Admission Procedure
A. Civil Degree Applicants (MA, PhD, DMin)
For Doctor of Ministry: Aside from the standard application documents required by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs (ADGP), LST requires the following documents which applicants need not submit to the ADGP:
a) a 10-page essay presenting the applicant’s professional history, goals in ministry and area of interest or special concern in the ministry;
b) a copy of their masters thesis or its equivalent; those with a non-thesis MA degree must submit a major research paper or ministry project of 15-30 pages written during MA course work; those without such paper may be admitted to the DMin program as probationary students pending completion of the requirement during DMin course work.
Application. All applications are done ONLINE. Please visit the link for instructions.
Submission of Documents. The Ateneo Application is submitted online as instructed above. Submission deadlines for application to Civil Degree programs are found in this link.
Entrance Examinations. Online Entrance Examinations will be scheduled by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs upon submission of complete application requirements.Online payment instructions will be provided by the same Office.
Admission. The LST Admissions Committee and the LST Vice President for Academic Affairs evaluate the applicant’s credentials and exam results. Official admission notices are issued by the Ateneo Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.
B. Ecclesiastical Degree Applicants (STB, STL, STD)
- All applications are done through the LST Student Online Application Receiver (SOAR).
- Submission of Documents. The applicant must gather all of the required documents for the degree (checklist here). As soon as he/she is ready to submit these documents, he/she enters SOAR to fill out the required information and to upload the required documents to the form.
- The applicant will receive an acknowledgement email from LST secretariat that the application has been received and will be processed.
- Application and Entrance Examination Fees. The applicant must pay these fees and have the proof of payment (electronic receipt, deposit slip, fund transfer acknowledgment) submitted to Ms. Jane Deseo (secretariat@lst.edu) after she has confirmed receipt of application documents.
- An email will inform the applicant of the scheduled date for the Online Graduate Admission Test.
- The applicant will be informed by email on status of his/her application. Follow ups on applications must be addressed to Ms. Jane Deseo (secretariat@lst.edu)
- If you are ready to process your application, click here to access SOAR.
C. Non Degree Applicants (Pastoral Care of Migrants, Family Ministries, Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry, Basic Pastoral Ministry, Pre-Theology Studies, Integral Ecology)
- All applications are done through the LST Student Online Application Receiver (SOAR).
- Submission of Documents. The applicant must gather all of the required documents for the diploma/certificate program (checklist here). As soon as he/she is ready to submit these documents, he/she enters SOAR to fill out the required information and to upload the required documents to the form.
- The applicant will receive an acknowledgement email from LST secretariat that the application has been received and will be processed.
- Application and Entrance Examination Fees. The applicant must pay these fees and have the proof of payment (electronic receipt, deposit slip, fund transfer acknowledgment) submitted to Ms. Jane Deseo (secretariat@lst.edu) after she has confirmed receipt of application documents. Note: Only students applying for PTS, CTS, and CPAM are required to take the entrance exams.
- An email will inform the applicant to PTS, CTS, and CPAM of the scheduled date for the Online Graduate Admission Test.
- The applicant will be informed by email on status of his/her application. Follow ups on applications must be addressed to Ms. Jane Deseo (secretariat@lst.edu).
- If you are ready to process your application, click here to access SOAR.
Philosophy and Theology Courses Required for Admission to the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB) and Masters (MA, M) Programs of the Loyola School of Theology
The 2017 Student Handbook states:
2.1.3 Transcript of Records. A minimum of 12 units of undergraduate theology and 42 units of systematic philosophy is required for applicants to the STB program. Moreover, they must have attained at least a general undergraduate average of 2.5 (B) with no grade of Failure or Conditional.
