OCRPL is a community of students and faculty dedicated to advancing global south scholarship for global impact
ECTE ACCREDITATION FOR SHEPHERD'S ACCADEMY UG COURSES
Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) holds accreditation from the European Council for Theological Education (ECTE). ECTE is a cross-border, professional, discipline-specific, independent accreditation agency that operates according to the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and in line with the ICETE Standards and Guidelines for Global Evangelical Theological Education. ECTE is a registered agency on the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR).
As a cross-border QA agency, the ECTE serves both higher education institutions and alternative providers of higher education learning opportunities, but the ECTE does not determine the status of institutions in their respective countries nor their ability to award formal, nationally recognised degrees. Read more about ECTE accreditation here.
Our accreditation details
Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life was accredited by ECTE as an alternative provider of higher education in 2023 and is listed in the ECTE Review Directory. We hold institutional and programme accreditation for the following programmes/qualifications:
- EQF 5- Partial – 60 credits (comparable to QF-EHEA Short Cycle-Partial with) leading to a Certificate in Theology qualification.
- EQF 5 – 120 credits (comparable to QF-EHEA Short Cycle ) leading to a Diploma in Theology qualification.
- EQF 6 – 180 credits (comparable to QF-EHEA First Cycle) leading to an equivalent to a Bachelor in Theology qualification.
- E EQF 7 – 72 credits (comparable to QF-EHEA Second Cycle) leading to an equivalent to a Master in Theology qualification in (Religion and Culture Studies)
Our accreditation status
ECTE accreditation of alternative providers of higher education indicates that our learning opportunities have been externally reviewed and found to be substantially compliant with the European Standards and Guidelines as higher education learning opportunities in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Our accreditation outcomes and review reports are published on the Database of the European Quality Assurance Register (DEQAR) 
While our programmes are verified as comparable to QF-EHEA levels, we are an alternative provider and not a Recognised Body and do not award formal degrees recognised by authorities in the United Kingdom. EQF level references verify learning outcomes for global recognition, while not constituting formal degrees.
Our ECTE accreditation ensures graduates hold international benchmarked qualifications, opening doors to global mobility and recognition by employers and theological institutions across the European Higher Education Area and beyond (read more on learning mobility and recognition here).
Other accreditation partnerships
We have no other accreditation partnerships. However, we currently have partnerships with degree-granting universities and follow their requirements. They are
- For our PhD Programme: Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- For MA in Christian Studies and Religious Studies: North East Christian University, India
- For our BTh: Pan African Christian University, Kenya
