Our aim is to provide students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds with the fundamental orientation, information, and aptitudes needed for the advanced study of early Christianity in their chosen disciplines. Historically, graduates of the ECS program have entered doctoral programs in a large number of different fields of study, including Ancient History, Armenian Studies, Classics, Early Christianity, Historical Theology, History, History of Christianity, Late Antiquity, Literature, Liturgical Studies, Medieval Studies, Near Eastern Studies, New Testament, Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, Patristics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Syriac Studies, and Theology. Among the universities where ECS alumni have earned doctoral degrees or are currently students are Brown, Catholic University of America, Chicago, Duke, Marquette, New York University, Oxford, Princeton, Princeton Theological Seminary, UCLA, and, of course, Notre Dame.
Courses include:
Starting in
Always verify the dates on the programme website.
Minimum required score:
The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.
Get a free IELTS practice testMinimum required score:
The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.
Schedule TOEFL®You need the following GPA score:
Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to 3 on a US 4.0 grading scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on a 4.0 scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).
Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).
Applications to the M.A. program must include an application form, a statement of intent, transcripts of degrees and course work, three letters of recommendation and GRE scores. The deadline for application to the program is February 1.
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.