IBTS

Our commitment to academic excellence and Collaborative Partnership with the School of Religion and Theology at the Vrije Universiteit (VU-SRT) means that doctorates are respected world-wide.

IBTS holds a Chair at VU-SRT in Christian Social Ethics with Prof. David Gushee. It also supports the McClendon Chair. These involvements provide a unique opportunity for those wishing to carry out research in baptistic theologies and Christian ethics.

Our doctoral programme is widely recognised as a well-structured approach offering high quality support throughout the PhD journey.

The Thesis Bridging Programme and/or the Post Graduate Research Certificate in Theology provides a strong start to the doctoral journey laying a sound basis in methodology and overall shape of the research project

We focus on a Baptist and Anabaptist way of doing theology. At heart this means that theological enquiry is grounded in the faith community, including in its convictions, practices and historical traditions.

There is value in being part of an international cohort participating together in the research colloquium and online seminars. Research students find that this stimulates creativity, provides significant mutual support, deepens spirituality, and often leads to long-term fellowship and cooperation.

Doing theology in an international and cross-cultural setting provides a unique learning opportunity which significantly enhances the quality of research and the personal experience of all involved.

The annual research colloquium and conferences are key opportunities for presenting research in an academically rigorous but supportive environment.

Research students are actively encouraged to present papers throughout the course of their doctorate and publication opportunities are available through the IBTS journal, The Journal of European Baptist Studies.

Research students remain in their own ministry context enabling them to continue in ministry and ground their research in their own local setting. They attend the annual research colloquium as well as having online supervision and support. In this sense the programme follows a ‘split-site’ or hybrid mode of delivery.

The PhD programme is integrated into the IBTS Research Community to encourage and support researchers in post-doctoral studies and longer-term academic careers.

Researchers have access to outstanding library facilities including the Digital Theological Library (exclusive access to IBTS students) and the John Smyth Library. Inter Library loans can be arranged where needed. You need not be present in Amsterdam to make use of the library. They will have expert support from the IBTS librarian.

Pathway 1: Post Graduate Research Certificate in Theology (PGCert)

PhD studies at the Centre begin with the IBTS one year Post Graduate Research Certificate in Theology (PGCert), followed by a proposal writing course. The Certificate programme allows participants to demonstrate their capacity in terms of quality and quantity of work and to develop their areas of research interest. During this first year, applicants have their abilities to do PhD research tested, their skills developed, their project focused, their ideas and work advanced and they are supported in producing a PhD proposal which, if successful, will lead to them registering in the VU School of Religion and Theology Graduate School with IBTS and VU supervisors in place. Progression through the PhD programme and requirements to proceed beyond the PGCert are outlined in the ‘Research Journey’ section of the Research Handbook. There are two mandatory parts to the PGCert programme – the Induction Week and the online line seminars as outlined below.

Please note, however, that becoming a student of IBTS does not guarantee formal acceptance onto the Vrije Universiteit doctoral programme, as this depends upon the satisfactory production of work and the development of an acceptable proposal with a supervisory team in place.

If, due to lack of progress, failure to meet satisfactory academic standards or to achieve a developed proposal, a student is not successfully registered in the Graduate School, they will not be able to remain on the PhD programme. Once registered, all students have their progress reviewed annually and continuation on the programme is subject to satisfactory progress.

Induction Week and Online Seminars:

All students are required to attend an initial Induction Week followed by the annual IBTS Colloquium which takes place in January each year.  This offers the opportunity to meet the new cohort of research students as well getting to know the wider IBTS Research Community. The Induction Week serves as an introduction to the three modules of the Certificate programme, the balance of which will be delivered by online seminars throughout the rest of the year. Full details are in the Research Handbook.

The dates for the induction week in 2026 are Monday 19 January - Friday 23 January.

