Sabbaticals

There are many benefits of coming to Queen’s for the whole or part of a sabbatical study leave, and the staff of the Research Centre will be delighted to help plan and support such leave. Part of the value of coming to Queen’s for a limited time of study and reflection lies in the opportunity to draw on the wide range of experience and knowledge which is found amongst the staff of the Foundation. The Foundation prides itself on having an excellent team of academic staff representing a remarkable range of specialist areas in the ever widening field of theological education. Each is enthusiastically committed to ongoing academic research which is in touch with the world in which we live and within which we are called to serve God. Moreover, whilst Foundation staff believe that each subject should be studied rigorously and critically, there is also a commitment to relate each area of study to the ‘bigger picture’; part of the Queen’s ethos is a commitment to seeking out the interconnections between subjects.

Any sabbatical student coming to Queen’s can also look forward to being welcomed into the life of the Foundation community. For those who require it accommodation and meals are available on site. Sabbatical visitors are also welcomed into the social and religious life of the community. The Chapel lies at the heart of the community and all students are invited to share in the daily worship and in the frequent celebrations of the Eucharist. In that Queen’s is an ecumenical foundation, the services in the Chapel are marked by rich variety and by the desire to appreciate the value of the different traditions represented within the Foundation. A high priority is given to spiritual formation at Queen’s, and visiting students may find this emphasis a most enriching aspect of their time at Queen’s.

Visiting students can also enjoy the recreational and social dimensions of the Foundation’s life. There is a student common room to which sabbatical students are welcomed. Whether having a quiet drink at the bar, or challenging one of the ‘locals’ to a game of pool the common room can offer a welcome break from the library and the tutorial. Moreover, Queen’s lies close to the centre of Birmingham in one of the most attractive areas of the city. There are, close at hand, the many recreational and cultural opportunities which one would expect in the second city of the land. And even if one does not feel like travelling or walking far, there are the very spacious, leafy grounds of Queen’s to be enjoyed.

If you require further information about the opportunities offered by Queen’s for sabbaticals, please contact: