Ph.D. Program | Davenant Hall

PhD Program 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.

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

To apply for the PhD program at Union, first contact one of the supervisors listed below with your research proposal idea to inquire whether they are willing to supervise your project. The student will then develop a proposal and submit an application directly to Union. Click the link below for more information and to apply. In the application process, be sure to request one of the Davenant supervisors listed below.

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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.

Supervising Faculty

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. 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.)

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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.

FAQ

How do I apply if I am a current or former Davenant Student?

The application process is the same for former Davenant students as other students. The difference is that our familiarity with former Davenant students will often allow for a quicker response.

Can I apply if I do not have a degree at Davenant?

Yes, the application process is the same for former Davenant students as other students. The difference is that our familiarity with former Davenant students will often allow for a quicker response.

If I apply directly to UTC, can I still get a Davenant supervisor?

Yes, though we prefer that you apply through Davenant’s website. The application process at Davenant is based on the UTC application process with the specification that one of your references must be a pastoral character reference, as already required in our applications to our other programs.

What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?

It is common in the United States to refer to a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree capstone project as a thesis and a doctoral degree capstone project as a dissertation. In Europe, the terminology is the opposite, although even in the United States it is not uncommon to refer to a student’s PhD thesis.

Is this a PhD in Theology, Philosophy, or other fields?

Theology, though this may encompass a wide range of subjects and fields depending on the student’s dissertation topic and the expertise of their supervisor.

Is the PhD from Union or from Davenant?

The PhD will be awarded by (The Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland” (PTFI) which is the official Royal Charter. Students will list their degree on their CV as PhD Union Theological College, Belfast (PTFI). For details see question 1 of the FAQs on Union’s website at https://www.union.ac.uk/admissions/faqs

Is coursework required?

The PhD is an advanced research programme. From the outset, the student focuses on working towards the completion of the dissertation. The only coursework required will be project specific in order for students to enhance necessary skills, for example, in languages. Students need to be well-prepared from previous study and be able to demonstrate appropriate competence in special skills, such as languages.

Is travel required?

No. Travel is not required for the PhD program.

What is the tuition?

See UTC website for the most up-to-date information.

Full–time £15,450 (per year) (3 years)
Part–time £7,725 (per year) (6 years)

Full time means at least 35 hours per week with any part time employment discussed with your supervisor to ensure it does not prevent appropriate study to enable submission in three years.

Part time means 18 hours per week with submission in six years. A student may in exceptional circumstances submit early. If students finish early (e.g. in five years), they will not be required to pay the remaining duration.

Are there any scholarships available?

Any student who successfully completes the Davenant M.Litt and then goes on to finish a PhD in an approved program will upon successful completion of their PhD, receive a reimbursement of all tuition paid for the M.Litt. See the Tuition Reimbursement Policy for details.

Ph.D Program