectures with a short Christian prayer (which may be formal or informal in style)
most students are Christian ministers, and therefore will naturally express themselves using Christian language and draw on examples from Christian ministry
integration of life, work and faith is seen as important and there will not be easy boundaries with faith being expressed in one activity or room but absent from another
time is scheduled in the day for those choosing to take part in morning and evening prayer/Eucharist.
If you subscribe to another faith or none, please contact us so we can explore how best to support your learning.
We really do hope that you will enjoy studying with us. We always welcome informal conversations, whether by Zoom, Teams, email, phone or face to face.
Application Requirements and Process
The usual entry criteria are a 2:1 degree with two years’ experience of chaplaincy or a 2:2 degree with substantial professional experience. If you do not meet these criteria, please get in touch to discuss your available options.
The closing date for applications is the end of July.
See more information regarding Postgraduate Study at St Padarn's here
See more information about St Padarn's Policieshere
