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Course overview
Become an informed faith leader ready to lead your organisation and make a positive impact in society. On our apprenticeship route you can gain a Faith-Based Leadership qualification funded by the employer apprenticeship levy.
This course is ideal for anyone in a senior position in a faith setting, or someone looking to progress to a senior position. You might be working for a faith-based organisation or work for an organisation that deals with faith-based issues. Our course brings together professionals from a variety of faiths.
The course runs over 30 months part-time. Most of the content is delivered online with a 48-hour residential at Birmingham for each module.
You’ll study one module at a time. You'll usually take three modules across each calendar year
Year 1, 15 weeks from early September – mid-December
Each module contains:
- 7 weeks of online content (with weekly live interactive discussion activities and group and individual tutorial meetings)
- 6 weeks of assessment preparation (including continuing discussion groups, activities and tutorial meetings)
- A reading and catch-up week
- A 48-hour residential at Birmingham for your cohort to gather to discuss issues in person, visit key local case study sites and strengthen your peer networks
Course highlights
At Birmingham, we recognise faith leaders already have expert theological and pastoral skills, but often need to manage sophisticated organisations, projects and initiatives.
On this course you'll develop leadership and management skills, ready to maximise the social impact of your faith community or organisation. What's more, our Faith Based Leadership Level 7 Apprenticeship means you can learn on the job, with the support of your employer.
- Apprenticeship route is aligned to the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard, preparing you for inclusive and strategic leadership positions.
- Interdisciplinary course combining organisational leadership, professional development and theological reflection.
- Focus on continuing professional development: apply your learning in your leadership context from day one.
- Collaborative online learning. You can also attend in-person residentials with special practitioner masterclasses.
Top 50 in the world for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies (QS World University Rankings 2024).
Gain a PGDip in Faith Based Leadership funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.
Develop your organisation and management skills while increasing your knowledge of EDI in leadership.
Combine university study with on-the-job training
If you're currently employed in a suitable role and have the support of your employer, you can undertake the apprenticeship route. You'll gain a PGDip in Faith Based Leadership funded by the Apprenticeship Levy where you'll combine university study with on-the-job training.
Our apprenticeship route is aligned to the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard, which delivers a professional pathway towards Chartered Manager or Chartered Fellow status, awarded by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
After completing the Faith Based Leadership Level 7 Apprenticeship, you'll gain a PGDip in Faith Based Leadership. You can then choose to write a dissertation to achieve a full Masters level qualification – the optional dissertation element won’t be funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.
Course delivery
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Faith Based Leadership.
The programme doesn’t follow the traditional University teaching year cycle. This course begins in early September and continues for a total of 45 weeks of the year. Each of the six taught modules runs over 15 weeks.
Some of the course is delivered via distance learning using the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) through live discussion groups at a set time each week.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Weekly online live discussion activities and individual and group tutorial meetings
- 48 hour residential stays at Birmingham to network with your peers and visit local case study sites.
Module information
The programme comprises 120 credits of taught modules.
You study one module per term for 15 weeks.
Our Faith Based Leadership Level 7 Apprenticeship, aligned to the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard, lets you gain a PGDip in Faith Based Leadership funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.
After successfully completing the apprenticeship, we offer the opportunity for you to achieve a full Masters level qualification by completing a 60 credit dissertation.
2025/26 Session
The following should be taken:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| LM Faith Leadership and Community Engagement | 20 |
| LM Theological Reflection on Professional Practice | 20 |
Candidates will ordinarily take all four of these modules, and there are presently no plans to introduce additional modules owned by PTR for this programme, meaning these optional modules are to all intents and purposes required, if not compulsory. However, to provide for additional flexibility should it be required, up to two of them may, with the agreement of the programme director, be replaced by alternative modules offered on equivalent Senior Leadership programmes elsewhere in the University subject to the approval of the host School.
LM Placement-Based Dissertation (NB this will be the default routes; candidates proceeding to the dissertation phase will be expected to undertake a placement-based dissertation unless a significant change to their circumstances (e.g. moving job, ill health) makes this difficult. The traditional dissertation is included as a fallback option principally in case of a candidate's inability to complete a placement for some reason.
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| LM Dissertation | 60 |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- 2:1 Honours degree
plus three years’ experience in a leadership role
You should ordinarily have a 2:1 Honours degree, plus three years’ experience in a leadership role (this doesn’t have to be a senior role). However, we are able to take your professional experience into account and it is not absolutely essential for you to have a first degree. Please contact us to discuss your personal circumstances. You’ll also need to be employed or currently volunteering extensively in some sort of leadership capacity.
Please be aware you’ll need to dedicate approximately 8 hours a week on average to your studies throughout the two-year course. For the degree apprenticeship, you’ll need to commit 20% of your working time to this off-the-job training.
This degree apprenticeship requires the consent of your employer. We already have relationships with some religious and faith organisations for the apprenticeship route. These organisations are:
- Community Gurudwaras
- Synagogues and Mosques
- The Salvation Army
- The Church of England (national institutions, diocesan staff and parish clergy)
- Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal and Moravian churches
- G4S
- Local NHS providers
- Muslim-led development charities
- Private companies
We welcome applications for the apprenticeship if you’re employed by a religious or faith organisation that’s not listed above. However, you’ll need the consent of your employer, and the apprenticeship application process may take slightly longer.
Please contact us directly at mpa-fbl@contacts.bham.ac.uk before applying for the apprenticeship route.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fees and scholarships
- £7,000
Each year (part-time)
To take advantage of the funding available for Higher Apprenticeships, your organisation must be based in England and the applicant employed predominantly in England. The organisation must either pay the degree apprenticeship levy, or be prepared to apply for UK government funding for apprenticeships directly. Apprenticeship funding covers between 95-100% of the programme fees. Please contact us for clarification and more information on this. The UK government announced in September 2024 its plans to review Higher Apprenticeships and therefore there may be changes to this funding plan in future.
Please note if you are applying for the Higher Apprenticeship, you need to contact us directly at mpa-fbl@contacts.bham.ac.uk to arrange for an employer agreement to be put into place before we can invite individual applications for the apprenticeship.
Scholarships
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
Application process
- 29 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Please note if you are applying for the Higher Apprenticeship, you need to contact us directly at mpa-fbl@contacts.bham.ac.uk to arrange for an employer agreement to be put into place before we can invite individual applications for the apprenticeship.
Career opportunities
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits [The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report].
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.