Far Eastern Bible College | Academic Information

The FEBC academic year is divided into two semesters of 16 weeks each. The first semester begins on a Monday in the third week of July of the year, and closes in mid-November the same year. The second semester begins on January 2 of the new year, and closes at the end of April the same year. Conducted in between semesters are interim courses of the Daily Vacation Bible College usually taught by guest lecturers from overseas.

Official registration for courses is required at the beginning of the semester, on the Day of Prayer and Registration. Late registration is permitted up to 14 days after the beginning of the semester, and must be accompanied by a fee of S$20.00. Changes in registration of courses may be made without charge during the first two weeks of the semester, a fee of S$5.00 per change is levied during the third week. No changes in registration are permitted after three weeks.

A student has up to three weeks from the Day of Registration to drop a course. At the discretion of the lecturer, a grade of “I” (Incomplete), or “F” (Failure) will be reported for any course withdrawn after the third week.

Grade	Marks	GPA
A	94–100	4.0
A-	90–93	3.7
B+	87–89	3.5
B	84–86	3.3
B-	80–83	3.0
C+	77–79	2.5
C	74–76	2.3
C-	70–73	2.0
D+	67–69	1.5
D	64–66	1.3
D-	60–63	1.0
F	59 and below	0.0
P	Pass	0.0
I	Incomplete	Audit

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is an important indicator of your academic progress. You are required to monitor your own GPA in order to ensure you are attaining the points required for graduation.

The number of grade points you earn for a course is calculated by multiplying the grade points by the number of credits for that course. For example, if you receive the grade of ‘A’ for Systematic Theology (2 credits), you will earn 4 grade points x 2 = 8 grade points.

Your GPA for a semester is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted for that semester, i.e.,

A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for the DipTh, 2.5 for BRE/BTh, 3.0 for MRE/MDiv, 3.5 for ThM, and 3.7 for ThD. A student whose GPA falls below the minimum GPA for any one semester of full-time study will be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to obtain the minimum cumulative GPA for his programme after two consecutive semesters on academic probation may be subject to dismissal from the College.

The student’s academic progress is reflected in his Academic History which he receives on the Day of Prayer and Registration.

A student should normally register for 16 credit hours per semester. Students wishing to take more than 18 credits must receive permission from the Academic Dean. A 3.0 or better GPA is required, but not necessarily a sufficient condition for approval. International students must register for at least 12 credits per semester. Audited courses are not considered part of the academic load.

DipTh, BRE, BTh, MRE, MDiv students must complete pass the courses listed below.

Old Testament History I–II
New Testament Introduction
Life of Christ
Systematic Theology I–IV
Calvin’s Institutes I–II
Contemporary Theology I–IV
The Westminster Standards
Church History I–II
Homiletics (every semester)

All BRE and MRE students must successfully complete Christian Education I–IV, and other required practical ministry courses indicated on the registration form each semester.

Recommended Sequence
Elementary Greek I–II	1^styear of MDiv programme
Greek Reading I–II	2^nd year of MDiv programme
Recommended Sequence
Greek Exegesis I–II	3^rd year of MDiv programme
Elementary Hebrew I–II	2^nd year of MDiv programme
Hebrew Reading I–II	3^rd year of MDiv programme

International students whose native language is other than English, and who did not submit an acceptable TOEFL score, must take the English Proficiency Test held on the Day of Prayer and Registration (7.30 pm at the Greek & Hebrew classroom). For students who need to take English classes, the total number of credits that may be earned is 8. No English courses may be credited into the postgraduate programmes (Master’s and Doctor’s).

The Morning Chapel is deemed the most important part of the daily curriculum; therefore, attendance at Chapel is mandatory for all full-time students.

All students are expected to be faithful and punctual in class attendance. Every class period is important. Students are required to sign the attendance register for each class. No signing by proxy is allowed. Any student who habitually absents himself from classes, or is caught cheating in the signing of the attendance register is liable for expulsion from the College.

A student who needs to be absent or excused from class must first seek permission from the lecturer and/or academic dean by submitting the request form at least three days ahead of time. If the absence is due to an emergency, the student is to inform the College in writing within two days after the day of absence, or produce a medical certificate (MC) if the absence is due to health reasons.

According to the Immigration Act (Chapter 133), Regulation 21, international students must not be absent for a continuous period of seven days or more or that the percentage of attendance for the course in any of the month is 90% or below without any valid reason. Students shall surrender their Student Pass for cancellation if they breach the above rules.

