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University of the West of Scotland

Henry Building East, E303

Paisley, PA1 2BE

The Scottish Baptist College (SBC) seeks to provide theological education within the HE sector helping to prepare students for a variety of Christian ministries. It's Bachelor of Divinity (BD) in Theology with Pastoral Studies programme is flexible and is undertaken part-time or full-time, also providing opportunities for life-long learning students to take individual modules according to their needs. The age profile of the students ranges from school leavers to those exploring second career to those near or in retirement wishing to engage in issues relating to Christian faith and its practices in contemporary society. Work-based learning modules comprise a significant part of the programme, encouraging students to explore a variety of placement settings such as church, prison or NHS chaplaincy, para-church organisations, voluntary sector, etc. Students come from a number of denominational backgrounds, different geographical locations within Scotland’s Central Belt, and with different life experience, which they are encouraged to link to their present studies, typically in conversation and collaboration with their fellow students.

The programme is validated by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), and the College enjoys a fruitful relationship with a University which is committed to innovative teaching, focus on vocational practice, and giving high priority to enhancing the quality of each student’s learning experience. Since 2001, SBC has been situated on the Paisley campus of UWS. Students enrol and graduate as UWS students although SBC functions as an independent confessional College.

Beside the BD programme, SBC also offers opportunities for non-formal learning through seminars on a variety of topics that are open to the public. These topics, as well as the subjects explored in the BD programme and its individual modules, resonate with a number of the key aims of the LCN. They include such themes as building spiritual resilience in individuals and communities, understanding those of other faiths and none, learning to ‘read’ and engage with contemporary Scottish and global cultural contexts, developing pastoral, leadership and peace-making skills, engaging with diverse perspectives on contemporary ethical issues, and – to use biblical/theological language – ‘seeking the welfare of the city’ in which we have been called to live.

In its learning ethos, SBC is committed to fostering virtues of empathy, respect, critical engagement and communal as well as embodied learning.