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NEGST
Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology

STUDENT INFORMATION

Admissions Requirements

The school looks for students who place acceptability to God above recognition by human authorities--men and women whose hearts are set on discipling Africa and the world for Christ, regardless of the personal sacrifice involved.

Master’s Programmes

Regular Entry Requirements 

All candidates for admission must meet the following requirements:
  1. Evidence of a divine call to the Christian ministry attested through references and church endorsement,
  2. A mature Christian character,
  3. Potential for continued intellectual and spiritual growth, and
  4. A recognised first degree with a minimum of Second Class Honours Lower, or a minimum GPA of 2.75 in 4.0 grade system, or the equivalent in other systems, with a total of a minimum of 16 years primary, secondary, and tertiary education; or
  5. A Post-graduate diploma from a recognised institution
  6. with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or
  7. A recognised first degree with a minimum of Third Class Honours or a minimum GPA of 2.5 in a 4.0 grade system, or the equivalent in other systems; and either (1) two or more years’ work experience in a relevant area, with satisfactory recommendation from employer or (2) satisfactory publication experience in a relevant area or areas.
  8. Applicants from French systems of education must have minimum four years of Assez Bien or equivalent). Or should have had a total of 16 years of schooling culminating into a recognised first-degree work with a B average.  English proficiency examination is required of non-Anglophone applicants. (See English Proficiency Requirement)
  9. Applicants for the M.Th./M.Phil. must have a minimum 3.3 on a 4.0 grade system, or its equivalent at an M.A. (if theological) or M.Div. level. Applicants with M.A. degree are required to do between 43 – 47 hours of pre-M.Th./M.Phil. courses. In all cases, a M.Th./M.Phil. application must be accompanied by a thesis proposal (whether fully or partially developed), on which basis the Department will assign suitable Advisor(s). In addition, consult the M.Th./M.Phil. section in this Prospectus for additional requirements by each Department.

Mature Entry Requirements

A limited number (no more than 10% of the M.A. and M.Div. intakes in a year)  with promise and potential to succeed in post-graduate level work and demonstrable ministry experience, may be considered under the Mature Entry category on the following conditions:
  1. must be at least 27 years of age and possess ministry experience.
  2. must have completed a minimum of 3 years recognised post-secondary course of studies with a GPA of 2.5 on the 4.0 grade point system or its equivalent.
  3. must present a strong recommendation from the church.
  4. will be on probation for the first year of studies and must maintain a 2.7 CGPA standing in each term during the period of probation.
  5. English language proficiency examination is required of non-Anglophone applicants (see English Proficiency Requirement)

Other Considerations

A limited number (no more than 10% of the M.A. and M.Div. intakes in a year) may be considered for admission on a one-year probation under the following conditions:
    either
  1. That there is evidence of ability to succeed at post-graduate level if the applicant has already completed a four-year work leading to a first degree at a recognised institution, but does not meet the regular entry requirements; has gone on to do further study full time at a recognised post-graduate school, while obtaining a minimum G.P.A. of 2.7 or equivalent,
  2. or
  3. In the event that the applicant can demonstrate to the Admissions Committee proof of extenuating circumstances which may have had direct bearing on his/her performance in the course of a recognised undergraduate programme resulting in falling short of NEGST regular   requirement for admission. Such may still be considered on probation for a year if the record of undergraduate work in any two consecutive years of a four-year course of study meets a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 (B average) or its equivalent.
  4. and
  5. In the year of probation the candidate must maintain a 2.7 G.P.A. or else will be asked to withdraw.

Diploma and Certificate Programmes

  1. Evidence of a divine call to the Christian ministry through references and church endorsement,
  2. A mature Christian character,
  3. Potential for continued intellectual and spiritual growth,
  4. Consideration for the Diploma in Christian Ministries requires at least six “O” level passes including English; two of the six subjects must be Credits. A C- average under the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, including a Pass in English, is required; or other equivalent secondary school qualification, including language requirement.
  5. Applicants who fail to meet the requirement in no. 4 could be considered for the Certificate in Christian Ministries.

Special Students

Special students are persons not enrolled in a formal regular programme.  These must complete the normal process of application and are issued a letter of admission as “special student.”  One may become a special student in one of two ways.

A person enrolled presently at any other accredited institution in a programme equivalent to one offered by NEGST, who wishes to take a NEGST course for credit transfer to that institution also falls under this category.  Such a person is required to write an application, together with an official letter from the institution in lieu of references normally required.  Full fees are charged, including an application fee and registration fee.  Transcripts will be forwarded to the recipient institution at no extra charge.

Application Procedure

The month of September marks the beginning of a school year and regular matriculation.  Provision is made in some departments for January matriculation.  Prospective January entrants should inquire beforehand about departmental conditions.  January entrants are required to spend additional term(s) to complete their study due to course sequencing. 

Applicants must complete the appropriate application form available from the admissions office. The form, which is part of the application package, is designed to provide the neces­sary evidence of spiritual, physical and academic fitness for admission to the School. Application includes giving assent to the NEGST statement of faith. The spouse of an applicant is encouraged to make separate application for a graduate or undergraduate programme.