All final examinations are scheduled from the middle of the fifteenth week of the semester to the sixteenth week. Some lecturers may schedule additional mid-semester examinations. All students are to take the examinations as scheduled. No student should attempt to rearrange the examination schedule for their convenience, except under very special circumstances or emergency situations.

Students may be barred from taking an examination if they have not fulfilled the course requirements of the College and/or the subject lecturer.

All degree students are required to submit a thesis at the end of their respective programmes. The BRE/BTh/MRE/MDiv thesis must contain not fewer than 40 pages nor more than 60 pages of text material, the ThM thesis between 60–100 pages, and the ThD dissertation 200-250 pages. Note that approval shall be based on theological content and literary excellence rather than length. Two hours of academic credit will be awarded upon approval. Students are required to pass the course on “Theological Research and Writing” (2 credits).

In fulfilling the thesis requirements, the following deadlines must be observed:

(1) Topic proposal is due on the second Friday in March of the year prior to graduation.

(2) The outline, introduction, and preliminary bibliography are due on the first Friday in the following October.

(3) The student should complete an application for graduation during the first semester of his final year of studies (see Academic Dean).

(4) The student must register for 2 hours of thesis credit during his final semester of studies.

(7) Both first and final drafts must conform to the guidelines of Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Term papers, Theses, and Dissertations.

(8) ThM and ThD candidates will sit for an oral examination on the third Friday of April.

(9) The approved presentation copies are due the first Friday in May. The presentation copies must be hardbound in dark blue for BRE/BTh theses, brown for MRE/MDiv/ThM theses, and scarlet or black for ThD dissertations. The thesis title and author’s name should be embossed on the front cover and spine of the bound copies. The presentation copies must be signed by the thesis advisor, and two copies are to be submitted to the librarian.

The graduation service is held soon after the end of the academic year. Participation in the graduation service is compulsory. Graduation fees have to be paid by the last day of the final semester. Invitation cards may be obtained from the office at this time.

A S$100 deposit is required for the rental of the academic regalia. The deposit will be refunded when you return the regalia in good condition. The regalia may be purchased. Ask the Bookroom manager for details.

The graduation service is normally held on the 1^st Lord’s Day of May. The pageantry and dress of the College graduation have been inherited from the medieval universities of the 11^th and 12^th centuries.

The flowing gown comes from the 12^th century. It has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it covers any dress of rank or social standing. It has traditionally been black for all degrees. Robes have pointed sleeves for the bachelor’s degree, long closed sleeves with a slit in the arm or wrist for the master’s degree, and full bell double sleeves for the doctor’s degree. Bachelor’s and master’s degree gowns have no trimming. For the doctor’s degree, the gown is faced down the front with velvet and has three bars of velvet across the velvet in the colour distinctive of the faculty or discipline to which the degree pertains.

When Roman law freed the salve, it accorded the privilege of wearing a cap. So the academic cap is a sign of freedom of scholarship and the responsibility of society that comes with that attainment. The cap of scholarship is square to symbolise the book. The colour of the tassel denotes the discipline.

The academic hood is the identifying symbol of the degree. Its length indicates which degree it represents: three feet for bachelor, three and a half feet for the master, and four for the doctor. The lining indicates the college or university which awarded the degree. The FEBC hood is lined with royal blue and golden yellow. The colour of the velvet facing indicates the field of study, using the same colours as the tassel of the caps. Scarlet is the colour for theology.

The cap should be worn so that the mortarboard is level and not crooked to either side or placed on the back of the head. The crown of the cap should come to approximately one inch above the eyebrows. The front of the cap is indicated on the inside of the crown. Men should remove caps during the singing of school anthem and during prayer. Women should never remove their caps.

The gown should be placed on a hanger as soon as it is received. For best appearance it should be pressed with a warm iron. Women should not wear flowers, pins, or other jewelry on their gowns. A simple straight dress without a high neckline gives the best results. Men should wear a white shirt and a tie that will complement the gown. Coats may be left off for comfort.

The tassel should be worn on the right side. After the principal confers on you the degree, the Dean of Students will switch your tassel to your left.

Degree candidates who have completed at least 32 credit hours in residence at FEBC are eligible, upon graduation, for academic honours as follows:

Cum Laude ...................................................................................................... 3.70–3.79
Magna Cum Laude ......................................................................................... 3.80–3.89
Summa Cum Laude ....................................................................................... 3.90–4.00

Grade point averages are determined entirely on the basis of grades received at FEBC.

