The Salvation Army Booth College

• DurationThe standard full-time duration of the Doctor of Philosophy is three years. The Doctor of Philosophy must be completed in not less than two years and not more than eight years from the date on which the course is commenced.
• StructurePhD candidates present their research in a thesis of not more 100,000 words which is examined by at least two external examiners.
• FeesIn 2025 the tuition fee for a year of study in the PhD is $19,608 (full-time) or $9,804 (part-time).
• Admission CriteriaApplicants may only be admitted by the School of Graduate Research Committee. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission. The Committee also takes into consideration the applicant's potential to undertake research, quality and feasibility of the research proposal, availability of appropriate supervision, and strength of employer or referee reports. Applicants must meet all of the following requirements: Completion of one of the following awards in divinity or its associated disciples with a 75% average: a) a Master by research degree b) a Master by coursework degree c) a graduate diploma or d) a four year undergraduate degree with Honours. Where a mark is not available, examiners' reports may be provided which indicate to the satisfaction of the SGR Committee that the candidate is adequately prepared for doctoral research. An applicant must also satisfy the SGR Committee that he or she has completed a thesis or equivalent of at least 12,000 words graded at or above 75%. The thesis may have been completed either within one of the awards listed above or as part of another program of study in an associated discipline. Applicants must present a research proposal which identifies a research question, proposed methodology and a statement of the original contribution. Applicants must provide the names of at least two supervisors with relevant expertise who satisfy the requirements of the Higher Degree by Research Policy and who consent to supervise the thesis.
• Admission DatesApplications for admission to a Research Higher Degree can be made at any time.

The Doctor of Philosophy is an AQF Level 10 Award. It is
- fully accredited through the University of Divinity
- qualifies for Austudy and FEE-HELP assistance 
- available online

Course outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy
- have a substantial body of knowledge at the frontier of a field of work or learning within divinity or one or more of its associated disciplines, including knowledge that constitutes an original contribution to the field
- have a substantial knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning
- have expert cognitive, technical and creative skills to use intellectual independence to think critically, analyse and evaluate existing knowledge and ideas, undertake systematic investigation, reflect on theory and practice to generate original knowledge within divinity or one or more of its associated disciplines, and demonstrate expert understanding of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on that theory and its application
- apply knowledge and skills with intellectual independence, and with responsibility and accountability, to plan and execute an ongoing program of original research, and to understand explicit and implicit ethical considerations to the formulation of a research project
- have skills to present cogently a complex investigation of originality or original research for external examination against international standards, and to communicate research results to peers and the community.

More information

Doctor of Philosophy summary information (opens to the external University of Divinity site)

Doctor of Philosophy Regulation (opens to the external University of Divinity site)

Application for the Doctor of Philosophy is made to the Registrar. The Registrar can be contacted on +61 3 9847 5400 and by email at enquiries@ebc.edu.au

Semester: 1. Summer School

• DL8198B Worship and Preaching: Essentials

• DP9195B Leadership in Ministry

Semester: 2. Semester 1

• AR8112B Learning for Life and Ministry

• BA8137B The Story of God, People and Land

• BN9111B Preaching the Gospels

• BS9313B Bible for Holistic Mission

• CH8306B Remembering and Forgetting in Christian History

• CH9125B Christianity in Australian History

• CT9149B Humanity 3.0: Christian Anthropology and the Posthuman Future

• DP8314B Pastoral Ministry Foundations

Semester: 3. Winter School

• CT9196B Wesleyan Theology for Today

• DM8113B Mission Foundations

Semester: 4. Semester 2

• AR8112B-2 Learning for Life and Ministry

• BA9294B Psalms: Songs that Nurture the Soul

• BN8316B The Story of Jesus, Gospel and Early Church

• CH9100Z The Cracking of Christendom: Histories and Theologies of the Reformation

• CH9307B Radical and Evangelical: Origins of a Movement

• CT8109B Discovering Christian Theology

• CT9100Z The Cracking of Christendom: Histories and Theologies of the Reformation

• DL9115B Preaching and Narrative

• DM9138B Contemporary Mission in Context

• DP9147B Reflective Practice for Vocational Formation

• XX9310B Capstone Integrated Project

Semester: 5. Full Year

• DP9121B Supervised Theological Field Education

You can email enquiries@ebc.edu.au for information on available courses.