Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Application Instructions
Read through the following application instructions completely before filling out the application form. For your convenience and to save time, you may apply online.
1. Application Fee
Master’s-level applicants must submit a $25 nonrefundable application fee. Checks should be payable in $U.S. and drawn from a bank in the United States. For your convenience, fees may also be paid using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. A $25 application fee is also required of all first-time Doctoral applicants (DMin or PhD). The master’s-level application fee is waived for graduates of Trinity International University’s various undergraduate programs and those who have already paid an application fee at the master’s level to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School or Trinity Graduate School (Deerfield, Davie, Santa Ana, or any of our listed extension sites).
2. Personal Statements
Please enclose your typed personal statements, following the instructions on the application. Please put your name on the top right corner of each page.
3. Official Transcripts
An official transcript must come from each undergraduate school at which you have taken a minimum of three courses for credit and from each seminary or graduate school you have attended, even though the work may appear as transfer credit on another transcript. However, at schools where you have taken prerequisite course work needed for your program, you should have transcripts sent even if you took three courses or less. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to our Admissions Office in sealed envelopes from each school.
4. Recommendation Forms
Electronic Recommendation for emailing
All Applicants
Please complete the top portion of each recommendation form yourself:
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Print your name.
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Indicate the program to which you are applying.
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Check the box identifying the recommender.
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Sign either line “1” or line “2.”
All recommendations should be sent directly to the Admissions Office by the persons who complete them. Persons supplying recommendations will be acknowledged, and the institution reserves the right to investigate the accuracy of information provided by the applicant.
Master’s, Certificate in Christian Studies, and Special Student Applicants
Please have recommendations submitted from the following three people:
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Pastor or church official
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A faculty member or administrator familiar with your academic work (undergraduate or graduate)
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An employer, professional acquaintance, or lay leader in your church
If you cannot locate one of your professors to submit a recommendation, please ask a leader in your church or parachurch group to complete one instead.
Special Instructions for Transfer Students Only:
Students desiring to transfer directly from another ATS accredited seminary to TEDS must submit a fourth recommendation form. This form, to be completed by the Dean of Students (or functional equivalent) of the transferring institution, must certify that the student is currently in good standing.
Doctor of Ministry Applicants
Please have recommendations submitted from the following four people:
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A ministry supervisor (e.g., a superintendent, pastor under whom you are serving, etc.)
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A ministry colleague
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A lay leader
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The chairman of your church board, a professor, a denominational or organizational official, or a professional acquaintance
PhD (Educational Studies) and PhD (Intercultural Studies) Applicants
Please have recommendations submitted from the following four people:
- A ministry supervisor (e.g., a superintendent, senior pastor or church leader, field supervisor, or mission executive)
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A professor from your most recent graduate studies
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A professional colleague
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A lay person from your church or organization
PhD (Theological Studies) Applicants
Please have recommendations submitted from the following four people:
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A pastor or church official
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Three professors
5. Standardized Tests
Master’s Applicants
Applicants to our Master of Arts program are required to submit test scores from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). (Special conditions apply to applicants whose first language is not English; see section on TOEFL below.) However, applicants with prerequisite degrees from fully accredited schools who are applying to the Master of Divinity or Master of Theology programs may be exempted from this requirement. We can determine this only after we evaluate the transcripts of all previous postsecondary studies. If you are uncertain as to whether the GRE or MAT will be required, we suggest that you make arrangements to take one of the tests as soon as possible. This could prevent inconvenient delays in your application process.
Additionally, students applying to the Master of Divinity whose GPA does not meet catalog standards and/or who do not have an accredited Bachelors Degree may be required to submit test scores from either the GRE or MAT. Again, we can determine this only after we evaluate the transcripts of all previous postsecondary studies.
Trinity’s campus counseling center administers the MAT. If you live nearby, you may make an appointment to take the test with the Counseling Center (phone: 847.317.4067).
Certificate in Christian Studies, Special Student, and Visiting Student Applicants
The GRE or MAT is not required. (Special conditions apply to applicants whose first language is not English; see section on TOEFL below.)
Doctor of Ministry Applicants
The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) may be required. When we receive your official transcripts, we will notify you if you need to take the MAT.