4.1.4. Academic Prerequisites: To get accepted to the S.T.B. program, the applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 units of undergraduate theology and at least a general average of 2.5 (B). They must also have completed the philosophical studies required by the Church. While course titles, course descriptions and the distribution of matter will vary from place to place, the following will generally be considered as normative in determining whether the minimum requirements of the philosophical studies have been met: introduction to philosophy, philosophy of the human person, reason and the Christian faith, moral philosophy or ethics, ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, contemporary philosophy, logic, metaphysics, epistemology/hermeneutics, political philosophy, philosophy of nature (cosmology), and Asian philosophies (total of 14 courses).
While there may be variations in curricula, students must have completed two years or four semesters in which an “organic exposition of the various parts of philosophy was imparted, which included treating the world, human being and God. A total of 42 units of philosophy should be completed.
The following are the guidelines to be followed in view of applicant’s theological and philosophical requirements for admission to LST:
1. Undergraduate Theology prerequisites for both the STB and MA Programs in Theological Studies and Pastoral Ministry
The 12 units of undergraduate theology courses required for admission to the STB, MA Theological Studies, and MA Pastoral Ministry are understood to have been completed if their marks are reflected in an official transcript of records released by a duly-recognized educational institution (college or university) capable of offering these courses.
It belongs to the nature of the above prerequisite undergraduate theology courses that they be completed first before commencing the study of theology on the graduate level which LST offers. Nevertheless, as a matter of concession, those who lack undergraduate theology units may be admitted to LST but they should complete the necessary propaedeutic (introductory) theology courses offered at LST (12 units) within the 1st and 2nd semesters of the 1st year of their enrollment.
2. Philosophy prerequisites for the STB Program
While official LST guidelines explicitly state the required number of units to be 42 (or 14 three-unit courses), the Handbook also acknowledges the fact that there may be variations in the curricula of various faculties of philosophy. Hence:
2.1 It belongs to their nature as prerequisites that these philosophy courses be completed first before commencing the study of theology on the graduate level. Hence, as a general rule, a total of 42 units of philosophy courses should have been completed first in a faculty of philosophy before a student may be admitted to LST. This requirement is for the benefit of the students themselves, who will not have to bother about fulfilling any deficiencies in philosophy side by side with their full-time study of theology.
2.2 Nevertheless, if approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on a case-to-case basis, those who lack a maximum of 2 courses (or 6 units) may be admitted to LST on the condition that these 2 courses should be completed by the end of their 1st year of enrollment.
2.3 In completing their philosophy prerequisites, students may take philosophy courses offered at LST under the Certificate in Pre-Theology Studies Program.
Registration
Valid Visa Requirement for International Students
All International Students physically present in the Philippines are reminded that only those with valid Student, Missionary, Special Non-Immigrant (EAPI), or Special Study Permit visas whose visa information are properly recorded in their respective LST-ISIS accounts will be allowed to undergo advisement, enlistment, and enrollment procedures in any given academic session.
Those who have not yet done so must submit photocopies of their valid visa and Alien Certificate Registration (ACR) card to the LST Secretary or email scanned copies to vpacademic@lst.edu in order to have their LST-ISIS visa records updated and thus be cleared for advisement.
Step 1: ACTIVATION OF LST-ISIS ACCOUNT (for New Students)
How to Activate Your LST-ISIS Account (for New Students)
1. Go to isis.lst.edu (out of campus) or 10.48.1.12 (in campus) preferably using Google Chrome.
2. Username: lastnamefirstname. All lower case, no space, no punctuation, first name only in case one has other names (e.g., santosmark)
3. Default password: LST ID number. No punctuation, no space, e.g., 20151111; immediately change your password after activating your account. The “Change Password” button is located under the “Home” tab, at the left-hand bottom part of the screen.
4. All of the above information were part of the acceptance email sent to you by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
For assistance, you may email Jerry Orio or Juvel Borrel of the Multi-Media Center at support@lst.edu or call 426-6430 local 3611.
Step 2: SELF-ADVISEMENT
SELF-ADVISEMENT
Self-advisement is the process of choosing/proposing which courses or subjects to take for the next academic term. All LST students are required to comply with this procedure. Please refer to the course offerings for important information (i.e., professor, class schedule, course description) by clicking here.
