Where to study in the UK? Or…with whom?

The common question that comes up is where to study in the UK for a Phd in New Testament – Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, etc…?  The fact of the matter is that the answer changes depending on the particular scholars at these institutions.  Cambridge seems to have always remained stably a safe and rewarding choice, but at this present time it has gone through a lot of changeover.  You might want to follow a scholar to where he or she goes and consider the institution a secondary issue.  The best situation is that the right person you want to study with is at the right institution (like John Barclay at Durham, though I could see him one day taking the Lady Margaret’s chair at Cambridge, but not in the near future).

At one time, Aberdeen was neck-and-neck wit Durham, and at conferences one would see Simon Gathercole’s and Francis Watson’s students presenting and having a strong representation.  Now, sadly, Aberdeen is trying to rebuild.  The choice they make for the Kirby Laing chair will be very important for that department’s future.

I observed that Edinburgh appears to be rising in the ranks.  Larry Hurtado has always been there (for a while, at least), but with so many other scholars retiring (especially Richard Bauckham and Dunn), he became the only really eminent scholar to supervise on NT Christology.  Also, though their students weren’t at BNTS in large numbers, Manchester is a respectable place to study.  If I were studying anything regarding Greco-Roman world stuff in the New Testament, I would certainly have Peter Oakes on my radar.  Also, Univ of Manchester’s ties to Manchester Nazarene College connects students to such excellent NT scholars as Kent Brower.

And I might also now think more about King’s College London and Edward Adams.  Eddie has supervised a few very capable students who have made very useful contributions to research.  He is young, but that makes his wisdom (or precociousness) all the more impressive and surprising.  I might also have considered working with David Horrell more closely, though few people have heard of Exeter in America.  I think David could comfortably occupy a chair at Cambridge or Oxford.

So, though I had once devised a ranking of where to study in the UK, I might revise it now in this way, specifically thinking both in terms of supervisor and institution.

The list focuses on those studying Paul.

1. Durham (with John Barclay or Francis Watson)

2. Oxford (with Markus Bockmuehl)

3. Cambridge (with Simon Gathercole)

4. Edinburgh (with Larry Hurtado)

5. Manchester (with Peter Oakes)

6. Aberdeen (with Andrew Clarke)

7. King’s College (with Eddie Adams)

Why did Durham top the list?

Yes, I did study at Durham.  However, ask anyone at the British NT conference and you will discover that almost no one commands greater respect than John Barclay who is such a careful and articulate scholar.  And Francis is also nearly in the same situation.  He was my internal examiner and, on reflection, I may have liked him as my supervisor as he is such a perceptive scholar and master at reading texts with skill.  Right now, add that Stephen Barton and Walter Moberly add important theological perspectives to the discussion and that Bishop Tom is not too far away, and you have an unmatchable environment for discussion (in the UK).

Keep in mind that last time I did a list like this, Durham did not top the list.  But I would say that after this BNTC, I have come to see that students are flocking to Durham to study.  It would be fair to say that Durham had both the highest number of students in attendance at BNTC (nearly 10?) and most of us were presenting papers.  Also, Francis gave a key paper in the Paul group.

What about David Horrell (Exeter), William Campbell (Univ. of Wales), and Barry Matlock (Sheffield)?

David is one of my favorite scholars and I try to be in semi-regular discussion with him about my research (he helped me on my Currents article which was, in part, an evaluation of his excellent work).  He was also the first choice I had for my external examiner, but he was not available.  But really the problem is that when you are trying to get a job, Exeter is just not a recognized institution.  Nevertheless, he is a first-rate scholar and if here were elsewhere (like at Durham!), I would certainly have considered studying with him.  The same goes, generally, for Campbell, as he is an excellent scholar, but Univ. of Wales is not on the radar of many people outside of the UK (esp from an American perspective).  As for Sheffield, I know that Barry took leave and I do not know when he is returning.  

The problem of this list is that it will be outdated in even one year as people move around.  So many eminent scholars have recently retired (Dunn, Stanton, Marshall, Loveday Alexander, Bauckham, etc…) and with others the days are numbered (Andrew Lincoln?, Tony Thiselton?).  Aberdeen is struggling to fill their chair (that Watson recently vacated).  The future of biblical studies in the UK is a big question mark right now.  In ten years, we will see Simon Gathercole rise to the top, I think.  I also predict that Mike Bird will be somewhere other than Dingwall and will recruit many students (and not just because he wants more free babysitting!).  But for now – who will lead and guide St. Andrews and Aberdeen in Pauline studies?  Who will try to fill Larry Hurtado’s shoes at Edinburgh when he retires in a few years?  We wait with anticipation….