Student Stories

Hear about St Francis College from a student perspective and be inspired to take your own student journey.

I had been a manager in the public service for many years when I started looking at the priesthood as a possible new vocation. I had had different lay leadership roles up until that point, serving on the parish council, leading lay services, acting as a reader and liturgical assistant and being a warden. My faith community, friends and family saw that I was open about my faith and able to express it to others, as well as sharing my love of scripture, and they encouraged me to consider formation.

I decided to study at St Francis College when I was in the discernment process. I saw it as an opportunity to look at my faith alongside others and found it appealing that the college had many mature students and pitched its courses at adult learning.

Once I began, I really appreciated the small size of the courses. They were small enough that everyone could participate and yet provided the opportunity for lots of meaningful discussion. I enjoyed the debates we had and the fellowship that developed among students. I also delighted in the peacefulness of the College surrounds and how consistent the atmosphere was with the nature of the study. It really is a special oasis in the city.

Studying at St Francis College has strengthened my faith and developed my understanding of the Bible. Early in my studies, it struck me that I could see the narrative across the Bible more clearly. There is a progression from Genesis to Revelation that is harder to understand when you read the books separately. Even though I had read the Bible cover to cover, I had not appreciated the flow between books and how, together, they piece together a story of God’s relationship with humanity.

I would absolutely recommend St Francis College and its formation training to new students. It is a special community that is broader than the students who attend, including other people who live on site or who take part in college life. It was wonderful to participate in communal prayer in the Chapel on site and coming together in that way really complemented the study.

I left school to study a Bachelor of Creative Industries but did not enjoy the course. I decided to change tack and study theology at St Francis College and have not regretted my decision.

I grew up in the Church and my parents are Ministers. Theology was already something I was passionate about but, when I first left school, I wanted to avoid the theology world and do something different. I tried an introductory class at St Francis College purely out of interest. From that moment, I was hooked! I signed up to the Bachelor of Theology straight away and I’ve only become more passionate over time.

I have loved both the course and the College. The people at St Francis College are so lovely. Everyone is open to have meaningful conversations and to developing sincere friendships. You don’t feel like a number here – the college focuses on quality relationships.

The Bachelor has taught me so much about theology and about myself. I have really appreciated the class discussions, which have always accelerated our collective understanding and interest in the subject. Some discussions have even left me feeling like a different person!

Throughout the course I have been aware of my personal development and the development of my faith. I have changed my views and perspectives on religion and the world. It has really been a transformative experience, changing the way I think about life and about myself.

In my role as Principal of an Anglican College, I wanted to be a knowledgeable resource for students, families and the broader community. As a leader, I also wanted to model lifelong learning and encourage my staff to continue with their own post-graduate education. 

I undertook to do a two-year, part-time Graduate Certificate of Theology at St Francis College. Some of the time I attended day-long sessions but most of it was online. Since the study was flexible, I did not feel it prevented me from performing in my busy job.

Studying for the Certificate really opened my mind. It enabled me to see past lots of stereotypes people ascribe to the Bible and Christianity and to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of theology and what it means to be Anglican. 

I certainly recommend studying theology at St Francis College. The lecturers were so full of encouragement, of love for their work and for sharing their huge depth of knowledge. They gave freely of their time and I never wanted to let them down. It was never an effort to go online and study and I am still enthused and inspired today. 

Over the course of my career, I was a barrister and then a judge. When I retired in 2015, I wanted to do something to keep my mind active. I enjoy the challenge of assignments, organising arguments, and looking at subjects in more serious depth.

Studying theology seemed like an interesting and attractive option. I had been an Anglican all my life; following in my parents’ footsteps, and, as a young man, went to Anglican College. So, I started with the Graduate Diploma, offered at St Francis College and accredited by the CSU, studying on a part time basis for two years.

St Francis College offers a good, diverse range of teachers – all of whom are interesting and committed. I really appreciated the quality of the teaching and the class debate the teachers encouraged. They were always helpful and generous in giving us reading references and points for discussion.

Doing the Graduate Certificate introduced me to the range of subjects and gave me a chance to test the waters. Then, when I went on to Bachelor of Theology, I built on my knowledge and my previous work was credited towards the new course.

I would certainly recommend the College and the courses to anyone interested in exploring and deepening their faith and understanding of theology or divinity.