Biblical Course: New Testament
News & Stories
28 weeks
Part-time | Online
September 2026; application deadline 30 August 2026.
Catholic Biblical School Ministry
Overview
The New Testament is not a fresh start. It is the moment when every covenant, every prophecy and every prefiguration of the Old Testament finds its face in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The Encounter Year stands within the Church's tradition of reading the New Testament as the long-prepared meeting between God and his people, and offers it to those who teach, preach and form others in the Word. The course follows the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, then the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Letters, reading them as one continuous testimony to the encounter with the risen Christ. Theology and pastoral reading are taught as one movement. The course runs in partnership with the Catholic Biblical School Ministry (CBSM).
Catechists, pastoral ministers, lectors, parish formators and any lay person who wants to read the New Testament with both intellectual seriousness and the eyes of faith.
Requirements
No prior theological study required
Computer or tablet with reliable internet access.
A working knowledge of English, minimum CEFR level B1. Non-native English speakers will need to provide written evidence of their level upon enrolment.
Course Fees
Six steps from first thought to enrolment. Take them at your own pace, and ask for help at any point.
2026 – 2027
£475
2027 - 2028
TBC
Certification Fee
£160
Structure & Modules
Twenty-five weeks of asynchronous teaching on Canvas, with a live tutorial every six weeks for discussion, questions and synthesis. The course works through the three Synoptic Gospels and then the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Letters, read in their order of composition and against the backdrop of Paul's missionary journeys.
Welcome session: Thursday 17 September 2026, 6.45 p.m. UK time. Tutorials on Thursdays at 6.45 p.m., every six weeks. Maximum 20 students. Course lead: Colleen Vermeulen.
Total Workload | 60 – 70 Hours
Programme Director
Colleen Vermeulen
New Testament strand lead, Biblical Studies
Leads the New Testament Encounter Year of Maryvale's Biblical Course, in partnership with the Catholic Biblical School Ministry.
Course Tutors
Colleen Vermeulen
New Testament strand lead, Biblical Studies
Leads the New Testament Encounter Year of Maryvale's Biblical Course, in partnership with the Catholic Biblical School Ministry.
Supervision & Assessment
All students complete a short monthly pastoral reflection of 150 words, marked by the tutor, and a final 1,500-word essay at the end of the course. Both are part of the course and are included in the fee.
The annual exam is optional and carries a separate fee. It is only for students who wish to be certified, leading to a Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS) Certificate after one year and a Diploma after four years. Students who do not wish to be certified take the full course without the exam.
Accessibility
If you have a disability or any long-term condition that impacts on your day-to-day life, please download the Accessibility Form below, open and edit it in Acrobat Reader, and email or post the completed document to the Accessibility Coordinator (address included on the form), to ensure we can give you the best possible support during your course of study. Disclosing a disability will not be a factor in Institute’s decision as to whether or not to offer you a place on the course. However, it is important that the Institute knows if you have any specialist needs in order to provide you with appropriate support and facilities. This information will remain strictly confidential. For further information, please contact us to speak to the Accessibility Coordinator.
Contact us
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