Gap Year Program
One year of serious theology without leaving your church or putting ordinary life on hold.
Key information
- Duration
- One year part time
- Entry requirements
- Year 12 or an equivalent qualification. Current uni students and others welcome.
- Delivery
- Hybrid, online and in person.
- Level
- Completed units can transfer as credit into further undergraduate study at Haddon Institute
- Indicative Fees
- 6 undergrad units at ~$1,255 each
- Units
- Split into 3 trimesters with 2 courses per trimester
Overview
One year. Three trimesters. Six units. 12 hours a week: two lectures plus study. You stay in your church, keep ordinary life going, and leave with real biblical foundations.
A coherent Christian worldview
A coherent Christian worldview and sharper critical thinking. See reality as Scripture frames it, and recognise the stories that compete with the gospel.
Confidence handling the Bible
Confidence handling the Bible and key systematic doctrines. Open the text carefully and know who God is from Scripture and the creeds of the church.
Academic depth
Academic depth through personalised mentoring and assignment feedback. Real units, real marking, and a load designed to sit alongside church and ordinary life.
Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation to fuel service in the church, on mission, and in your vocation, including an optional Pacific mission experience in Trimester 2.
Defer uni for a year
If you have a Semester 1 offer, most Queensland universities will let you pause it for a year. You do this through QTAC. Then you start uni with a formed mind and a church that still knows you. The 12-hour week also means some students keep a job or a light uni load. Completed Gap Year units can transfer as credit into other Haddon programs.
Completed Gap Year units can transfer as credit into other Haddon programs, including further undergraduate study at Haddon Institute. The usual academic rules apply. The Gap Year itself remains non-award foundational study.
Express interestHow the year is structured
Three trimesters. Six units. 12 hours a week, including two lectures plus study. See the course catalogue for published unit outlines.
Trimester 1: Seeing clearly (MAR-MAY)
Learn to see the world as Scripture sees it, and know who God is.
- THEO101
Theology for Worldview
Learn to see the world as Scripture sees it, and to recognise the stories that compete with the gospel.
- ST101
Doctrine of God
Know who God is: his being, attributes, and triune life, drawn from Scripture and the creeds of the church.
Trimester 2: Handling the text (JUL-SEP)
Open the New Testament and learn to interpret a text carefully.
- NT101
New Testament Survey
A foundational survey of the New Testament that traces the story of God's redemptive work through the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. Students will examine the historical setting, literary structure, and theological contribution of each book, seeing how the New Testament fulfils the Old and centres on the person and work of Christ. The course equips students to read the New Testament with greater confidence and to apply its message to life, church, and mission.
- HERM101
Principles of Biblical Interpretation
An introduction to the principles and practice of faithful biblical interpretation. Students will learn how to move from the text in its original context to responsible application today, with attention to genre, historical background, literary context, and the unity of Scripture. The course develops clear, rigorous habits of reading that serve personal devotion, teaching, and gospel proclamation in the local church.
Trimester 3: Gospel and leadership (OCT-DEC)
Speak the gospel, and serve as a leader in your contexts.
- SPUR101
Soul-Winning
Speak the gospel with clarity and warmth. Learn from Spurgeon's practice of soul-winning, then put it to work.
- LEAD101
Leadership in the Local Church
Serve as a leader in your contexts. Practice that serves people, not leadership theory for its own sake.
Optional Pacific mission experience
In partnership with Pacific Baptist Mission.
In Trimester 2 you can join a short-term trip focused on biblical teaching and evangelism with local churches among an unreached people group in the Pacific. The setting is mentored. You put what you learn into practice.
The trip is optional. Additional fees apply.
What students say
Voices from THEO101 and early Haddon students.
“THEO101 has been a refreshing and challenging course. It greatly helped me identify and clarify foundational concepts that formulate a consistent and biblical worldview. This has already positively influenced the way I approach studying Scripture, reading philosophy, and engaging in evangelism. It doesn’t matter how much you think you know, you will learn something by attending this class.”
Timothy Emms
Theology for Worldview Student
“This course brought my understanding and analysis of worldview to a completely new level. The course solidified my understanding on the foundations of a Christian worldview, which then filtered through to my approach on evangelism. "The Consequences of Ideas" by RC. Sproul provided a deeper comprehension of philosophy, while Craig's effective Lecture styles used this to engage us in greater knowledge of the God who created the universe. I look forward to studying further with the Haddon Institute.”
Sophie Tamehana
Theology for Worldview Student
“Theology for Worldview deeply shook my understanding of the world, how I interpret it and how we should be operating within it as Christians. It's helped me to understand the importance of theology in all worldviews, and how we can use it to engage with the world around us. Following the course completion, I'm more confident in my ability to exegete God's word, share the Gospel with those around me, and defend it.”
Zacchary Puckeridge
Theology for Worldview Student
Frequently asked questions
Fees and payment
Indicative total is comparable to one university semester of study. Final fees are to be confirmed. Payment plans are available.
- Comparable to one university semester of study. Final fees to be confirmed.
- Payment plans are available.
- Optional mission trip
Express interest
Tell us about yourself. We will reply within 2 business days.