Interested in a peek at CLTS through the eyes of current students, recent graduates, and faculty? Check out our video. Give us ten minutes of your time and we hope we’ll excite you about our confessional, biblical environment and our multi-cultural family.

Prospective Student Inquiries

If you would like to be contacted by seminary Admissions staff, please complete our inquiry form.

Visiting the Seminary

Would you like to visit the seminary, but you don’t know when is a good time? Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary has several opportunities for visitation from which you can choose. This does not mean, however, that you are bound to come during these set times, but you can set up your own visitation to come to the seminary. Just contact the seminary directly.

Seminary Open Days

Once a year, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary opens its doors to prospective students, normally during high school and university breaks. Visit classes, worship with us in chapel, meet with a faculty advisor, and find out what the Niagara region has to offer. Contact the seminary for information about the next event.

Pre-Seminary Studies

Completion of a sound bachelor’s programme is of paramount importance in preparation for seminary study. Particularly helpful majors include English, philosophy, modern languages, history, and classics. As the study of theology is highly oriented to the written and spoken word, work in areas that develop verbal skills is of value. Yet, as the faculty make these recommendations, they also invite applications from students who have earned degrees in other subjects, noting that such applicants may be asked to take pre-seminary courses in areas where remedial study is called for.

Those who hope to enrol in the MDiv programme in due course, and who do not yet have the requisite bachelor’s degree, are encouraged to consider undertaking their undergraduate studies at Brock University. This course of action has several advantages.

Firstly, it gives prospective students the opportunity to become acquainted with the seminary community, joining in chapel services, getting to know faculty, staff, and students, and taking part in the activities of the Lutheran Student Fellowship. In this setting potential seminarians can seek to discern their particular calling within the body of Christ, and especially their suitability for pastoral ministry.

Secondly, prospective students can seek counsel from our faculty regarding their most appropriate programme of undergraduate study and the most useful courses to choose within that programme.

Thirdly, with permission from the university, it is possible for undergraduate credit to be awarded for our prerequisite courses in Hebrew and Greek; moreover, some funding is available within our financial aid endowment to assist Brock students learning the sacred languages under our auspices with a view to entering the MDiv programme.

Fourthly, prior acquaintance with the seminary and especially the accomplishment of prerequisite courses in biblical languages make it much more feasible for entering MDiv students to complete their on-campus studies within three academic years (not including vicarage).

In this context we also commend suitable baccalaureate programmes at one of the institutions in the Concordia University system of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Housing Assistance and Living Costs

Students are responsible for arranging their own housing. The seminary office maintains a small list of local accommodation. The following websites may be helpful:

A single student should anticipate paying a monthly rent of about $750-850 for shared accommodation. A married couple should anticipate paying $1,400 monthly for a one bedroom apartment or $1,900 for a two-bedroom. We advise prospective students to reckon with monthly food costs of about $150 per person, noting that this facet of normal expenditures is somewhat reduced by the availability of a seminary food pantry.

International Students

Canada has an open and welcoming attitude towards international students. Concordia has historically had a very multi-cultural student body, in service to a church that reflects the diversity of Canadian society. We welcome applications from students from outside Canada.

Are you an American? Would you seriously consider coming to CLTS, but you have some concerns about coming across the border? We’d be happy to put you in touch with current American students who can give you advice on the move.

Note that a study permit is required for foreign nationals and can take up to three months to be processed. (For short term studies up to six months in length a study permit is not required, but a temporary resident visa may still be needed.) Official information on study permits and the application process is here. Brock University provides helpful information here. See also EduCanada and immigration.ca. Concordia currently shares a Designated Learning Institution number with Brock University but is in the process of applying for its own. This information will be provided in your Letter of Acceptance, if your application is successful. A Letter of Acceptance into a Concordia programme is not a guarantee that you will obtain a study permit. For example, you will also need to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources, including tuition fees, living costs, and travel for at least the first year.

For a wide variety of information about coming to study in Canada, see International Student Connect. Concordia’s Handbook for International Students provides guidance on moving, housing, tuition costs, and student support services.