Skip to main content

April 2026 Bulletin

1 April 2026
Share page:
Pink tulips in the foreground with blurred yellow and orange ones in the background

Read our latest news bulletin

See in Microsoft Sway

  1. Upcoming Deadlines and Key Dates
  2. Student Survey
  3. Curriculum Updates
  4. TEI Invoices
  5. TEI Forum
  6. Boards of Examiners
  7. Annual Conference for Theological Educators 2026
  8. Webinar Series
  9. TCEN Conference
  10. Further Information

1. Upcoming Deadlines and Key Dates

1st April – Announce results of CAMB student elections

6th April - TEIs to ask Common Awards students to send any feedback for the Management Board to the CAMB student representatives

17th April – launch of the Common Awards Student Survey 2026

24th April - Seedcorn Grant Applications 2026 Deadline

28th April – Common Awards Webinar - Disability and Theology

2. Common Awards Student Survey 2026

The 2025/26 Common Awards Student Survey will run from Friday 17th April – Friday 29th May 2026. The survey will be managed and analysed by Durham, with TEI-specific results shared with each TEI over the summer. The survey will be available to all students registered on Common Awards programmes in 2025/26.

3. Curriculum Updates

Three new programmes have been approved for delivery from September 2026.  They are:

Postgraduate programmes:

tbc

Postgraduate Certificate in Christian Spirituality

tbc

Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Spirituality

tbc

MA in Christian Spirituality

The following Modules have been approved for delivery from 26-27:

Level 4

TMM1841 - Foundations in Theology

Level 5

TMM2897 - Introduction to Models of Ministry with Children and Young People

TMM2907 - Liturgy and Rites

TMM2911 - Developing Chaplaincy Studies

Level 6

TMM3987 - Topic in Mission

Level 7  

NB: It’s not a typo, we have run out of module codes at level 7 so three have a letter in them

TMM49420 - Inspiration and Imagination: Creative Expressions of the Spiritual Life
TMM49520 - Digital Media and Popular Culture
TMM49620 - Embodied Christian Spirituality
TMM49720 - Gender Sexuality and Spirituality
TMM49820 - Western Christian Mysticism
TMM49960 - Dissertation in Christian Spirituality
TMM40A20 - Spiritual Accompaniment: Origins, Foundations and Theologies
TMM41A20 - Spiritual Accompaniment: Dynamics, Thresholds and Creative Approaches
TMM42A20 - Spiritual Accompaniment: Developing Practice and Reflection

In addition, there are some minor changes to existing modules:

  • TMM1361 Mission and Evangelism:

In the Content, where it said "an introductory evaluation of Christian attitudes..."  has changed to “An introductory evaluation of topics such as Christian attitudes….”

  • TMM2401 Mission and Evangelism:

In the Content, where it said "A theological and ethical critique of..." has changed to “A theological and ethical critique of topics such as Christian attitudes…”

  • TMM1267 Multi Faith Awareness and TMM2247 Christian Discipleship and Ministry in Multi Faith Contexts:

References to England/English have been replaced with Britain/British.

4. TEI Invoices

All TEIs should have received invoices at the beginning of March. The invoices are based on a snapshot of student records data from 1st December; all changes communicated to us before 1st December have been reflected in the invoices. A gentle reminder that payments are expected within 30 days.

If there are any questions or queries regarding invoices, please contact the team as soon as possible.

5. TEI Forum

Members of the TEI Forum have been contacted to request their availability for the forthcoming meeting. We will provide confirmation of the agreed date at the earliest opportunity.

6. Boards of Examiners

  • The Overarching Board of Examiners are due to be held on September 3rd (Summer) and December 1st (Winter), 2026. We therefore ask that TEIs hold their own Board of Examiners no later than 5th August 2026 (Summer) and 2nd November 2026 (Winter). This allows the Common Awards Team enough time to process the data received from TEIs, and resolve any queries, before the Overarching Board of Examiners. However, please do let us know if these dates present any problems for your TEI. We would be grateful if you could let us know you Exam Board dates once they have been scheduled.
  • TEIs are reminded that they are very welcome to send a representative from their TEI Board of Examiners (normally the Chair) to the meetings of the overarching Board. Up to three TEI BoE representatives may attend each board. This can be a good way for TEIs to discover more about how the overarching Board works, and to see how we handle decisions about their students. The next meeting of the Board is due to be held online, on 3rd September 2026. Please contact the team if a representative from your TEI Board of Examiners wishes to attend this meeting.

Exam Board Training/Information Sessions

We will be holding some Exam Board training/information sessions in advance of the 2025/26 Boards, in collaboration with Dr Ken Farrimond of the Ministry Development Team. There will be two sessions, primarily aimed at TEI staff involved in the preparation for Exam Boards at Common Awards TEIs, and the sessions will take place online. The dates/times are as follows; please complete the online registration form if you would like to attend:

Tuesday 5th May: 10:00-12:00

Thursday 14th May: 14:00-16:00

7. The Annual Conference for Theological Educators 2026

The 2026 Annual Conference for Theological Educators will be taking place on 15-17 July 2026, at Durham.  We will be in touch with further information and how to book your place in due course.

8. Webinar series

Tuesday 28th April, 2.30pm – 4.00pm:

‘She’s Kind, He’s Smart’: Gendered Language in Teaching Evaluations, References and Reports, with the Revd Dr Gabrielle Thomas

Whenever people give feedback on each other – whether that is students filling in Module Evaluation Questionnaires, staff writing reports on or references for students, people participating in ministerial development reviews, or any number of other similar processes – it proves all easy to slip into gendered stereotypes. This webinar will help staff and students identify and avoid them.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/36176480139462?p=9rysUM20KdToGEgNJw
Meeting ID: 361 764 801 394 62Passcode: 9QR9Dx7a

--------------------------------------

Wednesday 6th May, 2pm – 3.30pm:

Class in Theological Education, with Dr Sharon Jagger, Dr Alex Fry and Rebecca Tyndall with the Revd Rachel Simons

A chance to explore a recent report on the experience of working-class students in theological education, and its suggestions of ways forward for Theological Education Institutions deconstructing classed environments and making theological education an arena for working-class voices.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/33162272804925?p=xB4gHXgDF1oMjkICgx
Meeting ID: 331 622 728 049 25Passcode: XH6e5mQ6

9. TCEN Conference

Theological Colleges Environment Network (TCEN) are hosting an online interactive webinar on Environment and Racial Justice.

This event on Thursday 4 June 2026, 10.00am-12-noon, is intended for students, staff (teaching and non-teaching) and trustees of theological colleges.

Speakers are:

Dr Anupama Ranawana, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Durham University

Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjanam Director, Centre for Mission from the Majority World

Follow this link to sign up for this interactive webinar

https://tinyurl.com/bddrce9s

10. Further Information

The full 2025/2026 academic calendar is available here.

 With thanks,   

Common Awards Team