Applicants at all levels (including special students and auditors—see page 22) are required to go through the formal application process in order to be appropriately placed by the Admissions Committee.

With the application, ALL applicants must send a non-refundable application fee of USD 20 (or equivalent in KSHS) for ALL programmes (or USD 25 for applicants outside of Kenya) and a recent full-face photograph of the student, in which the face measures at least one inch from chin to crown. On the application form, the applicant must name four referees including his/her pastor, someone who taught him/her at the most recent level of schooling and his/her present employer, if any. Full documentation of ALL academic qualifications must accompany the application. Applicants are strongly advised, during the process of application, to send to the School only photocopies and not originals. At matriculation, however, ALL candidates admitted to NEGST are required by the office of the Registrar to present their original credentials for verification.

Applications with all the supporting matters referred to above should be received at the School not later than June 15 (for Kenyan residents) and  April 15 (for applicants outside of Kenya) for September term entrants.  For January entrants, completed application should be returned not later than October 15 (Kenyan residents) or August 15 (for those outside of Kenya).  

The Admissions Committee will make decisions by June 30 or October 30, as the case may be, and applicants will be notified immediately. Applicant’s written acceptance of admission MUST be received by July 31 and November 30 to guarantee space for the September and January intakes respectively. Foreign students must make their own passport and visa arrangements and must travel with open dated return tickets. If after two years admission is not taken up, it shall automatically lapse.

English Proficiency Requirement (EPR)

English is the sole language of instruction at NEGST. Therefore it is essential that the standard of English be at an adequate level. Applicants to NEGST whose medium of instruction at their previous level(s) of schooling was not English are required to provide evidence of adequate mastery of written and spoken English. This may be done by

Interviews

Applicants may be required to be interviewed by persons appointed by the School. Where required, every effort will be made to arrange for interview in the student's country of residence at the time of application. Interviewers will report on the School's form on each applicant interviewed.

Acceptance

Applicants who plan to study at NEGST MUST receive a letter of acceptance from the School before coming. A "Letter of acceptance” is issued to the student by the Admissions Office upon approval by the Admissions Committee of the applicant's academic credentials, Christian character and prospects for ministry. This letter may enable the student to begin to raise financial support.  A successful applicant must send in a USD 500 fee deposit within six (6) weeks of receiving the letter of acceptance to guarantee a place on the enrolment list.  Each Mature entrant will be notified of a place on the enrolment list after NEGST has received the fee deposit of a batch of nine (9) regular entrants.  The mature entrant so notified must send in a USD500 deposit within six (6) weeks of receiving NEGST letter of notice, to reserve a place on the enrolment list.

In accepting admission to NEGST, each successful candidate must agree to abide by such regulations as the Senate may establish from time to time. NEGST also reserves the right to discontinue at any time the enrolment of any student whose quality of performance or conduct is deemed unsatisfactory according to the stated regulations and code of conduct of the School.

Credentials Verification

On the first day of new students’ orientation, ALL new students must go through the process of verification of their original certificates, diplomas and degrees obtained prior to coming to NEGST. This is an essential part of formal enrolment at NEGST.

Transfer of Credits from another School for Uncompleted Programmes

An equivalent programme of study begun at another recognised school, but not completed, may be used to earn course credits at NEGST. Equivalent course credits with a minimum grade of B- earned at other recognized equivalent schools are accepted at full value to the extent that the courses are comparable to NEGST requirements. At the postgraduate level, a maximum of 50-quarter hours may be transferred towards M.Div. degree, 33-quarter hours towards M.A., and 8-quarter hours towards M.Th./M.Phil. at NEGST. At the undergraduate level a maximum of 30-quarter hours are transferable for the Diploma and Certificate levels. An OFFICIAL transcript from the previous school attended is required, showing the work completed and the student's honourable dismissal. No credit is given for undergraduate courses towards a post-graduate level course. The offices of the DVCAA and Registrar will make determine the number of credits and courses that are transferable after all relevant and official transcripts have been received.  Thereafter the Registrar will formally notify the candidate.  Transfer credits will be included on the NEGST transcripts but will not be used in calculating the GPA.

Student Classification

Full and Part-time students

Persons enrolled for 12 hours or more (Diploma, Certificate, M.A., or M.Div), or 8 hours or more (M.Th/M.Phil) are considered full-time students.  Persons enrolled for fewer number of hours in any of the programmes are considered part-time students. Full-time students are required to be free of other employment responsibilities during their time of study.

Audit

If one desires the opportunity to take one or more courses per term in any programme, but does not want to be graded, or be required to take exams or do papers, such a person is classified as auditor. Courses required for one’s programme cannot be audited.  However, a regular student may audit courses that are not part of requirements for his/her programme.  An auditor will not be admitted to class without first going through admission process and being issued a letter of admission (or having already been admitted to the School). One may audit a course without meeting the normal entry requirements of NEGST. The audit fee is half the regular charge. Full registration fee must be paid in every term of audit. A transcript may be issued with the audit, if so desired.