Bridging Gaps allows you to come to PThU / VU University in the Netherlands for three months of study and research from September till November. The programme is open to students from Africa, Asia,Latin America, Middle-East and Eastern Europe, and that meet the requirements.

What is Bridging Gaps?

Culture and context have a big influence on theology. Understanding your own context and that of others is key to being an exceptional theologian. The Bridging Gaps exposure programme connects theology students from different parts of the world, so that they can experience their contextual differences. You will stay in Amsterdam and will participate in personal research and lectures with students from the Netherlands, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We will discuss together the pressing societal questions of our time, and emerge ourselves into interesting critical theologies such as feminist theology, Black theology, eco-theology, postcolonial theology, trauma & theology, and more! During the programme, you will focus primarily on text interpretation and on the correlation between theology and context. Aside from your study, you will also participate in Dutch church life, society and culture.

Contents of the programme

The programme takes place from early September until the end of November. During the duration of the Bridging Gaps programme:

• You will conduct personal research under the guidance of one of our professors. At the end of your research you are required to write a paper of around 30 pages.
• You will enroll in a number of classes of the Master program of Theology and Religious Studies at VU Amsterdam that are relevant to the programme and/or your field of research.
• The programme will introduce you to two to four different Dutch churches and you will participate in Dutch church life.
• The programme will expose you to Dutch society and culture. You will live in Amsterdam and join various excursions.

Application

If you are accepted, we will offer you a scholarship that covers flights, accommodation, study and a contribution to your living expenses. The following organisations provide our scholarships: Kerk in Actie, VUvereniging, Sormanifonds, Catharina Halkes Fonds, Baptistenseminarium, Doopsgezind Seminarium and Evangelisch Lutherse Synode in partnership with Nederlands Luthers Genootschap.

Applications open in November, and close mid January. If you are accepted in the program, you will receive a full scholarship that covers flight, accommodation, study and a contribution to your living expenses. The program always takes place from september-november.

For more information about the program, the requirements, and the application,please visit the application webpage.

More information

For more information about the programme, download the brochure. For more information and details about applying, visit our application webpage. Here you will also find detailed guidelines for applying, and all the forms necessary for submitting your application.