The academic programme consists of
• study in small seminar groups taught by members of Oxford’s Theology Faculty, distinguished theologians and prominent church leaders.
• applicants choose two courses each week from:
Week 1 Open to the Spirit: Tradition, Creativity and Change in the Church; The Paradoxes of John’s Gospel; Religious Stories of Creation in Dance, Drama and Painting; Christianity and ‘Scientific’ Atheism; Re-created in the Image of God; A Theology of Play.
Week 2 Creation, Darwinism and Religion; Religion, Architecture and the Environment; Thomas Merton: A Study in Divine Discontent; Biblical Images of Creation; God, Identity and Spiritual Transformation; Restoring Eden: Hermits and the Natural World.
• each course has five 1.5 hour meetings per week, and classes will usually contain no more than 20 participants.
• plenary keynote lectures given by leading scholars in the field.

Who is it for?
• Members of the clergy.
• Theologians.
• Teachers of religious education.
• Lay people with an interest in theological study at university level.
• Although the direction of the summer school is essentially Christian, religious leaders and members of other faiths will be warmly welcomed as participants.

Level and Demands of the Programme
This is an intensive programme of study taught at Master’s level to an informed international audience.
Applicants should be confident that they are academically and linguistically prepared for such a programme.
Non-native speakers of English are required to submit evidence of their English language competency with their application (IELTS 6.5 or proof of an equivalent level of competence).

Participants are expected to
• undertake preparatory reading in advance of the programme.
• attend all lectures and relevant seminar sessions.
• be actively engaged with their seminar topics.

Academic information

Contact hours
The programme provides a minimum of 26.5 contact hours per week, comprising
• 25 hours of seminar meetings (12.5 per course).
• 1.5 hours of lectures (1 lecture lasting c1.5 hours).

Certificates
• All students who satisfactorily complete the programme will receive an ‘Attendance Certificate’.
(Please note that, as Oxford University does not offer credit, those wishing to obtain credit from their home institution for attending the programme must make appropriate arrangement with that institution in advance).

Libraries
• Participants will have access to the Continuing Education Library.

IT facilities
• Internet access is available for all participants in the Junior Common Room at Christ Church.
• Resident participants with laptops may connect to the internet in their study bedrooms.

Additional Information
A list of places of worship and service times will be provided to participants on their arrival in Oxford. Members of the summer school are invited to worship together once each week at a service they have themselves devised.

Social Programme
A range of optional events will be offered throughout the programme. These are likely to include: after-dinner talks, an evening of croquet and wine, and a display of Morris dancing. (Please note that where these activities have a cost, that is not included in the programme fee).

Fees
Resident in Christ Church £955 per week.
Fees include tuition; access to IT facilities and Continuing Education Library; accommodation, breakfast and dinner.
Non-Resident £680 per week
Fees include tuition; access to IT facilities and Continuing Education Library; dinner at Christ Church.

Application Procedure
• You can download an application form from our website or ask us to send you a copy.
• Information regarding documents required to support your application are available on our website.
• Oxford University operates a ‘gathered field’ closing date system by which applications are considered on a fair and equal basis at specific dates throughout the admissions period.
• There are three deadlines for applications – 15 February 2009, 15 March 2009, 15 April 2009