Download the Application for Admission

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Franciscan School of Theology must have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or the equivalent from a non-US school. Occasional exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Academic Dean when compensatory factors are present.

Special Requirements for M.Div. Applicants ONLY:

Certain special requirements apply to applicants to the M.Div. program:

For members of religious communities, a letter of approval from their ordinary or religious superior
A certificate of completion issued by the applicant’s ordinary or religious superior stating that the applicant has taken a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of undergraduate philosophy or its equivalent as prescribed by the USCCB Program for Priestly Formation

Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Requirements:

FST adheres to the requirements regarding admission to post-baccalaureate degree programs published in Degree Program Standard M.1, 2010 by the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada, specifically:

Admission of Students with Baccalaureate Degree. Students must possess a baccalaureate degree from a member institution of the Association of Universities and Colleges or an institution accredited by a United States agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the educational equivalent of the baccalaureate degree.
Admission of Students without Baccalaureate Degree. Educational equivalent of the baccalaureate degree shall be determined on the basis of undergraduate work commensurate in kind, quality, and amount typical of North American baccalaureate degree programs. Occasional exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Academic Dean when compensatory factors are present.

International Students:

The Franciscan School of Theology is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

Applying to a Degree Program

Applicants to degree programs must submit a completed Application for Admission consisting of:

Application form
Statement of purpose
Application fee
Official transcripts of all undergraduate work
Three letters of academic or ministerial recommendation

Applications are available from the Admissions Office or can be downloaded below.

International Applicants:

In addition to the application elements listed above, international applicants must:

Demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write English either by TOEFL score, by successful course work in English at an accredited college or university, or by another measure deemed acceptable by the Academic Dean. FST's TOEFL number is 5736.
Supply official translations of transcripts written in a language other than English
Submit a financial declaration in US dollars attesting to the availability of funds sufficient to cover personal and academic expenses for the duration of their stay

Transfer of Credit:

At the discretion of the Academic Dean, up to 24 credits from another accredited graduate institution may be transferred provided the student earned at least a B, and the course has not been used as credit toward any other degree. To request that credits be transferred from previous academic work, complete a Request to Transfer Courses form.

Applying for Special Student Status

Applicants who plan to eventually enroll in a degree program must complete the full application process described above. Applicants who do not plan to pursue an academic degree must provide all elements of the application packet except letters of recommendation, and must schedule an interview with the Academic Dean.

Application Deadlines

Applications for fall and spring semesters are accepted throughout the year.

Note that deadlines for the GTU MA are firm: Fall Semester, February 15 and Spring
Semester, September 30. Refer to the GTU for more information.

Proof of Admission

Only a written notice from the Academic Dean is proof of admission to the Franciscan School of Theology.