Admissions

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

EAST considers each applicant's qualifications in these five areas:

1. Maturity (personal, social, and spiritual)
2. Ministry experience
3. Leadership ability
4. Academic ability
5. Academic entry requirement:
   1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited or recognized university or college for admission to one of the master's programmes.
   2. An A-level certificate or diploma from a recognized tertiary institution for admission to Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry.

Note: EAST reserves the right to make exceptions to the above policy.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS)

1. Proficiency in the English Language

   Students whose first language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a comparable test of English proficiency prior to acceptance. It is the responsibility of the applicant to take the test and to arrange for the scores to be sent to EAST, Office of Admissions. For admission to a degree programme, EAST requires a TOEFL score of 207 on the computer-based test or 540 overall (or 53 minimum on each of the three sections) of the paper-based test.

2. Financial Guarantees

   Proof of financial support from a sponsoring church (letter of sponsorship) or individual (bank statement) must be produced. The school provides an estimate of education and living expenses for international applicants.

Application Procedure

All applicants are required to send a completed application form to:

For enquiries, please contact EAST office at:

Together with the completed set of application forms, the applicant must submit the following items:

1. Applicant's photographs:

   Paste one recent passport-sized photograph on the right hand corner of the application form and submit another photograph.

2. Personal Documents of Identification.

   Submit a photocopy of the NRIC for Singaporeans and passport for foreign students.

3. Application Fee

   With effect from 1 September 2005, applicants have to pay a S$50 or US$35 non-refundable application fee for each degree programme or certificate programme. The application fee for the wives in a programme called Partners-in-Ministry (PIM) is S$30 or US$20. Cheques, money orders, or drafts should be made payable to "East Asia School of Theology."

4. Biographical Summary

   This covers conversion, call, ministry experience, and the reasons for pursuing theological education at EAST.

5. Official Transcripts and Certificates

   This includes ALL certificates and transcripts earned from educational institutes beyond secondary or high school ('O' level). It is preferred that the applicant's previous schools send the original transcripts directly to EAST or that the originals be brought to EAST for verification.

6. Character References

   Four references are required. These should include a pastor or church leader of the church in which the applicant is worshipping or has worshipped at, or a direct supervisor if he/she is in a vocational ministry position. The other three references may include a friend, a teacher or a professor, a colleague, or former employer who knows the applicant well. Spouses and relatives are not acceptable references. The names and full addresses of all the references should be written on the application forms so that EAST will know from whom to expect the reference forms.

   EAST will correspond with the references to obtain the character reference of the applicant.

Note: The Admissions Office will not consider applications that do not have the required documents mentioned above.

Application Deadlines

All completed applications (with application fee) must reach EAST four months before the commencement of the quarter for international students (three months for local students). The entire admission process normally takes four to eight weeks once all the required documents are received. The Admissions Office will inform the applicants the results of their application.

ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURES

1. Upon receiving the letter of offer, the student needs to send the school an acceptance fee of $50 or US$35 (non-refundable) as an acknowledgement of their acceptance of the offer within 21 days. This fee will be credited to the tuition fees when the student registers for classes.
2. International students need to submit this fee together with their completed student pass application forms (which can be downloaded from www.ica.gov.sg).
1. The prospective student needs to submit the following forms and documents to EAST:
1. Two original copies of each of the Forms 16, V36, V39S.
2. Two recent passport-size photographs to be pasted on the top right hand corner of Form 16.
3. Passport pages showing full particulars including passport expiry date (photocopy).
4. Birth certificate (notarized and translated if not in English).
5. Marriage certificate if the student is married (notarized and translated if not in English).
6. Educational certificates and transcripts (notarized and translated if not in English).
2. The student pass application forms must be returned properly filled and signed. The school will not process incomplete forms or documents. Students must include the Student Protection Scheme (SPS) fee. Student pass applicants are hereby cautioned that it is an offence under the Immigration Act to submit false statements, representations, or declarations in their student pass application forms.
3. EAST will submit the completed student pass application and documents to the Immigration Checkpoint Authority (ICA) on behalf of the prospective students. It takes the ICA about 4-8 weeks to process the application.
4. When the student pass is approved, the Admissions Office will notify the new student to come to Singapore as soon as possible.
5. NOTE: The new student must bring with him ALL original documents to be presented to the ICA for verification.
3. Housing: Foreign students are encouraged to arrive early to secure housing, obtain a student pass, and get settled in Singapore before the start of classes. On-campus housing is not provided. However, notices of available housing are usually posted at the notice boards on levels 3 and 4 of the school building and in the library. The Admissions Counsellors also assist first year foreign students to look for suitable accommodation.

REGISTRATION

Upon acceptance into a study programme, the new student will receive information for class registration. He will also receive a copy of the Student Handbook during the Orientation week.

All new students begin their time at EAST with a week of orientation. This is usually held one week before the first day of school in the new academic year. The orientation programme is compulsory for all students. It is designed to help students get registered and be acquainted with the various aspects of student life at the school. Special workshops are conducted for international students to assist them in their cross-cultural adjustments to living in Singapore. Organised bonding activities seek to help the new students, returning students, staff and faculty get to know each other.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

EAST requires all foreign students to have medical insurance coverage. The school offers students and their family members, who are living in Singapore, an insurance coverage through SCCC at a discounted rate. If the student has an existing insurance policy that does not cover Singapore, he must be enrolled in the medical insurance plan offered by EAST.

If the student's existing policy has international coverage, he will need to sign the Health Insurance Waiver Form (obtainable from the Admissions Office). The student also needs to submit a photocopy of the insurance plan to the Admissions Co-ordinator.

Downloads

Reference

• Complete Academic Catalogue (EAST Prospectus 2006-2008)
• DIY: Approximate budget for living in Singapore as a student

Printable Forms

• Application Form (required)
• Biographical Information Concerning Christian Services (required)