Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) is a diploma in Religious Studies programme offered by Thorneloe University in Sudbury, Canada. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered fully online. Tuition is CAD 140 per credit for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Religious Studies
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: Online
Local tuition: CAD 140 / credit
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) is an intermediate theological credential offered through Thorneloe University's School of Theology, equivalent to about one year of full-time study. It requires 30 credits, made up of five required foundational courses covering the Old Testament, New Testament, Christian worship, theology, and post-apostolic church history, plus five elective courses chosen from Thorneloe's theology offerings. Courses are normally delivered at a distance by correspondence, using prescribed books and manuals, and assessment combines written assignments with a final examination; each course must be completed within a single academic term. The program generally takes several years of part-time study to finish, though students can progress at their own pace, and up to six transfer credits in theology may be granted from other institutions for grades of B-/60% or higher. The diploma suits students seeking a deeper grounding in theology than a certificate provides, particularly those who need a flexible, correspondence-based format rather than in-person classes.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: The Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) page itself states no admission requirements and defers to Thorneloe's general admission section for details. There, applicants must submit a completed application form, official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions they have attended, and pay the admission fee; the general page groups this diploma with the Certificate in Theology under the same document checklist. Neither the program page nor the general admission page publishes a minimum secondary-school grade, a minimum GPA, or an English-language proficiency score such as IELTS or TOEFL, and no portfolio, interview, letter of reference, or essay is listed as a requirement at the diploma level.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall, Winter and Spring
Application Deadline:Thorneloe University's School of Theology sets the same admission deadlines for all applicants, whether Canadian or international, applying directly to the Registrar rather than through a provincial service: for the 2026-2027 academic year the deadline to apply for the Fall term is August 15, for the Winter term December 15, and for the Summer term April 13. The university publishes no separate international deadline or process, and its handbook does not describe admission as rolling; each term's cutoff is treated as fixed, with non-degree applicants taking intensive summer courses permitted to apply as late as the first day of class. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
