Course Overview

Live contact time Thursdays 6:30-9pm (UK time)

Since 2004, OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics has delivered courses and programmes in Christian apologetics that have combined intellectual rigour with practical evangelistic outreach. The Foundational Apologetics course aims to encourage and equip Christians to have natural conversations about their faith and to respond to the tough questions of our day. This engaging and stimulating course is delivered online but manages to retain the journeying-in-community element that has been central to OCCA over the last 17 years. Students will have access to filmed lectures and will gather online for weekly live, interactive seminars with their lecturers. The course is part-time and can be accessed from anywhere in the UK and beyond.

Spring course dates: 19th January - 23rd March 2023

The 10 week course will consist of:

  • 16 pre-recorded lectures which form the basis for seminar discussions.

  • 20 hours of contact time with lecturers, spread across 8 weekly seminars (with a break over half-term)

  • One assignment to put theory into practice

  • Optional mid-week online student meet-ups to continue discussions

Group Discounts & Bursaries

Get a further 10% off when you sign up as a group! That's another £38 off the course fee, which means you only pay £342 per person. We'd love you to take part along with your church team, small group, family, or friends. Email us to get your special discount code: [email protected]
We also offer a small number of bursaries up to 50% off the course price, available to those who would be unable to attend the course without financial assistance. Please email us if you think that you may be eligible to apply.

What can I expect?

In advance of the live sessions, students will need to watch a pre-recorded lecture on topics such as: Critical Thinking, The Existence of God, Science & Religion, Worldviews and Human Value. This material is designed to introduce concepts and provoke thought, in preparation for the online discussion time.
Live seminar evenings will begin with an encouraging bible devotional and time of prayer, followed by an interactive Foundational Apologetics discussion, during which the lecturer will invite students to engage with and respond to the topics and questions that were raised in the pre-recorded video.
In the second part of the evening, the group will watch a pre-recorded talk on a Frequently Asked Question, such as: How can we talk about faith with our friends? Why isn’t God more obvious? Does my pain matter to God? Why would God allow pandemics, tsunamis and other disasters? The discussion time afterwards will explore the topic further and provide practical advice for tackling objections and questions that may arise.
Live meetings will be highly interactive, giving students the opportunity to ask questions, discuss thoughts and share ideas together. Students will learn as part of an online community and will be encouraged to have further discussions with each other outside of class. Students will also complete practical assignments as a means of consolidating and applying the skills learned.

When you sign up to the course, please be aware that you'll need to meet the following requirements to receive the certificate:

  • Attend at least 75% of the live contact time sessions (Thursday 6:30-9pm) and;

  • Complete all prerequisite activities including watching all pre-recorded videos and completing the two assignments.

Sign up today! If you are interested in the group discount, or would like to apply for a bursary, please email us.

FAQ

  • What are the requirements of this course?

    This course is open to anyone over 18, with no specific educational requirements. However, in order to complete the course please be aware that you need to attend at least 75% of live contact time sessions (Thursdays 6:30-9pm GMT) and complete all pre-required material including watching pre-recorded lectures, and assignments.

  • If I can't attend the evening sessions, can I still sign up?

    Unfortunately the evening sessions are a required part of the course - you're expected to attend 75% of them. If you can't make these, keep an eye out for our other courses and events that will be coming soon!

  • If I miss a live session, can I watch it back?

    No, unfortunately we do not record the live sessions so you are required to attend these at the posted time in order to participate. Please be aware that all timings are in UK timezone!

  • What is the weekly time commitment?

    The total time commitment per week is 3 hours: 30 minutes in preparation watching a pre-recorded lecture, and 2.5 hours live contact time. In addition, you can choose to join an optional 1 hour long discussion group or take on some optional extra reading.

  • What are the assignments?

    The assignments are conversational interviews with a friend, plus a short written reflection.

  • Do you offer bursaries or scholarships?

    We offer a limited number of bursaries to students who would otherwise be unable to attend without financial assistance. You will be asked to complete a form and attend a short (online) interview with a member of the team. To apply for one of these, please email [email protected]

  • Can I sign up as part of a group?

    We do offer group discounts - contact us to find out more! We'd love for you to take part along with your household or church group. Every member of the group will still need to register individually, using a special link.

  • Is there an age limit to the course?

    Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome! We have a whole mix of backgrounds so please don't think this course isn't for you - if you have any specific queries about whether this course is right for you, please do contact us.

  • If I don't get a place on this course, will there be another chance to do it?

    Yes there will! We plan to run this course regularly throughout the year.

Interested?

If you have questions about bursaries, group discounts, or anything else, please email us at [email protected]

The course helped me to expand my thinking and it gave me courage. I've never been so passionate about the truth and wanting to speak the truth.

Teodora, Romania

I found the content very accessible and relevant. There was also so much depth and wisdom to be gained from engaging with different students' perspectives.

Ace, Philippines