The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education

What The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education does

The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education is a Birmingham-based, OfS-registered higher education provider and registered charity (company number 05511503, charity number 1111892) that delivers theological education and ministerial formation primarily for the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain. Founded originally as Queen's College in 1830, it became ecumenical in 1970 and was reorganised into its current form around 2000 by consolidating its residential ordination college, part-time non-residential ordination course, and a research centre. Its core offerings include Ministerial Formation pathways (full-time residential and part-time/context-based tracks for Anglican and Methodist ordinands), the Queen's Online distance-learning portfolio (CertHE, DipHE, BA, and MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission validated through Durham University Common Awards), the specialist Centre for Black Theology, a PhD programme jointly supervised with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and a Twelve:2 short-course series for lay learners.

The underlying technology stack is concentrated in the Queen's VLE / Queen's Online Platform, which delivers asynchronous content with interactive presentations, video, written tutor feedback, and supporting video conferencing for remote seminars. There is no public API, no mobile app, and no documented AI/ML capability. The institution runs a sales-led go-to-market in which recruitment is driven primarily by denominational and diocesan sponsorship pipelines (Church of England dioceses, Methodist connexional funds, Dioceses of Lichfield and Worcester), supplemented by open days, online taster modules (subsidised by the Marsh Bursary), and church-network referrals.

Revenue is generated from three streams: tuition for church-sponsored ordinands, tuition from self-funding students (price points ranging from £60 for a short course to £18,360 for a full BA pathway), and conference hire plus sabbatical accommodation on the Edgbaston campus. Validation partnerships with Durham University (Common Awards) and Birmingham Newman University provide the academic-awarding framework, while the Methodist Church designation as a Centre within the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network governs the Methodist intake.

Name

The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education

Legal name

The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education

Website

https://queens.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1830

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Queen's Foundation is a Birmingham-based ecumenical theological college delivering validated ministerial formation and distance-learning theology programmes primarily for Church of England and Methodist Church candidates, alongside lay and Black theology pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Ministerial formation
• Ordained ministry training
• Distance learning theology
• Ecumenical higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Sponsored Students: Church-sponsored students (Church of England and Methodist Church) pay tuition fees, with sponsorship typically covered by dioceses or connexional funds
2. Tuition Fees - Self-funding Students: Self-funding students pay tuition for undergraduate certificates, diplomas, BA, MA, and short courses. Fees range from £60 for short courses to £18,360 for full BA programmes
3. Conference Hire and Hospitality: The Foundation offers conference facilities and sabbatical accommodation for external events, generating additional revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Queen's Foundation is a UK theological higher education institution that delivers ministerial formation programmes for Church of England and Methodist ordinands, validated undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Theology, Ministry and Mission, the Centre for Black Theology, a PhD research programme in partnership with VU Amsterdam, flexible online and short courses through Queen's Online and Twelve:2, plus conference hire and research membership services from its Birmingham campus.

Product overview

The Queen's Foundation is a theological education institution offering a portfolio of educational programmes across multiple delivery modes. Its core offerings include Ministerial Formation programmes for Church of England and Methodist ordinands (with full-time, part-time, residential and non-residential pathways), Queen's Online distance learning programmes (undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas, BA, and postgraduate MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission validated by Durham University), and the Centre for Black Theology providing specialised pathways for Black and Asian Christians. Additional offerings include PhD research in partnership with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Twelve:2 short courses for faith exploration, taster modules for prospective students, conference hire facilities, and research membership packages. The institution also conducts research initiatives including the Neurodivergence and Formation Project. The portfolio operates across on-campus, online, and blended modalities with validation from Durham University, Birmingham Newman University, and VU Amsterdam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centre for Black Theology: The Centre for Black Theology provides excellence in theological education tailored especially for leaders and members of Black congregations and Black Christians in white majority churches.
• Twelve:2
• Queen's Online

