MHS – School of Mission and Theology

MHS – School of Mission and Theology is a private, specialised university owned by the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS), committed to high-quality education and research related to global perspectives on the church's mission as well as religious and cultural encounters.

Brief history

MHS – School of Mission and Theology was founded in 1843 and is the third oldest institution of higher learning in Norway, next to the Norwegian Military Academy (1750) and the University of Oslo (1811). In spite of being an old institution, it has a radical scholarly tradition: It was the first institution of higher learning in Norway to admit students from Africa (from the 1860s), and it was also a pioneer in enabling students from poor layers of society here in Norway to become pastors. MHS is today a specialised university with a broad range of study programmes within the fields of theology, religion, culture and social studies.

Places and persons

MHS is located in Stavanger, on the West Coast of Norway, with immediate access to beautiful and breathtaking nature, as well as a vibrant church life and cultural attractions in the city and the region.

MHS has around 350 students, including around 70 Master’s students and 23 PhD students. The school has 40 employees, including 24 in academic positions. The body of international students is significant, often with students from 15-20 countries. All Masters' and PhD programmes are taught in English.

The MHS strategy towards 2015

The Board of the MHS has decided the following strategic aim of the MHS for the current strategic period (2011-2014):

MHS shall more strongly be perceived as a global node for education and research related to the church's mission, as well as religious and cultural encounters.

What is special about studying at MHS?

As a global node in the infinite world wide web of relations in which we live, MHS aims to provide high-quality study programmes (Bachelor, Master, PhD) that reflect how knowledge and insights, religious and cultural encounters, as well as church ministries are taking place within a globalised context. Besides, you will meet people from all over the world at MHS!

You may obtain further information about our programmes here.

What are our researchers concerned about?

MHS – School of Mission and Theology has a research profile that reflects the school’s general and global focus on the missional calling of the church, as well as religious and cultural encounters. Researchers at the MHS are directing several multinational and multi-institutional research projects, and has a high reputation of comprehensive publishing, nationally as well as internationally, with international journals and publishing houses.

As far as recruitment of new researchers is concerned, the school emphasizes the need to train female scholars, both for the school itself and for its international partners.

The Mission Archives

The Mission Archives – with valuable collections of texts (from the 1820s) and pictures (from the 1860s) – is part of the Department of Documentation and Library, and includes the historical archives of the Norwegian Mission Society and a number of other mission organizations. The Mission Archives attracts international as well as Norwegian researchers and it participates in international research and documentation projects.

Centre of Intercultural Communication (SIK)

MHS – School of Mission and Theology is a joint owner – together with the Norwegian Mission Society – of Centre of Intercultural Communication (SIK).

Contact/adresses

The switchboard at MHS is available on weekdays from 07:45 AM-3:00 PM. Here you will be forwarded to the correct person. You may also contact people directly; please see the list of staff at MHS with their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

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Bjørn Bue memorial lecture

In memory of the late Bishop Bjørn Bue, a graduate from MHS,  we have established an annual human rights lecture, where human rights activists from different parts of the world are invited to present and reflect on their struggle.

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Mission Museum

The Mission Museum, established in 1864, is Stavanger's oldest museum. The impressive collection of over 5,000 artifacts presents an interesting historical and ethnic perspective of missionary efforts in South Africa, Madagascar, Cameron, Mali, Ethiopia, China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Brazil. The Mission Museum is located in the lower floor of the faculty building at the School of Mission and Theology and is open to visitors by appointment.

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Carl Ludvig Reichelt memorial lecture

MHS has since 2003 arranged a yearly memorial lecture and research day in the spring semester for missionary dr. Karl Ludvig Reichelt. In this way MHS wants to make tribute to the most international known student.

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The studies at MHS have been very useful. In my present job at the Police office in Stavanger I daily meet people from different parts of the world. I took both a bachelor and a master degree at MHS. I feel that my background has helped me a lot in my job in the Police.

Øzlem Anli

Calendar

Fri Mar 2nd
► 223

MHS Board Meeting

Wed Mar 14th – 15th
► Sølvberget, Stavanger

Conference about Reintegration of Child Soldiers

Thu Mar 22nd 11:00 AM
► MHS

Career day at MHS

Fri Apr 20th
► 223

MHS Board Meeting