Please also note that the online seminars are mandatory, are held on the Zoom platform and take place on selected dates during the year (usually a Monday or Wednesday) between 15:00 and 18:00 Amsterdam time (CET). Please be sure you can arrange to participate in these seminars. Actual dates will be confirmed prior to the start of the programme.

Attendance at the IBTS Annual Colloquium:

In addition to the Certificate Induction Week, all new students are expected to attend the annual IBTS Research Colloquium and participate in IBTS online seminars throughout the year. Attendance at the annual Colloquium is a requirement for all research students throughout their studies. The annual colloquium in 2026 will run from Monday 26 – Friday 30 January. As this is the only formal attendance requirement, potential applicants should consider whether or not they can meet this annual commitment, as we consider it an essential component of the PhD programme.

The Colloquium and online seminars allow participants to receive feedback on their proposals and the development of their work and to contribute to the IBTS research community.

For applicants who require supplementary master’s level qualifications to meet entry requirements of the VU, the one-year online TBP is offered prior to starting the PGCert year. Complete applications are processed by the Academic Oversight Committee and applicants are informed of the pathway that applies to them.

Applicants will normally be required to hold a master’s degree in theology (MTh, MPhil, ThM) from an accredited institution in an Anglo-American context or a two-year Bologna type academic master’s degree from an accredited Continental European University. Those accepted who do not hold a master’s in theology may be required to do additional reading or auditing of modules in theology.

Applicants with other master’s qualification such as MDiv and other master’s programmes that lack a thesis and research elements, would follow the TBP programme first. This will add an additional year to your studies.

Our PhD fee structure is under revision. The new fee structure will be made available early 2026. Should you have any immediate enquiry, please feel free to contact the IBTS office on academicadmin@ibts.eu

A part-time student can normally expect, if required, up to 30 hours of supervision a year from their primary IBTS supervisor (in addition to the face-to-face supervision given at the annual Colloquium).
Supervisors will concentrate on the substance of work and, while they may make some comments regarding English language issues and the quality of the text, students should seek such proof-reading help privately. IBTS may be able to recommend suitable proof-readers if required.

At a public defence of the thesis, it is possible for your IBTS supervisor to be present online. Should the VU require their presence in person, the student will be expected to pay the transport (within Europe) and overnight accommodation costs for their IBTS primary supervisor to attend. Students will be responsible for any other student costs required by the VU.

Evidenced by previous undergraduate and post graduate awards as required and approved by the Vrije Universiteit.

If English is not the first language, evidence of proficiency will be required.

Please note the following requirement as specified by the VU:

1. Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in written and spoken English. This will be determined on the basis of an English test that is accepted by VU. The proficiency requirement can be met by the successful completion of one of the following examinations: IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (paper based test: 580; computer based test: 237; internet based test: 92-93; Cambridge Advanced English: A, B or C.

Exemption from the examination is granted to candidates who:

- Within two years after acceptance to the Graduate School FRT VU have successfully completed one of the English examinations mentioned above, with at least the scores specified above. Two years after acceptance to the Graduate School FRT VU, the English requirement will be checked by the Graduate School FRT VU through Hora Finita.
- Have had previous education in secondary or tertiary education in an English-speaking country (Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand).
- Have an English-language ‘international baccalaureate’ diploma.
- Have a diploma from a Bachelor or Master’s degree programme which has been accredited by the NVAO in the Netherlands.

Must fit within the IBTS' research profile of identity, mission and practice.

There must be some credible evidence of financial means or means of support.

IBTS will give priority to those actively involved in Baptist ministry or other forms of ministry (e.g. mission, theological education, leadership).

IBTS wishes to encourage more women to engage in theological research

Priority will be given in the following order to applicants from outside EBF member Unions.

Members of our partner support agencies.

Applicants from other ministry contexts.

Must be able to show a work/study balance that creates a reasonable possibility of completing the PhD in 6-7 years part-time.

Must be willing to continue to engage post-graduation in the life of the Centre’s research community.