Products and services

• Ministerial Formation Formation and training programmes for ordained ministry in the Church of England and Methodist Church, delivered through full-time residential, context-based, and part-time pathways with denominational tracks and tutors.
• Queen's Online (Distance Learning) Online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Theology, Ministry and Mission (Certificate, Diploma, BA, MA), validated by Durham University, delivered asynchronously with interactive content, video, written feedback, and online seminars.
• Centre for Black Theology Theological education and research tailored for Black and Asian Christian leaders, including undergraduate and postgraduate pathways, taster courses, and the Black Theology Forum.
• PhD Research Programme Doctoral research opportunities in theology and religious studies, jointly supervised with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with research seminars conducted at the Queen's campus.
• Twelve:2 Short Courses Flexible, interactive online short courses including 'Children of God', 'Creatures of the Earth', and 'Communities of the Way' aimed at faith exploration, subsidised via the Marsh Bursary.
• Taster Modules Introductory subsidised online modules (undergraduate and postgraduate) that allow prospective students to trial theological study before committing to a full programme.
• Conference Hire & Sabbaticals Hospitality offering providing conference facilities and sabbatical accommodation for individuals and groups at the Queen's Edgbaston campus.
• Research Membership Membership packages providing individuals on study leave or sabbatical with access to theological resources and the academic community at Queen's.

Quantifiable outcome

• Periodic External Review 2019 resulted in 'Confidence' verdict in teaching, formation, community life, continued ministerial learning, and governance

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Durham UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValidation Contract for approved Common Awards academic programmes and pathways at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Durham University validates Queen's ministerial training programmes through the Common Awards scheme.
• Birmingham Newman UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration Agreement for validation of academic programmes and pathways. Birmingham Newman University provides programme validation for additional courses offered at Queen's.
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership Agreement for admission of students onto VU Amsterdam's PhD programme following successful completion as postgraduate researcher at Queen's. Supervision conducted jointly with majority of research seminars at Queen's campus.
• Church of EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect contract with Durham University for delivery of Common Awards programmes for initial ministerial education including Reader training. Primary sponsor of candidates for ordination training.
• Methodist Church in BritaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church in development of Common Awards programmes. Queen's designated as Centre for Methodist Church within Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network in 2012. Receives all Methodist candidates for ministerial training.
• Diocese of LichfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership to train Readers and Curates in the Diocese of Lichfield.
• Diocese of WorcesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership to train Readers in the Diocese of Worcester.
• Woodbrooke (Quaker Study Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Woodbrooke for Quaker Studies pathway, offering ecumenical opportunity for theological study in areas of justice and spirituality for Quakers and others.
• Cranmer Hall, DurhamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with St Mellitus College (linked to Cranmer Hall) for the Neurodivergence and Formation Research Project.
• St Mellitus CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led the Neurodivergence and Formation Research project exploring experience of formation for neurodivergent ordinands and lay ministers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Westcott House, Cambridge: Anglican theological college in Cambridge training ordinands for the Church of England, including via the Cambridge Theological Federation. Direct peer in Anglican ministerial formation and validated theological awards.
• Oak Hill Theological College: Evangelical theological college in London offering initial ministerial training and validated theology programmes. Direct peer in the UK residential theological education market serving ordinands and independent theology students.
• Trinity College, Bristol: Ecumenical theological college in Bristol offering validated programmes for ordination training across multiple denominations. Direct peer — comparable ecumenical positioning, comparable validated-degree structure, and overlapping ordinand customer base.
• Ridley Hall, Cambridge: Anglican and evangelical theological college in Cambridge offering initial ministerial training and validated theology programmes. Direct peer competing for C of E ordinands and postgraduate theology students.
• Sarum College: Theological college in Salisbury delivering ministerial formation, theological study, and short courses for laity and clergy. Direct peer in the UK theological education market with a similar mix of residential and online delivery.
• Cranmer Hall, Durham: Anglican theological college in Durham training ordinands for the Church of England and offering Common Awards validated programmes. Direct peer — same customer (C of E candidates), same validation (Durham), and poaches/receives overlapping formation leadership with Queen's.
• St Mellitus College: Anglican theological college with multiple sites including a linked presence at Cranmer Hall, Durham, delivering initial ministerial education and Common Awards programmes. Direct peer because it trains Church of England ordinands in similar validated pathways and is an active partner of Queen's on the Neurodivergence Research Project.
• Wesley House, Cambridge: Methodist theological college in Cambridge providing ministerial formation for Methodist candidates and ecumenical theology students. Direct peer to Queen's Methodist training function given denominational overlap.

Others

• Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre: Quaker study centre in Birmingham offering theological and spiritual formation programmes. Partner of Queen's through the Quaker Studies pathway; comparable in niche theological education but focused on a different constituency.

Regional players

• Northern College (Birmingham): Theological college based in the Birmingham region serving United Reformed Church and ecumenical students. Regional peer given geographic proximity to Queen's Birmingham campus and overlap in denominational formation offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-queens-foundation-for-ecumenical-theological-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education