Belfast Bible College warmly welcomes students from all over the world to come and study with us in Northern Ireland. International students are such an important part of the College as they help to create a rich vibrant community at the College where students from all over the world can study God’s word together and be equipped as 21st Century Disciples.
Why Belfast Bible College?
If you are an international student considering studying theology in the UK then we are a great option, not only are our undergraduate and postgrad courses of high quality, also our fees are very affordable, and we are an interdenominational Evangelical college which has at our heart the desire to equip Christians to serve God.
International Student Perspectives
"I chose Belfast Bible College because I realised just how much a degree in Theology would equip me for my journey through life, regardless of the profession God calls me into." Ian – BA(Hons) Theology Student from USA
“Because Belfast Bible College is an interdenominational college so I would grow to respect other parts of the body of Christ” John – BA(Hons) Theology Student from Tanzania
About Northern Ireland
Located on the edge of Europe, the region we call Northern Ireland, whose people span the globe, has a rich Christian heritage. Vast, scenic coastlines, historic cathedral cities and green, rolling countryside combine to make this a beautiful and fascinating country.
We have a history of deep spirituality that has had a significant effect throughout the world. St Patrick, and others, laid the foundations for an expression of faith in which the Gospel creatively engaged with Ireland’s Celtic culture. The Church here is theologically strong, socially aware and is becoming increasingly creative in its approach to impacting the nation.
Cushendun - north of Belfast - Photo by M.S. Meeuwesen on Unsplash
Which courses can you apply for?
International Students can come and study two of our courses - our BA(Hons) Degree in Theology, which is a three-year full-time degree or the Grad Dip Theology which is a one-year course. Please note, these are the only two courses which international students are eligible to study.
You apply to all our courses directly on this website – click the link above for the course you want to study on and this will give you the full course information as well as the ‘Apply Now’ button to fill in the application form. You will also find the information about course fees and entry requirements on the course pages.
Accommodation at the College
The College has self-catered accommodation onsite and this is available for all international students so it makes coming to study in a new country much easier as you can live in a supportive Christian community with your rent, heating, electric and WIFI all included in your accommodation costs. The fees will be in the region of £3200 – 3500 per year and can be paid in instalments over the 2 semesters.
Student Visas
Belfast Bible College is a licensed sponsor of Student Visas for the UK. This means International Students who have fulfilled all the necessary requirements can be issued with a CAS to get a visa to come and study with us on the BA(Hons) Degree, or Graduate Diploma..
Once international applicants are offered a place on a course at the College before they would be issued a CAS number to start the visa application process. This process will take additional time so all international applicants are encouraged to apply 6 months in advance of the course start date and the deadline for international applications is the end of May each year.
If you are applying from outside of the UK and Ireland then all the latest and most up to date information you need about applying for a UK Student Visa is on this website: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
European Students
If you are an EU national then you may require a student visa to study in the UK.
Students applying to study at Belfast Bible College for study from 2021 who are EU nationals and are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ under the EU Settlement scheme having arrived in the UK before the 31st December 2020 must present their EU Settlement confirmation for the commencement of study at the college.
All other EU nationals who do not have EU Settlement Status must complete the International Student VISA application process to study at the college. The visa process is the same for any other International students. This change is a result of Brexit, but as the College is a licensed sponsor we can continue to provide Student Visas.
English Language
For all students studying at the College, they must prove their English Language proficiency as a requirement of entry. Proof of this is also required as part of the visa application process. For international students, you may need to do an IELTS language test (or equivalent) the minimum level is currently an average score of 6.5. If you are from a country or studied at degree level in a country where English is the official language you may be exempt from the IELTS test. The Admissions Officer will advise you of your exact requirement when you supply transcripts and certificates of your previous study.
Finances
At Belfast Bible College we endeavour to keep the fees the same for all our students, so international students will pay the same amount as students from Northern Ireland. The costs of studying at the College can be much lower than studying in universities in other countries for instance in the UK and USA.
Visa & Immigration Costs:
The current cost set by the UK Government is currently £348 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK and a compulsory £624 additional for the National Health service surcharge.
Funds for Fees and Living Expenses.
You must be able to demonstrate you have enough money to pay for your studies and living in the UK. This is calculated as the Course Fees plus £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months). So, to study on our BA(Hons) Degree you would need to show that you have funds of about £15,000.
Please note that for degrees longer than one year you will also have to pay for fees and living expenses in those years.
Also note that the course fees and accommodation costs add up to about £8,500 per year and the remainder of the money is up to you to manage your day to day living.
Full information about Costs and Fees for Visas can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money
Funding your Studies
There may be loans, bursaries, and sponsorships available for studying theology in the UK. Unfortunately, there is no financial support available directly from the College currently. Our advice would be to do some research about loans and bursaries available for students in your country who want to study abroad. You may also try to approach your church or Christian ministries you have a connection with to see if they would help provide some support.
Come to an online Open Day
We run regular open days and information sessions for our courses. Find out when the next one is on here.
Other essential information for International Students
- We are only able to issue a CAS to Full-time students on the courses listed above.
- Issuing a CAS is at the discretion of the College and we reserve the right to refuse or withdraw this at any time in the process.
- If successful in becoming a student at the College you must follow the UK immigration rules, failure to do so may affect your right to study in the UK.
- If you have applied for a UK visa before you must tell us as part of the application process – this includes unsuccessful applications.
- Issuing a CAS does not mean that you are guaranteed to be successful in securing a student visa. Belfast Bible College is not responsible for any decisions made by the Home Office and will not accept any liability for any student failing to obtain a visa.
- We treat all our applications as individual cases, if you have any questions and wish to seek clarity, please email us at info@belfastbiblecollege.ac.uk