In planning their semester’s course work, students must assume responsibility for monitoring their own progress toward graduation and the fulfillment of requirements. MA, PhD, and DMin students should verify their own academic records at AISIS (Ateneo Integrated Student Information System) against their respective degree program requirements. Click here for the requirements of the various degree programs.
How to Self-Advise in LST-ISIS:
1. Enter your LST-ISIS account and click on the “Self-Advise” tab. For STB students, choose your year level in the prospectus (1 to 4). Your prescribed courses in the STB curriculum will appear.
2. Click on your program or programs. For each program, drag a recommended course in your prospectus from the right to the section on “Advised Courses” on the left side of the screen. Or specify a Course Field utilizing the drop down menu (Systematic, Biblical, Moral Theology, etc.) then click the Search icon. Or search the catalogue number or course title directly at the top-center section of the screen then click the green + or add button.
TMP 200-level courses are alloted for MA, STB and Certificate students; TMP 300-level courses for STL, STD, PhD, and DMin students; Sp for Professional Diploma in Family Ministries; MTP for Certificate in Migration; BPM for Certificate in Basic Pastoral Ministry; SS for MA and PhD Biblical Exegesis.
Electives in the STB Program are those courses which are not required in the STB curriculum, i.e., courses which are not listed in the STB plan of study (click here). Hebrew, Greek and Latin may count as electives in the STB Program. Electives in the MA, STL and PhD programs are those courses which do not belong to one’s chosen field of concentration.
In LST-ISIS, MA, PhD, and DMin students are also assigned with the “NonCert” or Non-Certificate Program. Under this Program, they may advise themselves non-Ateneo courses, i.e. courses that are available only at LST. Examples are Methods and Materials of Research, Propaedeutic English, MA Compre Exam Review, Modern Languages, etc.
3. For students enrolled in multiple programs (eg. STB and MA), be sure to complete self-advisement in ALL programs before clicking “Propose”.
4. The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs will confirm your self-advised courses on or before the first day of online enlistment at LST-ISIS. Once the proposed self-advisement is approved, the notation “Advisement Approved” will appear in the Self-Advise section of your LST-ISIS account.
Step 3: ENLISTMENT
Enlistment is the process of signing up for a class section in each self-advised and approved course. This procedure is done online at isis.lst.edu (out of campus) or 10.48.1.12 (in campus). For any student-initiated changes after enlistment, students must accomplish a Load Revision Form and pay the corresponding fee.
Those with limited internet access may use the desktop computers in LST’s Multi-Media Center. Students may also bring their own internet-ready laptops.
In addition to online enlistment at LST-ISIS, MA and PhD students should also enlist in their advised courses at the AISIS website aisisonline.ateneo.edu. Please disregard class sections in AISIS as they will be superseded by the LST-ISIS sectioning. Please disregard also the amounts indicated in the Ateneo AISIS Assessment Form. The correct tuition fee amounts are reflected on the LST-ISIS Assessment Form. For the activation of old MA and PhD students’ AISIS accounts, contact the Ateneo Registrar’s Office at 426-6001 local 5130 to 5139, 5143, 5146-5147.
How to Enlist via LST-ISIS:
1. Go to isis.lst.edu (out of campus) or 10.48.1.12 (in campus) and log-in to your account.
2. Click on “Enlist”. Then click on your program located at the right side of the screen. Your advised courses will appear on the left side of the screen.
3. To enlist in a course, click on a catalogue number (eg. Theo 217). The sections (A, B, or C) and name of professors will appear on the right side of the screen.
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4. Click on a section of your choice (If only section A appears, click on section A). The course will then disappear from your Advised Courses and appear among your Enlisted Courses. Do the same for each of the advised courses until your Advised Courses bin is emptied. If a section turns red and becomes unclickable, then the quota for that section has been reached and you must choose from the remaining available sections.
