A Davenant Hall Ph.D PRogram
In Partnership with Union Theological College
About Our Program
A Doctorate of Philosophy is the highest level of degree that a student can achieve, demonstrating academic excellence through independent, creative thought and the ability to interact with modern scholarship.
Any students around the world who want to pursue advanced research in biblical studies, historical theology, philosophical theology, and more with Davenant Hall’s respected scholars now have the opportunity to do so by applying for PhD study at Union Theological College, one of one of the UK’s finest theological colleges, while still being supervised by Davenant Hall faculty.
Five of Davenant Hall’s leading instructors–Dr. Matthew Hoskin, Dr. Joseph Minich, Dr. Bradford Littlejohn, Dr. Michael Lynch, and Dr. Alastair Roberts–have joined the faculty of Union Theological College to supervise PhD research within their fields of expertise. Eligible students will show evidence of sufficient academic preparation, as well as being recommended by the Davenant Hall faculty.
To earn a PhD, students must write a 80,000 word thesis on a topic defined by their research proposal under the guidance of a relevant faculty member. PhD students undertake research on their own topics, working closely with their supervisors to write their thesis.
Application Process (For Students)
1.
Contact The Davenant Institute or prospective supervisor with a field of interest.
2.
The prospective supervisor will dialogue with the applicant concerning their readiness and specific topic. Promising students should develop a dissertation proposal.
3.
If a supervisor accepts the applicant, the applicant will fill out the PhD application on the Davenant website. This will satisfy the UTC admission requirements.
4.
The Davenant Institute will then discuss the application materials and dissertation proposal in conjunction with Union Theological College and make a final decision on the applicant’s acceptance.
Davenant Hall students will now be able to complete their PhDs via the Royal Charter of Union Theological College. Union is one of those rare institutions that combines a deep, living history with a vibrant, orthodox faith. Their motto “to buy the truth and sell it not” is a trustworthy saying. Jesus is that truth, that pearl of great price. Any college which teaches that truth unflinchingly is an ideal partner. Union Theological College will be Davenant Hall’s first accredited academic partner in a degree-granting venture. This new partnership confirms the significant work Davenant is doing to refound the medieval University for the digital frontier. Our partnership will enable us, together, to keep the secret fire burning in both the minds and the hearts of students for generations to come.
Colin Redemer, Vice President of The Davenant Institute
Supervising Faculty
Dr. Bradford Littlejohn (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) works as a Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He is the Founder, former President, and now President Emeritus of the Davenant Institute, and has taught numerous nstitutions. He is recognized as a leading scholar of the English theologian Richard Hooker and has published and lectured extensively in the fields of Reformation history, Christian ethics, and political theology. He has authored numerous books including Called to Freedom: Retrievign Christian Liberty in an Age of License (B&H, forthcoming 2025). He lives in Round Hill, VA with his wife, Rachel, and four children.
Areas of Specialization: History and theology of the English reformation, Richard Hooker, Anglicanism vs. Puritanism, political theology in 14th–18th centuries, constructive contemporary political theology and social ethics
Dr. Matthew Hoskin (Ph.D, University of Edinburgh) teaches ancient and medieval Christian history for Davenant Hall. His research focuses on manuscripts, monks, popes, canon law, and councils, which all feature in his book The Manuscripts of Leo the Great’s Letters (Brepols, 2022), and he blogs about the historic faith at Classically Christian. He lives on Superior’s northern shore in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with his wife and sons.
Areas of Specialization: Ancient and Medieval church councils, ancient and medieval monasticism, pagans and Christians in the Roman world, Augustine of Hippo, Constantine, textual criticism of Latin Christian texts, Christianity in the Later Roman Empire, Christology, ancient Trinitarian theology
Dr. Alastair Roberts (Ph.D, University of Durham) is a Teaching Fellow of The Theopolis Institute and lecturer for Davenant Hall, a leading evangelical blogger and writer, and one of the hosts of the Mere Fidelity podcast. His personal podcast is Alastair’s Adversaria, where, alongside topical interviews, he currently produces daily reflections upon the whole Bible. He is the author of Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption Through Scripture (Crossway2018). He is married to Susannah, and they divide their time between the UK and the US.
Areas of Specialization: Biblical theology, the exodus, baptism, theology of the sexes, biblical law
Dr. Michael Lynch (Ph.D, Calvin Seminary) teaches Ancient Language and Humanities at Delaware Valley Classical School in New Castle, DE. He is the author of John Davenant’s Hypothetical Universalism: A Defense of Catholic and Reformed Orthodoxy (OUP, 2021) and translator of John Davenant’s On the Death of Christ and Other Atonement Writings (Davenant Press, 2024). He and his wife have five children, three girls and two boys.
Areas of Specialization: Augustinianism, Reformed scholasticism, Catholic scholasticism, medieval theology, early modern theology, atonement, Puritanism, Calvinism, American Presbyterianism
Dr. Joseph Minich (Ph.D, The University of Texas at Dallas) is a Residential Teaching Fellow with The Davenant Institute . The founding editor of Ad Fontes, he is also the author of Enduring Divine Absence (Davenant Press, 2017) and Bulwarks of Unbelief: Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age (Lexham Press, 2023) and a current co-host of the Pilgrim Faith podcast. His public writing can be found at The Calvinist International, Mere Orthodoxy, Modern Reformation, and the Ad Fontes blog. He lives in Lanrum, SC at Davenant House.
Areas of Specialization: Christianity & culture, apologetics, general philosophy, philosophy of technology, philosophy of modernity, philosophical theology, religious studies (i.e. comparative religion, method, etc.)
Davenant Hall iS Reimagining
Theological Education.
Would you like to join us? We’d love to hear from you. If you have any further questions about the Ph.D. or the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out.