Boston, Mass. (November 17, 2020) — For the first time, the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry will offer two full-tuition scholarships for religious educators or pastoral ministers from Ireland who are accepted to and enroll in its hybrid model of the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry degree program. The 48-credit hybrid program combines online work completed in Ireland during the school year with coursework completed in Boston over three summers. 

In addition to full tuition funding, scholarship recipients will receive campus housing during each of the three summers and a stipend to help defray the cost of travel, meals, books, and fees. The hybrid Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry degree program can be completed in three years. Students who receive these scholarships are expected to work in ministry in Ireland for at least five years after graduation.

Admission applicants from Ireland are automatically considered for the scholarships; there is no additional application. The M.A. program begins in June 2021 and priority will be given to applications received by January 15, 2021. Later applications will be considered on a rolling admission basis. To learn more about the hybrid M.A. degree program or to apply, visit bc.edu/stmireland. 

The BC School of Theology and Ministry is a highly ranked center of study dedicated to academic excellence and rigorous intellectual examination in preparing ministerial leaders and theological scholars for today’s Church.

The scholarships are part of STM’s Boston College-Ireland Partnership in Pastoral Ministry and will be offered annually.

“Our School of Theology and Ministry has been enriched over the years by students who join us from Ireland,” said Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., dean of the BC School of Theology and Ministry. “Our hybrid program now enables students who would not be able to move to Boston full-time to continue in their work while earning a master's degree. We are committed to providing these students with a high quality education integrating the rigorous study of theology, religious education, and pastoral ministry with holistic spiritual formation and supervised ministerial development.”

All scholarship recipients will be advised through their course of study by School of Theology and Ministry Professor Thomas Groome, an internationally renowned scholar in religious education and a native of County Kildare.

“Ireland and the Irish have contributed much to Boston College since its founding in 1863,” said Groome. “This program of scholarships for MA in Theology and Ministry students from Ireland reflects BC's desire to contribute to the renewal of the Irish church.”