MF Norwegian School of Theology

MF Norwegian School of Theology (1908) is an accredited Specialized University in the field of Theology, Religious Studies and Social Studies. MF is located in Oslo and has three departments; the Department of Theology, the Department of Religious Education and Pedagogical studies, and the Department of Religion and Society. MF educates scholars, teachers, ministers, and other professionals on Bachelor-, Master- and Ph.D.-level for leadership and service both nationally and internationally.

Mission Statement

MF will strengthen its position as a leading school of theology through research at high international level of excellence, dissemination and application of knowledge, and through the pursuit of education in a context of freedom, credibility and ecumenical cooperation, aiming at the personal growth and formation of students.

MF was founded in 1907 by a body of people (Norwegian academics, politicians, clergy and lay people) wanting to build the education and research on the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

The main reason for the establishing of the School was an appointment to a professoriate at the Faculty of Theology at University of Oslo. The Chair of Systematic Theology was vacant after the death of Fredrik Petersen in 1903, and in 1906 the liberal theologian Johannes Ording was appointed to the Chair. Ording was appointed after a lengthy debate which almost led to a crisis in the Government of Norway. It was not supported by the other leading professors at the faculty, and Sigurd Odland at the Faculty of Theology and the Minister of Church Affairs Christian Knudsen in the Government left their positions following the appointment.

Notable people in the society and the Church gathering around Odland then took steps to found an independent institution training the clergy. The founding charter was signed October 16, 1907, and the School was opened in the autumn of 1908 with only 8 students (a number that increased to 14 before the end of the first term). The earliest teachers were Sigurd Odland (New Testament), Edvard Sverdrup (Church history), Peter Hognestad (Old Testament), Ole Hallesby (Systematic theology). From 1919 the members of academic staff was granted the right to call themselves professors.

The School grew steadily, and in 1913 MF was given the right to offer degrees in Theology, and also in Practical Theology from 1925. The School expanded in 1967 and an institute of Christian Studies was founded giving a minor, major and a master's degree in Christian Studies. 1977 the school started to train Christian Educators (catechists).

A major step was the right to award the doctoral degree in 1990. The School was the first private school given the right to do this, and in 2005 the school was accredited as a specialized university institution by the Norwegian authorities.

Beginning in 1907 as a confessional school,today it is an ecumenical inclusive school offering education specific to a number of denominations (Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, Salvation Army and Pentecostal).

A student at MF is assured democratic representation in all governing bodies of the faculty, in addition to having representatives in national bodies. Many MF students are committed each day to make the student life as good as possible. The NAUTILUS Survey confirms that MF students are more satisfied than overall average of other institutions, both in terms of social environment and academics.

E-mail addresses

Student Council: sr@stud.mf.no 
Environment Committee: mu@stud.mf.no 
Young Theology: ut@stud.mf.no