WESLEY DOCTORAL SCHOOL
OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Introduction
Doctoral programme at the John Wesley Theological College is the highest level of a linear training system, which provides opportunities for researchers in theology, prepares it to acquire a scientific community and contribute to the scholarly community.
From the academic year 2022-23, our College is entitled to organize PhD doctoral programme and conduct a related doctoral degree procedure with the beginning of the school year first semester. JWTC has an independent, accredited doctoral school in the discipline.
Theological research that can be continued at Doctoral School is related to the current challenges of environmental policy, education policy and social policy. These are the primary contexts of theological research. Beyond these areas, theological research can be connected to any area that can be interpreted within the framework of the thought that the whole world refers to the creator of God and the creator of the created world.
We welcome everybody to the Doctoral School with a master degree of religious education at the higher education institution of any religious community. Those who have completed basic religious education are also welcome if they have obtained a masterpiece in other fields.
Finally, we also offer our training to those with a master’s degree who do not have a pre -qualification. It is particularly important for them to complete a series of compulsory and mandatory courses offered during the first four semester of the training, which provides an elemental orientation in the science of theology and the world of directly related areas.
Mission statement
The Wesley Doctoral School of Theology and Religious Education is an educational and research institution established as part of the long-term development strategy of the John Wesley Theological College, which was founded in 1987 by the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship (MET).
The school’s operation, spirit, and philosophy of knowledge and science cultivation are in organic harmony with the theological-ethical disciplinary principle formulated by John Wesley, a key figure of the Neo-Protestant Methodist church tradition: “The world is my parish.” This is also reflected in Methodism’s and the MET’s fundamental structural openness toward the created world.
Following from the postulate of the created world as a theological concept, and from the metatheoretical reflection on this axiom, the Doctoral School is guided by a commitment to the freedom and pluralism of research, and to an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary openness toward theological and religious-educational questions of existential reality. We support and guide our students’ studies, research, spiritual growth, and public engagement in this spirit. In accordance with this worldview, we are open to meaningfully embracing and supporting any scholarly topic our students wish to pursue that fits within the school’s disciplinary horizons, whether it relates to sub-, auxiliary, or super-disciplinary domains.
In close connection with our theological and religious-educational value system, we place special emphasis on universal human values, including the fundamental principles of freedom of conscience and religion, and human rights. We attribute strategic importance in our academic approach to intercultural understanding, worldview openness, and to a study ideal grounded in an ecumenical hermeneutic that promotes dialogue, mutual respect for differing beliefs, opinions, and convictions.
Through our educational and research programs, we are particularly committed to the idea of Jewish-Christian brotherhood, which we view as singularly important from our theological and religious-educational perspective. We embrace a non-antisemitic conceptualization of the Jewish–non-Jewish relationship. We also devote special attention to the existential issues faced by minorities and marginalized groups living among us—especially the Roma people and those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, criminalized, or marginalized.
The training framework for students preparing to earn their doctoral degree, as well as the organizational structure of the school, is regulated by the Doctoral and Habilitation Regulations.
Regulations
Doctoral and Habilitation Committee
Chair of the Doctoral and Habilitation Council (DHC):
Prof. Emeritus Dr. István Bukovics
Members:
Dr. Tibor Péter Nagy
Dr. Tamás Majsai
Dr. Csaba László Gáspár
Dr. Péter Hubai
Dr. Gyula Vattamány
Dr. András Csepregi
Dr. János Wildmann
Dr. Ildikó Kertai-Szabó
Dr. Levente Hufnagel
Dr. Andrea Midling
Dr. István Kun
Dr. Péter Lukács
Dr. Judit Forrai
Dr. László Upor
Dr. Gábor Iványi Jr.
Secretary of the DHC with consultative rights:
Dr. Borbála Blandl
Voting procedure:
Votes may be cast as yes, no, or abstain. A vote is valid if more than half of the members have participated. A decision is passed if more than half of the votes cast are in agreement.
Instructors, staff
Head of the Doctoral School
Head of Research / Supervisor
Faculty Members and Instructors
Research topics
Classical Theological Sciences |
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Critical Examination of Theology |
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Theological Applied Sciences |
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Courses
Forms
INFORMATION
LANGUAGE OF PROGRAMME
English
DURATION OF STUDIES
8 semesters
LOCATION OF STUDIES
Budapest
RESEARCH AREAS
Classical theological sciences
Critical examination of theology
Theological applied sciences
STUDY FORMAT
Self-funded: 3500 EUR / semester
APPLICATION FEE
150 EUR