Fall Term Sees Record Enrolment at Emmanuel College
Professors Henry Shiu, HyeRan Kim-Cragg and Nazila Isgandarova prepare to welcome an equal number of students to the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim foci of Emmanuel’s basic degree programs. (Photos by Minh Truong)
By Joe Howell
Emmanuel College has experienced a record-breaking surge in enrolment for the 2024–25 academic year, marking an ambitious new chapter for Victoria University’s theological school. The college saw basic degree registrations increase by one-third over last year’s numbers, with 93 students entering basic degree programs for a total of 239 students enrolled across all programs.
That’s more than double the number of incoming basic degree students from eight years ago, said Andrew Aitchison, admissions counsellor and recruitment co-ordinator at Emmanuel: “When I started here in 2016, we admitted 44 students to the basic degree programs that fall.”
That increase is reflected across Emmanuel’s programs, particularly the Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies and Master of Psychospiritual Studies (formerly the Master of Pastoral Studies). The MDiv program has expanded from three incoming students in 2021 to 13 in the coming academic year, while a record 23 students were scheduled to start the MTS program this fall. Meanwhile, students enrolled in the Christian, Muslim and Buddhist foci of the MPS and MTS programs have grown to roughly equal numbers for the first time.
Applications for Emmanuel’s graduate programs have also been strong, with the college securing top-notch PhD students and continually receiving more applications than it can admit.
Several factors contributed to this growth, said Rev. Dr. HyeRan Kim-Cragg, principal of Emmanuel College. She pointed to curricular innovation and diversification; improved outreach and communication; the foresight of past leaders; the college’s generous scholarship packages; and the dedication of faculty and staff.
“It’s like a tree,” said Kim-Cragg. “Emmanuel’s visionaries planted the seed of us becoming a multi-religious theological school and now it’s bearing fruit.”
She acknowledged the work of Mark Toulouse, principal of Emmanuel from 2009 to 2017, in heading the creation of the Buddhist and Muslim foci of the MPS program. “And Nevin Reda, our first Muslim faculty member, was a PhD student when this very seed was being planted.”
The 2024–25 academic year will also see the expansion of the MTS program into four distinct foci: Buddhist, Christian and Muslim, plus an Interfaith focus for students interested in studying multiple traditions.
Andrew Aitchison, admissions counsellor and recruitment coordinator, says deciding to attend theological school can often take years, and a consistent point of contact can make a difference.
Aitchison said one reason for the MDiv program’s impressive enrolment numbers is the introduction of a new hybrid MDiv program, which had its pilot project in 2023. It allows students to take the majority of their courses virtually, opening the door to potential ministry students living outside Toronto or who are juggling childcare and other obligations.
Another curricular innovation at Emmanuel is the combination MDiv/MPS program, said Kim-Cragg. “A student who wants to be a minister but also wants to be equipped with counselling and psychotherapy skills doesn’t need to choose between the two.”
Kim-Cragg also called attention to the college’s impressive funding packages. All incoming full-time master’s students receive an entrance scholarship, while entering conjoint PhD students are awarded a scholarship package that more than covers tuition fees and applies to the first four years of study.
Both Aitchison and Kim-Cragg highlighted improved outreach and communication as an essential factor in Emmanuel’s growth. “We’ve made continued efforts to reach out to different communities beyond the ivory tower,” said Kim-Cragg. “This month I have visits planned to a Muslim centre and a Buddhist temple, and I am preaching in a United Church congregation as well.”
Professor Shiu, Professor Isgandarova and Principal Kim-Cragg gather together in the Buddhist Prayer Room.
She pointed to the many conferences and places of worship at which Emmanuel’s staff and faculty have recently spoken, travelling to the Netherlands, South Korea, across North America and more. “And Andrew is always on the road, engaging with various communities,” said Kim-Cragg. “We have to be out there so people know about the good things happening at Emmanuel!”
One message Aitchison has been sharing is that Emmanuel graduates have strong career prospects, with many securing jobs even before graduation. “We’re open to receiving folks at any stage of life who have heard the call to serve and are ready to answer it,” he said.
The continuity provided by the admissions counsellor over his eight years at Emmanuel has also factored in the increased enrolment. “I’ve learned that the average time it takes for somebody to decide to attend a theological school is approximately three to five years, so having a steady contact is so helpful,” said Aitchison. “They’re facing a decision to uproot their life, make sacrifices and switch their whole world around.”
Aitchison and Kim-Cragg are themselves graduates of Emmanuel College, as are many other staff and faculty members. Their belief in the college’s mission to prepare future spiritual leaders resonates with prospective students.
“I come from a long line of Emmanuel graduates,” said Aitchison. “My grandmother’s uncle, a United Church minister, was in one of the first graduating classes in the 1930s.”
Kim-Cragg said her goal is to provide students with the same rigorous and comprehensive theological education she herself received at Emmanuel as a Doctor of Theology candidate. “We hope to provide a transformative experience for our students—not just a checkpoint where you get the grade and leave,” she said.
Interested in learning more about the programs at Emmanuel College and whether you can see yourself here? Reach out to admissions counsellor Andrew Aitchison at emmanuel.admissions@utoronto.ca for more information.