CHOSEN COLLEGE OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES, RESEARCH AND CHAPLAINCY, NIGERIA

REGISTRATION FORM

CCTSRC welcomes applicants from Christian, Islamic, and African Traditional Religion backgrounds.

Official Position

CCTSRC’s website explicitly states that it “welcomes seekers and scholars from Christian, Islamic, and African Traditional Religion backgrounds”. The institution’s academic scope covers Theology, Islamic Studies, Christian Studies, Chaplaincy, Sociology, and related disciplines, and its programs include Comparative Religion & Interfaith Dialogue, indicating a design that accommodates students from different faith backgrounds.

Admission Requirements

Religious affiliation is not a barrier to admission. The Doctorate & Professorial Policy lists the following core admission requirements, none of which include religion or faith identity:

· Master’s degree with thesis, minimum CGPA of 3.5/5.0 or 60%, Alternatively 7-10 Micro Masters awarded by La Plage Meta Verse.
· Research capability: at least one published article/conference paper, or submission of a 5,000-word research proposal
· Signed declaration: acknowledging the non-NUC accreditation status, and that the degree is intended for ministry, research, or chaplaincy purposes

Practical Considerations

Although admission is open to all faiths, the institution itself is a private religious institute, and the degree is positioned primarily for ministry, research, and chaplaincy contexts. The suitability of an applicant’s research topic matters significantly:

· Islamic Studies is clearly listed as a core discipline, making it a natural fit for Muslim applicants.
· African Traditional Religion is also explicitly mentioned as a welcome background.
· Comparative Religion & Interfaith Dialogue is offered as a program area, suitable for applicants from various faiths.

CCTSRC – TCUA Collaboration PhD by Research: Terms & Conditions and Disclaimer

1. Programme Nature and Awarding Authority
   This programme is a collaborative doctoral research initiative between CCTSRC (Chosen College of Theological Studies, Research & Chaplaincy, Nigeria) and Triumphant Christian University of America (TCUA). The degree is awarded by CCTSRC under its mandate as a private religious institute registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC RC-9562736) and accredited by the International Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions (IAATI). TCUA serves as the partner institution abroad, providing academic collaboration and co-supervision where applicable.
2. Accreditation Status Acknowledgment
   Applicants confirm they understand that:

· CCTSRC is not currently accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria. This status will be stated in writing upon admission and on all transcripts.
· TCUA holds accreditation from the National Bible College Association (NBCA), American Bible College Accreditation (ABCA), and the International Association for Quality Assurance in Pre-Tertiary & Higher Education (QAHE).
· The degree does not automatically equate to a PhD from an NUC-accredited Nigerian university or a regionally accredited US public institution.

3. Academic Integrity and Originality
   Candidates commit to independent research. All sources must be properly cited. The thesis must pass a Turnitin similarity check with no more than 15% similarity. Plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate submission will result in revocation of the degree.
4. Publication Requirement and Academic Standards
   As part of the PhD by Research programme, candidates must produce four scholarly papers of given topics. These publications must meet recognised academic standards and be reflected in credible academic platforms. The publishing requirements include:

· Paper 1: CCTSRC Journal of Theological Studies or CCTSRC peer-reviewed series.
· Paper 2: External peer-reviewed journal with DOI + acceptance letter.
· Paper 3: DOI-indexed repository such as Zenodo, AfricArXiv, or institutional repository with DOI link.
· Paper 4: Conference proceeding with book chapter, or Academia.edu with 2,000-word external review.

At least two of the four papers must undergo double-blind peer review external to the candidate‘s supervisor. Publications are archived with Crossref DOI indexing where applicable and deposited in CCTSRC Repository, Zenodo, and the National Library of Nigeria.

5. Copyright and Archiving
   The author retains copyright with ORCID Number. CCTSRC and TCUA hold non-exclusive dissemination rights to archive the thesis and associated publications in institutional repositories, assign Zenodo DOI, and submit copies to the National Library of Nigeria.
6. Use of Generative AI
   Any use of generative AI tools must comply with CCTSRC academic regulations. AI-generated content must be appropriately disclosed and must not be presented as original work.
7. Disclaimer
   CCTSRC and TCUA make no guarantees regarding the academic recognition, professional registration, immigration eligibility, or employment acceptance of this degree in any jurisdiction. Applicants are solely responsible for verifying whether the degree meets the requirements of their intended use before enrolment. The degree is intended for ministry, research, and chaplaincy contexts and may not satisfy secular academic or professional requirements.
8. Transcript Notation
   All transcripts will state: “Awarded by CCTSRC, a private religious institute in Nigeria. Not accredited by National Universities Commission.”

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Key Reminder: The four-paper publishing requirement with either DOI/ISSN/ISBN indexing is a core component of this programme. Your publications will be reflected in academic platforms through Zenodo, AfricArXiv, Crossref DOI registration, and CCTSRC institutional repository archiving.