Courses to be audited must be registered for. Auditing a course means attending a class without obligations to do class assignments or take examinations.

All degree students whose native tongue is other than English are required to take the TOEFL, and submit their scores to the College. Proficiency in the English language is vital for both undergraduate and graduate studies at FEBC. Go to http://www.ets.org/toefl for information on TOEFL registration and nearest testing centres. Alternatively, students may opt to take the IELTS offered by the British Council. Go to http://www.ielts.org for information.

Local students who do not possess the Cambridge GCE certificates, or did not obtain a pass in English at GCE ‘O’ Level, and all non-English speaking students who did not submit acceptable TOEFL scores, are required to sit for an English Proficiency Test in the evening of the Day of Registration. Remedial English classes at different levels are required for those who do not make the grade.

Course credits with a minimum grade of ‘B’ earned at other Bible Colleges may be considered for transfer into the FEBC programmes if they meet the academic standards of this College. The Academic Dean will require a copy of the prospectus or catalogue of the College/Seminary from which the credits have been earned. The final decision rests in the Academic Dean after consultation with the faculty, when necessary.

Students are reminded not to plagiarise the writings and even ideas of other authors. All quotations and paraphrases must be properly documented under foot- or end-notes. The course on “Theological Research and Writing” will teach you how to correctly cite your sources.

“Honesty is the best policy.” The College takes a very serious view to cheating in any form, especially in works submitted to the faculty, or at examinations. A student caught cheating is liable for dismissal.

Residential students who own personal computers (desktop or laptop) are required to sign a Software Copyright Compliance Form and attach a copy of the software licence. Students who use software illegally face dismissal from the college, and prosecution by governmental authorities. Keep the 8^th commandment—“Thou shalt not steal” (Exod 20:15).

Learn from the testimonies of those who have been careful stewards of time and the God-given privilege of full-time Bible College study, that diligence in the work at the Bible College will go a long way to help you in the ministry. Learn all you can while still in Bible College.

Learn as much as you can. How to get the most out of Bible College? Here are some guidelines, sharing from lecturers and graduates:

(1) Be very sure that you are called, and know that it is a great privilege to be in full-time study of the Word and the doctrines of the Scriptures. Thank the Lord and persevere, therefore! Seek Him continually for strength (1 Thess 5:17).

(2) Then, resolve to be equipped. Strive to learn as much as you can, for only when you are equipped can the Lord use you better.

(3) “In the Bible College, you learn ASK” (Attitude, Skills, Knowledge). Strive to acquire as much as these as possible by the time you graduate.

(4) Seek Godly wisdom to learn how to discern the “Essentials” from the “Incidentals,” a skill you will need in the field.

(6) In all the things that need to be done, Do It Now (DIN). Most of all, do it solely for the Glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (1 Cor 10:31).

(7) Strive to complete all assignments with a view that the completed works will serve as part of your personal resource library in your future ministry.

(1) In the first week of the semester, you would know almost all the academic assignments/requirements, and non-academic duties, etc., that will be expected of you throughout the semester.

(2) You know your church Prayer Meeting, Worship times, and duties required of you in the Church.

(4) Identify all deadlines, classify assignments according to their required workloads. Perhaps just two categories will be sufficient—heavy and intensive, as the thesis or research papers; against lighter and not-intensive, as in reading that needs only to be logged or summarised.

(5) Decide the length of time required for each work, and work back to a latest time by which the work must be started. Then assign to them an expected completion date (not the day of the submission, better before).

(6) From the heavy vs. light identification, and the overall time table, assign lengthy stretches of available time for the intensive assignments and disconnected pockets of time for the lighter works. Be Disciplined! Strive to complete your work to the best of your ability.

(7) Use your one-week semester break most wisely. Remember you enter the Bible College to be equipped for the Lord to use you later. No doubt, it is not to be all work and no rest, yet the vacation break should be used to complete as much as possible, before scheduled completion dates even if that can be achieved.

(8) On preparing for examinations: Start from Day One of Lessons. Remember, you have the most two days from end of last lecture to beginning of examinations. You can only start from day one when you pay careful attention in class and ensure that immediately after class, you do understand what is taught and explained. If you have striven to complete all your work before schedule, you have the blessing of time available for revision.