Academic Doctoral Program Applicants
Doctor of Philosophy (Theological Studies) applicants, including applicants required to take the TOEFL, must submit GRE scores. Applicants to our Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies) or Intercultural Studies programs may submit scores from either the MAT or the GRE. (Special conditions apply to applicants whose first language is not English; see section on TOEFL below.)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Information
If English is not your primary language you will need to take a test for your English language skills. The results must be submitted to the Admissions Office at Trinity in order for your application to be processed.
Master’s Level
Applicants with completed advanced degrees at the master’s level or higher may request a waiver from the standardized testing requirement. (Does not apply to TOEFL.)
Graduate Test Information
Test scores must be less than five years old (except TOEFL scores, which must be less than two years old) and must be submitted directly to our Admissions Office from the testing service. Photocopies from the applicant are not acceptable.
MAT information:
The Psychological Corporation
555 Academic Court
San Antonio TX 78204
800.622.3231
210.921.8802
210.921.8861 (Fax)
Graduate Record Examination information:
GRE-ETS
PO Box 6000
Princeton NJ 08541-6000
609.771.7670
609.771.7906 (Fax)
Email: gre-info@ets.org
Web: http://www.gre.org/
Our GRE institutional code is R1797.
6. Immunization
The state of Illinois requires incoming students to submit documentation with exact dates of the following injections: Measles (two); Mumps (one); Rubella (one); and Tetanus/Diphtheria (one injection within the last ten years). For students not attending U.S. grades 9-12, three Tetanus/Diphtheria injections are required, the third being within the last ten years. A PPD tuberculosis skin test is also required.
Accepted students will receive further information and a proper form to be completed as part of the admissions process. Do not send immunization documentation before receiving the official form.
Students who are taking less than 6 hours of credit or were born prior to 1957 are exempt from this law.
7. Tuition Deposits
Master’s Level
If you are admitted to Trinity, you must submit a tuition deposit of $100.00 to the Admissions Office as a confirmation of your acceptance of our offer of admission. This deposit is refundable only if the Admissions Office receives written notification of cancellation at least thirty days prior to your anticipated date of enrollment.
Doctoral Level
If you are admitted, you must submit a nonrefundable tuition deposit as a confirmation of your acceptance of our offer of admission. Specific information regarding this deposit is detailed in your letter of acceptance from the Admissions Office.
International Applicants (F-1 or J-1 Visa)
If you are an International applicant who will be entering the United States on an F-1 or J-1 visa and plan to attend Trinity’s Deerfield Campus in a full-time residential status, you must submit a tuition deposit of US$2,000 to the Admissions Office as confirmation of your acceptance of our offer of admission before an I-20 can be issued. This deposit will be saved in your student account and can be used toward your tuition and fees. If you decide to not attend Trinity, this deposit will be refunded to you.
8. Special Instructions
Marital Status
As an educational institution with a broad representation of denominations among our student body, we are aware that marital status, including positions on divorce and remarriage, vary widely among churches and Christian organizations. Applicants are encouraged to dialogue early with their church and spouse relative to these matters, as they may relate to future ministry placement.
International Applicants
International applicants have some additional admission requirements. Please visit our International Students page for more information.
Applicants with Disabilities
We want to be prepared to meet your needs when you come to Trinity. After you receive your letter of admission, please send us a statement describing your disabilities and what special attention or arrangements you may need at Trinity. For more information, contact the Associate Dean of Students (telephone: 847.317.4063).
Doctor of Ministry Applicants
Please let us know in writing if and when you intend to take up residence in the community to pursue on-campus course work during the regular academic terms.
Academic Doctoral Applicants
You are required to submit a work that shows evidence of your writing and research ability. All PhD applicants must submit an exemplary research paper or thesis. EDS and ICS applicants may also submit a recently published paper or article. For application purposes, your paper must be in English or at least translated into English.
Concluding Remarks
If you need further information or have any questions concerning any part of the application process, please feel free to call the Admissions Office at 800.345.TEDS or 847.317.8000. You also may email us at tedsadm@tiu.edu. We reserve the right to request from any applicant to the divinity school additional materials or an interview with a representative of Trinity.