Arts & Humanities

Master of Divinity in Missions

The Master of Divinity in Missions provides advanced training in Christian missions, missiology, cross-cultural ministry, Islamic studies, and mission theology. Students learn mission theology, missiology, cross-cultural communication, world religions, and mission strategy. The programme is designed for those seeking advanced missions qualifications for cross-cultural ministry, mission leadership, or teaching.

Students develop advanced competencies in missiology, cross-cultural ministry, mission strategy, Islamic studies, world religions, and mission theology. The curriculum covers mission theology, missiology, cross-cultural communication, world religions, Islamic studies, mission history, research methods, and a research thesis. The programme comprises 111 credit hours over three years with general and Islamic studies tracks.

Missions expertise is important for the church in Africa, which is both a mission field and a mission-sending continent. Churches, mission agencies, and theological institutions require trained missiologists. Africa's religious diversity, including Islam and traditional religions, creates demand for cross-cultural mission expertise. The programme addresses the demand for advanced missions training.

The programme combines classroom lectures with cross-cultural ministry practicum, case studies, and research. Students study missiology, analyse mission contexts, examine world religions, and conduct research. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, ministry practicum, and research supervision. The programme is offered in multiple modes including evening, weekend, and modular classes.

Graduates find employment as missionaries, mission agency leaders, cross-cultural ministry workers, missions teachers, or Christian organisation leaders in churches, mission agencies, and theological institutions. The MDiv supports careers in cross-cultural mission, mission leadership, and missiological education.

This programme is ideal for those seeking advanced missions qualifications for cross-cultural ministry or mission leadership. The programme provides advanced skills in missiology, cross-cultural communication, and mission strategy for global mission contexts.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: Low

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Modular, Evening, Weekend
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Master

What you study

10 subjects

Mission Theology
Missiology
Cross-Cultural Communication
World Religions
Islamic Studies
Mission History
Mission Strategy and Church Planting
Research Methods
Biblical Foundations for Mission
Thesis Research

Modules

8 in the programme

Mission Theology and Biblical Foundations
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Mission theology covering the biblical basis for mission, mission Dei, mission theology models, and the theology of cross-cultural ministry.
Missiology and Mission History
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Missiology covering mission theory, mission models, and mission history covering the history of Christian mission with focus on African mission history.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Cross-cultural communication covering cultural analysis, communication theory, contextualisation, and communicating across cultural boundaries.
Research Methods for Mission Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods covering research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, missiological research, and research ethics.
World Religions and Islamic Studies
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
World religions covering major world religions, and Islamic studies covering Islamic theology, practice, history, and Christian-Muslim relations.
Mission Strategy and Church Planting
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Mission strategy covering mission strategy development, church planting, disciple-making movements, and sustainable mission models.
Cross-Cultural Ministry Practicum
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Supervised cross-cultural ministry practicum providing hands-on experience in diverse cultural and religious contexts.
Thesis Research and Defence
Year 3Semester 18 creditsCore
A research thesis on a missions topic, demonstrating research competence and contributing to missiological knowledge and practice.

Specialisations

Islamic Studies
Focus on Islamic theology, practice, history, Christian-Muslim relations, and ministry in Muslim contexts.
Cross-Cultural Mission
Focus on cross-cultural communication, cultural analysis, contextualisation, and ministry across cultural boundaries.
Mission Strategy
Focus on mission strategy development, church planting, disciple-making movements, and sustainable mission models.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on missiology or world religions with afternoon cross-cultural ministry practicum and case study discussions. Students study mission theology, analyse mission contexts, examine Islamic studies, and conduct research. Cross-cultural ministry practicum provides hands-on experience in diverse cultural settings. The programme emphasises missiological understanding, cross-cultural competence, and mission strategy for effective global mission.

The trade offs

In its favour

AIU's School of World Mission is a leading African institution for mission studies.
Available in both General and Islamic Studies tracks, providing specialised training for different mission contexts.
Includes cross-cultural ministry practicum, providing hands-on experience in diverse cultural settings.

Against it

The programme is 3 years with 111 credit hours, requiring significant time commitment.
Career opportunities are primarily within church and mission agency contexts.
Mission work often involves working in challenging contexts with limited financial compensation.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private190k to 191k

190k at Tangaza University191k at Africa International University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 441K/2yr(keguide). Maseno 236.7K(yumpu). AIU 95.5K/sem2(vm). Tangaza 95K/sem2(official)

HELB loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. AIU may offer institutional scholarships for qualifying students. Mission agencies and churches may sponsor students for mission training.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in master's programmes at chartered universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

Alternative entry: Recognised Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0 or Second Class Upper Division, or GPA 2.75-2.99 with 2 years of working/ministry experience.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Examinations
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, examinations, and assignments evaluating understanding of missiology and mission studies concepts.
Ministry Practicum and Case Studies
Practical30% of the mark
Cross-cultural ministry practicum assessments, case study analyses, and ministry presentations evaluating practical mission skills.
Thesis Defence
Project30% of the mark
A research thesis demonstrating research competence in missions, defended before an examination panel.

Accreditation

Africa International University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MDiv programme is accredited by CUE.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
AIU is chartered by CUE. MDiv programme accredited by CUE.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Missionary
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 150,000
Serves as a cross-cultural missionary in mission agencies, working in diverse cultural and religious contexts for Christian mission.
Mission Agency Leader
Low demand
Leads a mission agency or mission department, managing mission programmes, strategy, and mission personnel.
Missions Lecturer
Low demand
Teaches missiology and mission studies in seminaries or theological colleges, training future missionaries and church leaders.
Cross-Cultural Ministry Worker
Low demand
Works in cross-cultural ministry in churches, Christian organisations, or NGOs, applying cross-cultural skills in diverse settings.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as missionaries, mission agency leaders, and cross-cultural ministry workers in churches, mission agencies, and theological institutions across Africa and globally.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Missions is just about evangelism.
Missions covers missiology, cross-cultural communication, social justice, community development, and holistic ministry, not just evangelism.
Mission work doesn't need academic training.
Effective cross-cultural mission requires training in missiology, cultural analysis, world religions, language acquisition, and mission strategy.
Islamic studies is only for working in Muslim contexts.
Islamic studies provides understanding of Islam for dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and effective ministry in increasingly pluralistic societies.
Missions is a Western enterprise.
Africa is now a major mission-sending continent, with African missionaries serving across Africa and globally, requiring trained African missiologists.