How to Apply

Yes! Most Candler students were not religion majors in their undergraduate work, though we do recommend a strong liberal arts education as a foundation. Students applying to Candler should have a working knowledge of past and present culture from undergraduate studies in the humanities and the natural and social sciences.

The Admissions Committee looks at several areas when evaluating an application, including academic ability, writing skills, theological literacy, church/community affirmation and vocational intent. The committee looks for those who have the potential to serve the church and the world in religious leadership and who will succeed in graduate theological studies at Candler.

No. If you have taken the GRE, you may submit your scores to us and we will include them with your application materials; however, they are not required. The Candler code is 5198.

Not at all. While a number of Master of Divinity (MDiv) graduates seek ordination in various denominations, others pursue doctoral studies or work in nonprofit agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and a variety of other ministries.

Yes. One of the fantastic benefits of study at Candler is that students can cross-register (with the permission of the registrar, professor, and advisor) in other departments of Emory University, at schools of the Atlanta Theological Association, and at other Atlanta colleges and universities. There is a maximum number of hours students can take outside of Candler, depending on degree program.

Yes! International study opportunities span the globe and include a range of time commitments, from short-term travel seminars to the full academic year. Recent international opportunities have included sites in Australia, Brazil, England, Germany, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. There are also U.S. study opportunities in Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Recent international travel seminars have included trips to India, Brazil, Australia, Germany, the Middle East, and Cuba.

Sure! You have two options: For those who are interested in receiving academic credit, but not enrolled in a degree program, Candler has a Special Student status. See the Candler catalog for details. For those not interested in academic credit, Candler administers an auditing program called Course Access through The Candler Foundry. Course Access requires a simple application rather than the full Candler application for degree-seeking and special students, and fees range from $200-$300 per course. See The Candler Foundry for details on Course Access.

Yes. Though most Candler students are full-time, Candler students can both enroll as part-time students or can drop to part-time status (either permanently or temporarily) during the course of their studies. To be eligible for Candler scholarships and federal student loans, students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester. For further information on part-time status, please call the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at (404) 727-6326.

Emory University’s Annual Security Report, Annual Fire Safety Report and Statement of Campus Security Policy contains important crime statistics for all of Emory’s campuses, as well as information pertaining to security policies, sex- and gender-based harassment and discrimination policies, alcohol/drug and other policies, fire statistics, fire safety and a comprehensive description of resources available to assist the campus community. The report is available for viewing or by PDF download. To obtain a paper copy of this report, please contact the Emory Police Department (EPD) at (404) 727-6115. The report is published annually by Emory in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), and the Higher Education Opportunity Act.