Lots of good things are happening at our seminary. Over the past couple years we’ve strengthened the sense of community among students, seen a significant increase in donor support, and—perhaps most visibly—enrollment is up. Challenges remain, but we’re excited about the future.
Enrollment is Up!
After a couple of years of declining or stagnant enrollment, we saw a major turnaround in the 2024–25 academic year. Fifteen new students enrolled in our bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs, bringing our total enrollment to more than 45 students. I know that may not sound like a lot, but for an evangelical seminary in Europe, that’s a strong showing.
Of course, one good year could be just a blip. That’s why we’re especially encouraged by this year’s numbers: we’ve received thirty applications for the 2025–26 academic year. Since we expect most of those applicants to matriculate in September, we could welcome up to 25 new students and surpass 50 total students for the first time in over a decade.
Where Do Our Students Come From?
You might expect that most of our students are Slovak. But if you knew that 70% of Slovak high school graduates would prefer to study abroad—and that very few foreign students come to Slovakia—you might guess that nearly all of our students are local, with maybe a few from Ukraine. That’s the case with most colleges and universities in Slovakia.
In fact, our seminary bucks that trend. We have more international students than any other program within the College of Education at Matej Bel University (our seminary is the Department of Theology within the college). Last year, less than half of our students were Slovak. In some classes, there are more students from Czechia than from Slovakia, and last year about half of our total enrollment came from Czechia. We also have students from Serbia and the United States (mostly missionaries or their children). This coming year, we expect a couple more from Serbia, one from South Africa, and in the past we’ve welcomed students from Ukraine, Croatia, Romania, Germany, England, Greece—and even several African countries.
Why So Many Students from Abroad?
When we opened our doors in 1993, we were one of the first evangelical seminaries in Europe to offer a government-accredited master’s degree in theology. Today there are a few others, but we remain one of the very few evangelical institutions in Europe offering accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
That’s a big part of the reason other seminaries struggle with enrollment. Many students want degrees that are widely recognized and will open doors for further study elsewhere. We’ve had students go on to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Union School of Theology in Wales, and this fall one of our graduates will begin at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.
That’s why we attract students from well beyond Slovakia. For example, there is currently no evangelical institution in Czechia that offers a European Union-recognized degree in theology.
Does Accreditation Really Matter for the Church?
I can’t claim that our theology program is dramatically better than those at other European seminaries that lack accreditation. But I do believe it’s important for our churches in Slovakia that their pastors receive solid, evangelical theological training. We need leaders who can faithfully handle the word of God, discern the times, and guide the church in remaining true to the gospel in a rapidly changing world. That’s why our seminary exists.
And the truth is, if we weren’t accredited, we likely wouldn’t exist. So yes, accreditation makes a difference for our churches here in Slovakia. But it goes beyond that. Our accreditation enables us to serve not only Slovakia, but also the church in Czechia, Serbia, Germany—and beyond.
We’re grateful to God for this unique role we can play. And we’re grateful for your partnership in making it possible.
Praise God for his wonderful provision!
David Duff says
This is so encouraging! And thank you for your faithful service to the Seminary