Your steps to begin your Gateway Seminary journey:

  1. Start your online application by clicking the Apply Now button or clicking here.
  2. Submit your official transcripts.
  3. Submit your Church Endorsement Form (online) here
    • We trust the local church to recognize and support emerging leaders in the congregation.
    • Depending on your degree program, you may need to submit additional items.
    • You can Check Your Application Requirements or Check Your Enrollment Status.
    • Important:  You must be logged with your login information obtained completing step 1 in order for the system to retrieve your requirements or status.

After you have been accepted:

  1. Submit your Financial Aid Application.
  2. Complete New Student Orientation at one of our campuses or online.
  3. You’ve made it! Now you can register for your first semester’s classes by clicking here. NOTE: You must be logged in to access this form.
 

Master's and Diploma Application

Complete this application for admission into the following:

  • Master of Divinity
  • Master of Theological Studies
  • Master of Christian Counseling
  • Master of Global Engagement
  • Master of Educational Leadership
  • Master of Theological Essentials
  • Chinese Bilingual Programs
  • Korean Bilingual Programs
  • Spanish Bilingual Program

All Diploma track applications are complete on this link as well.

Special Student and Certificate Application

Complete this application for admission into the following certificate programs:

  • Bible Teaching 
  • Children's Ministry 
  • Church Planting
  • Collegiate Ministry
  • Ministry to Women
  • IMB Qualification
  • Youth Ministry
  • Pastoral Care 
  • Church Revitalization 
  • Global Engagement
  • Intercultural Studies
  • Christian Counseling
  • Special Student Status (take courses "at will" without pursuing a degree program or certificate)

Priority application deadline: July 15th (for Fall) and December 15th (for Spring).

New students must also complete:

Complete this application to be admitted to:

  • Limited Student Applications (LIST)
  • Scholarship Funded Course

Complete this application to be admitted to:

  • Concurrent Student Status

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Application

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD is the highest academic research degree intended to equip persons for vocations of teaching and research in theological schools and the scholarly enhancement of ministerial practice.

For applicants with a Master of Divinity or its equivalent.

Priority application deadline: May 1st (for Fall) and November 1st (for Spring).

  • Applicants must submit four references, three from prior professors and one from a pastor or Christian ministry leader. Applicants should submit references that testify to their Christian character and academic ability. 
  • Applicants must submit a 2–3-page statement of their rationale for doctoral study.
  • Applicants must hold an MDiv or graduate theological degree with an equivalent theological background from an accredited institution.
  • Applicants must have the necessary graduate semester hours for their major. For the Biblical Studies major, applicants must have completed 15 graduate semester hours of Greek and Hebrew with at least 9 graduate semester hours in their major (either Hebrew or Greek). For the Theology major, applicants must have 24 graduate semester hours of theology and church history—at least 8 of these in advanced theology and church history courses—and completion of 12 graduate semester hours of Greek and Hebrew. Applicants may apply to the program without having all these requirements met; the AGSC (Academic Graduate Studies Committee) has discretion on how to process applications that do not meet all of these requirements. 
  • Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average from previous academic work that indicates a capacity for graduate work. Under normal circumstances, no applicant with a grade point average below 3.5 on a 4.0 scale will receive consideration for entrance into the PhD program.
  • Applicants must prepare and submit a research paper that demonstrates their research and writing capabilities. The paper should evidence detailed research, proper documentation of academic sources, and a properly formatted bibliography. It should feature a developed and sustained argument. The paper should relate to the applicant’s intended field of study.
  • Applicants must complete the PhD entrance exam (starting fall 2025). Applicants can complete this exam at Gateway’s Los Angeles campus or through a suitable proctor in their area. Official study guides are available on Gateway’s website, and applicants should consult these guides in advance of taking the exams. The Enrollment Services Office or the Academic Graduate Studies Office can provide more information about entrance exams. 
  • Applicants who do not have English as their native language are required to take an English proficiency exam. Acceptable exams include the TOEFL iBT and IELTS. Applicants who take the TOEFL iBT must score at least a 90. Applicants who choose to take the IELTS must score at least a 7. Applicants from non-English-based programs—for example, bilingual programs—must produce sufficient TOEFL/IELTS scores. Applicants who graduated with an undergraduate or graduate degree from an ATS-accredited English-language-based institution and who completed all coursework in English will have this testing requirement waived. 
  • After meeting all the standards and completing all other application procedures, applicants may be interviewed by the Director of the PhD/ThM Programs and/or the AGSC.

Advanced Degree Application - ThM

Master of Theology (ThM)
The Master of Theology is an advanced academic degree. Applicants are expected to demonstrate their academic ability and readiness for in-depth study.
 

For applicants with a Master of Divinity or its equivalent.

Priority application deadline: May 1st (for Fall) and November 1st (for Spring).

  • Applicants must submit three references, one from a pastor or ministry leader and two from previous professors. These references should testify to the applicant’s Christian character and academic ability.
  • Applicants must submit a 1-2 page rationale for ThM study. 
  • Applicants must hold a MDiv or graduate theological degree with equivalent theological background from an accredited institution. All applicants must have a minimum of six credit hours of New Testament Greek and six credit hours of Biblical Hebrew. An applicant who meets all admission requirements except for one of the biblical languages can be admitted with the understanding that this deficiency must be removed by the end of the first year of study. Securing the necessary program of study, paying any necessary fees, and transferring credit for the completed language course to Gateway will be the applicant’s responsibility.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average no lower than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Applicants must submit a research paper that demonstrates their research and writing capabilities.
  • Applicants who do not have English as their native language are required to take an English proficiency exam. Acceptable exams include the TOEFL iBT and IELTS. Applicants who take the TOEFL iBT must score at least a 90. Applicants who choose to take the IELTS must score at least a 7. Applicants from non-English-based programs—for example, bilingual programs—must produce sufficient TOEFL/IELTS scores. Applicants who graduated with an undergraduate or graduate degree from an ATS-accredited English-language-based institution and who completed all coursework in English will have this testing requirement waived.

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact Gateway Seminary's Office of Enrollment at:

enrollment@gs.edu
(909) 687-1467

All application items should be sent by mail or email to the following address:

Gateway Seminary
ATTN: Office of Enrollment
3210 E Guasti Road
Ontario, CA 91761

 

You can find all forms related to enrollment at https://haven.gs.edu/ICS/Forms/.

Church Endorsement for Applicant (Online)  NOTE: You must be logged into Haven to access this form.