Hannah Felsbourg
21 March 2025
Thousands of theological graduates will soon hold degrees from an Australian university rather than a college, potentially boosting their credentials worldwide.
The Australian College of Theology has been elevated to university status and renamed Australian University of Theology after an eight-year regulatory battle.
Graduates across 16 affiliated colleges nationwide, including four in Melbourne, will now receive university qualifications.
AUT vice-chancellor James Dalziel said the recognition reflected years of high-quality work rather than a new direction.
He said the court case at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal became necessary after encouragement from the regulator to apply for university status was followed by resistance.
That began an eight-year battle with TEQSA over whether ACT met the requirements to become a university.
The institution officially received university status in December 2024 and began operating as Australian University of Theology in January 2025.
Professor Dalziel said the university designation brought potential benefits including enhanced recognition for graduates working internationally and future access to research funding.
This funding would become available once AUT was added to specific legislation that governed university research support, a process that could take some time.
Read more: Thousands embrace Ridley online learning
Meanwhile, Sydney College of Divinity has deliberately chosen to remain a University College despite having doubled in size over the past three years.
In Australia’s higher education system, Australian University status requires demonstrating research at world standard across all teaching disciplines.
University College status acknowledges quality teaching with less demanding research requirements.
SCD dean Stephen Smith said the institution decided against pursuing university status to avoid research compliance requirements that would distract from their mission.
He said SCD produced world-class research, scholarship, conferences and publications — but by choice instead of regulatory requirement.
Professor Smith said his hope was for SCD graduates to be able to help change their corner of Australian society in the name of Jesus.
He said SCD emphasised the broader study of divinity in the classical style rather than the narrow area of theology.
Instead of institutional academics, this approach produced scholars with a heart for mission and ministry who could apply their learning in their local context.
He said growth at SCD resulted from innovations including planting new colleges, with a new start-up college established each year for the past three years.
Read more: Exploring the changes in Anglican theological education
According to the Department of Education, faith-based education constitutes approximately five per cent of university enrolments in Australia.
More than 8000 students are enrolled specifically in religious studies courses.
Melbourne-based theological colleges associated with AUT are Ridley College, Melbourne School of Theology, Reformed Theological College, and Presbyterian Theological College.
There are now three Australian Universities with primarily theological focus: Australian University of Theology, University of Divinity, and Avondale University.
Other faith-based universities include Australian Catholic University and University of Notre Dame.
Four other theological institutions hold University College status: Moore Theological College, Sydney College of Divinity, Excelsia College, and Alphacrucis University College.
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This article was updated on 24 March 2025 to reflect that Torrens University is not a faith-based university.