5. Students enrolled in multiple programs (e.g., STB-MA, etc.) MUST enlist in each of their programs.
6. Upon completion of enlistment, click “Done”.
Step 4: ENROLLMENT
1. After enlistment, the assessment of fees for the academic session can be viewed by clicking on the Assessment tab in your LST-ISIS account. The assessment is final and ready for payment only when the bottom indicates that it has been checked and approved.
2. For payment instructions, please click here.
Outstanding Tuition Balances
Students with outstanding balances should settle their accounts with the LST Cashier before enrollment. Those who do not settle their accounts will not be allowed to enroll in the coming academic session. Students with special concerns regarding this matter are requested to email Ms. Roselyn Taray of the LST Finance Section at finance@lst.edu.
FAQs
How do I apply for a program? What are the entrance requirements?
If you have decided on a program, get in touch with Loyola School of Theology or Ateneo de Manila University (for civil degree applications) by email or by phone to get the details of the program’s courses. Download the relevant application form and view (a) the list of requirements and deadline for submission, and (b) the schedule of the Ateneo Graduate School entrance exams. Get the necessary documents and arrange to take the entrance exam by contacting the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs [Tel.: (632) 8426-6001 loc 5141-42 or (632) 8426-5937; E-mail: adgp.ls@ateneo.edu ]. Submit the application form and required documents to the Ateneo Graduate Programs office (civil program) or the LST Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (ecclesiastical program) and take the entrance exam.
How much will I pay for my graduate studies?
A semester for a new student taking 12 units in the STB, MA, or Certificate program will cost around PhP 36,274.00 or USD 746 / EUR 632.
A semester for a new student taking 12 units in the STL, STD, DMin or PhD program will cost around PhP 48,574.00 or USD 999 / EUR 846.
* Computation is based on tuition and fees for SY 2020-2021. Conversion to USD and EUR Equivalent is based on the current conversion rate of the Central Bank of the Philippines as of 10 September 2020.
When is the deadline for applications? What are the entrance tests schedules?
This information is posted in the Ateneo Loyola Schools website at https://www.ateneo.edu/ls/graduate-programs.
What is the entrance test about? What is its scope?
The admissions test consists of four standardized tests measuring general intelligence, basic verbal and numerical ability, verbal reasoning skills, and reading comprehension. The total testing time is approximately three hours.
When will I be given the results of my entrance exam?
The entrance exam results are not released to the student. They are put together with the application and other documents of the applicant and sent to the LST Vice President for Academic Affairs for evaluation. The VPAA, with the help of a committee, makes the decision to accept or reject the applicant based on all the information he receives about the applicant.
Will there be an interview after the test?
In general, there is no interview after the examination. The VPAA may call on a particular applicant for an interview on a case-to-case basis.
What is the period of validity of the entrance examination I have taken?
The results of the entrance test are valid for 3 years.
If I am accepted this semester and I don't enroll because of some personal reason, what happens to my application? Can I enroll next semester? Next year?
You can write the VPAA of Loyola School of Theology and the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and request that your enrollment be deferred. If you defer your enrollment for one year or longer, you will have to update your application by filling up a new application form and submitting copies of transcripts for additional studies done during the deferment. Your entrance test results remain valid for 3 years from the time you took the exam.
I was previously enrolled in a graduate program at the ADMU. However, I stopped studying and haven't enrolled for a while. How do I go about getting reinstated as a student? Do I have to apply for extension of my study program?
If you have not enrolled for two consecutive semesters, you need to apply for reinstatement in your program. Obtain a Reinstatement and/or Extension Form from the Registrar’s Office and get the approval of your department chair (LST VPAA). The time limit to complete a master’s program is 5 years and a Ph.D. program 7 years. If you have exceeded or are about to exceed the time limit for your program, you need the same form to appeal for an extension from your home department.
Am I still qualified to apply to a graduate program if I don't have the minimum college units for the program that I'm applying for?
You may inquire at LST if you can be accepted into its program with this deficiency. You will probably be asked to take up some undergraduate courses to firm up your background or prerequisites for certain graduate courses.