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Are there scholarships or other forms of financial assistance available to PhD students?

We do not currently offer scholarships or financial assistance, but hope to in the near future. Students can apply for federal student loans. For questions about this, please contact ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ One Stop at onestop@samford.edu

How much time are PhD students required to spend on campus?

Newly admitted students are required to attend a two-day orientation on the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ campus. In the first two years of study, students complete five seminars. The seminars are offered in spring, summer, and fall. Each seminar meets on the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ campus for one week (five consecutive days).

Are PhD students required to pay for their own food, lodging, and transportation when attending on-campus programs (such as orientation and seminars)?

Yes, all expenses associated with attending on-campus programs are the student’s responsibility. We are, however, happy to recommend places to stay in the Birmingham area. Please reach out to Victoria Graves at victoria.graves@samford.edu.

Are there any language requirements for the PhD program?

Admission to the PhD program requires previous graduate-level course work in the biblical languages. As pertains to modern research languages or Latin, proficiency requirements depend on the subject matter of one’s dissertation. If, for example, one is writing on Augustine, then Latin will be requisite. If, by way of another example, a student is researching biblical studies, modern German will be important for one’s research. These decisions will be made in consultation with the student’s supervisor.

How do I schedule a visit?

To schedule a visit, please contact Victoria Graves at victoria.graves@samford.edu. Please keep in mind that visitation hours are only between the days Monday-Friday and the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What does the ideal PhD student look like?

Ideal students will embody the following: an evangelical commitment to Holy Scripture, a warm embrace of the Great Tradition, and an appreciation of the Reformation’s enduring value; a clear sense of vocation with respect to the church; the intellectual virtues requisite for theological and ecclesial growth; a curious mind demonstrated in broad reading patterns; and a love for the subject matter able to carry one’s research to a final form. The admission committee hopes for applicants from various backgrounds and theological formation.

What does a good PhD research proposal look like?

A good research proposal will demonstrate the student’s understanding of the nature of an academic dissertation and how their own research will advance a scholarly conversation. Questions: What is the proposed field of research? Who are some of the key interlocutors in the field? What is the basic state of the question? How will my own research enter this scholarly conversation and advance the discussion/understanding of the subject matter? Proposals do not operate like contracts, and the admission committee understands that research will shift and change during the course of one’s study. However, students should demonstrate the ability to do primary and secondary research with respect to the proposed field for admission to the program.