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Ready to be a part of a graduate community dedicated to helping you answer God’s calling for you? Apply now or contact us for more information today.
Qualifications
M.Div. or Equivalent
We do require that you hold a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree or its educational equivalent. A Bachelor of Theology (B.Theol.) plus a Master of Theology (M.Th.) from UD will satisfy this entry requirement. If you hold another theological master’s (e.g., M.T.S.T., or M.A.Theol.), please contact us. We would love to review your work and determine your best path toward equivalency and the D.Min.
Ministry Experience
Because the D.Min.’s emphasis is on the practice of ministry, you will need to be involved in ministry, and have at least 3 years of ministry experience following the completion of your first theological master’s degree. Our community of learners includes leaders in a variety of ministry contexts such as church planting, chaplaincy, missions, education, congregational ministry, non-profit leadership, and more.
Program Structure
Australian Doctor of Ministry Students
These are the important details you will need to keep in mind as you prepare your application and degree plan.
Required Hours
Credit hours: 33
Program length: 3 years
Example Coursework
Theological Foundations for the Practice of Ministry
Forming Communities of Faith
Culture, Context and Community
Christian Leadership Development
Department
Graduate School of Theology
Application Deadlines
December 6, 2022 (for 2023 cohort)
Application & Entry
- To begin the application process, please fill out this application form.
- For transcripts from countries outside the United States, we typically require a course-by-course credential evaluation. However, this requirement is waived for all transcripts from UD.
- If you do not hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in which English was the primary language of instruction, you will need to satisfy the English language proficiency requirements detailed here.
Our partnership with Stirling allows you to complete ACU’s D.Min. degree with only two trips to Abilene, plus an optional third trip for graduation ceremonies. The remainder of your classes will be offered online or at Stirling’s campus.
For all students beginning the D.Min. program in June 2022, we will offer the opening residency online due to pandemic-related travel challenges. Thus, if you start the D.Min. in 2022 with the Dual Enrollment track, you will only have one required trip to Abilene – in June 2024 as you begin your third year in the program.
Before each trip to the US, please work with ACU’s Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars (OISVS) for assistance with visa application process. We will provide you with more detailed information when appropriate, but here is a brief summary of the materials and costs associated with each trip to the US for classes:
- Submit a copy of your valid passport and evidence of appropriate financial resources to gradinfo@acu.edu, as detailed here.
- ACU will prepare your I-20 and ship it to you. We ask that you cover the cost of shipping. After receiving your I-20 from ACU, you can pay your I-901 fee (also called SEVIS fee, currently around $350 US) and then apply for your F-1 visa through your nearest US consulate or embassy.
- Be sure to allow ample time for your meeting with the consulate or embassy. For reference, the queue at the US consulate in Melbourne may take up to 30-36 working days (7-8 weeks) for an appointment.
- Provide us with the appropriate information for our OISVS office to sign you up for health insurance coverage during your time in the US. As a D.Min. student, you will typically only need coverage for the month of June each time you come to the States. For one month of coverage, the cost to you will be a little over $100 US.
We have selected 6 D.Min. classes (18 hours) to offer as dual enrollment at ACU and Stirling; these classes will fulfill the D.Min. degree’s ministry elective requirement (18 hours) and comprise a new Graduate Diploma in Divinity (G.D.Div.) through Stirling and UD.
- Christian Leadership Development
- Christian Spiritual Formation
- Missional Ecclesiology
- Leading Change in Christian Organizations
- Culture, Context, and Community
- Forming Communities of Faith
To pursue this path, please apply to Stirling’s G.D.Div. program after gaining acceptance to ACU’s D.Min. program. For information about the G.D.Div., FEE-HELP, or other Stirling-based processes, contact Darren Cronshaw, research director at Stirling.
Ready to learn more? Watch Dual Enrollment Video.
As an Australian D.Min. student, you will have a couple of options for program cost and billing.
- If pursuing only a D.Min., your program cost and billing options will mirror our standard practice. Our program costs only $4,000 US per year for 3 years ($12,000 US for the entire program). With this option, ACU will handle all billing, and monthly payment plans will be available.
- Alternatively, you may elect to pursue UD’s G.D.Div. concurrently with ACU’s D.Min. This option is available exclusively through our partnership with Stirling and UD, and it requires acceptance into both programs. In this scenario, Stirling/UD will bill you for the 6 units of the G.D.Div. (which comprise 6 classes/18 credit hours toward the D.Min.); these fees will be paid to Stirling/UD by you or through FEE-HELP. For the remaining 15 credit hours of your D.Min., ACU will bill you $2,000 US per year for 3 years (total of $6,000 US).
Either way, be sure to also budget for travel and accommodation. See Travel & Visa tab.
- Contact Erik Masci, Graduate School of Theology recruiter (gst@acu.edu or 325-674-3735) for information about our D.Min. program or for assistance with your application. Contact Darren Cronshaw, Stirling research director (ACUDMin@stirling.edu.au, 0438 136 287, or 03-9790-1000) for information about the G.D.Div. component, FEE-HELP, or other Australian-specific processes or questions.