Princeton Seminary | Info & Resources
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Entering Students Info & Resources

Entering Students

When you are admitted to Princeton Theological Seminary, there are a number of steps that are necessary to accept your offer of admission and matriculate as an entering student. These steps can be broken into two phases: (1) confirmation, and (2) enrollment.


Confirmation Process

Once accepted, you will have the opportunity to respond to your offer of admission and confirm your intent to enroll on your application status page.

There are three steps to the confirmation process, which all need to be completed prior to the deadline on your acceptance letter in order to secure your spot in the incoming class:

  1. Confirmation Decision: Indicate whether you plan to accept your offer of admission and enroll in the fall.
  2. Confirmation Deposit: Pay a non-refundable $250 deposit (this will be applied to your student account when you enroll; *not required for admitted PhD students).
  3. Housing Application: Fill out the housing form (available on your application status page once you indicate your decision to enroll).
Housing Costs

Once you complete these three steps, you are officially confirmed! Upon confirmation, we will be in contact with you about additional steps leading up to your arrival on campus, and our housing office will connect with you in late June/early July with your housing assignment for the fall.


Enrollment Process

In order to register for classes, you need to complete the following steps. Students who wish to register for summer language courses (Greek or Hebrew), must complete these steps and register (by emailing [email protected]) before the summer registration deadline of June 18. Those who do not plan to take summer language must complete the enrollment steps before online registration for the fall semester opens in mid-July.

In order for you to be able to register for classes when that becomes available, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Enrollment Information Form: After you are officially confirmed as an incoming student, the enrollment information form will appear on your application status page.
  2. Immunization Clearance: All entering students must verify immunizations before they officially enroll. You will need to have the Immunization Verification Forms completed by your doctor and send it to Penn Medicine Princeton Health for review ([email protected]). Once they have notified us that your immunizations have cleared, we will mark this step as complete.
    - Immunization Verification Forms (pdf)
  3. Final Transcript: If we have already received your final transcript, we will mark this as complete. Otherwise you will be required to have your final transcript showing that your degree was conferred sent to us directly from your school.
  4. Network Account and Password: In order to register for fall classes and access the internal Princeton Seminary website (Inside PTS), you must obtain a Seminary network account and password. Instructions about how to create your network account will be sent to you mid-May. Those interested in registering for summer language should email the registrar at [email protected]. The first three steps above will be listed on your application status page, so you will be able to monitor your progress.

The first three steps above will be listed on your application status page, so you will be able to monitor your progress.

After you create your network account and password, it may take 24-48 hours before you can log in to Inside PTS (inside.ptsem.edu) and access your Princeton Seminary email inbox and online registration portal. Once you have a Princeton Seminary email address, you can expect to receive future communication in your Seminary email inbox, so we encourage you to check it regularly.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or need any assistance.


Additional Information

Once you have acquired your network account and password, you will be able to log in to Inside PTS, our internal website for the Princeton Seminary community. This is where you will find links to your Seminary email, our Learning Management System, the Academic Catalogue, Student Handbook, and other community policies and resources.

Important resources for incoming students are available in the Student Life section of Inside PTS.

  1. Health Insurance: All full-time students are required to have health insurance. You are required to buy coverage through the PTS Student Health Benefits Plan or prove that you have sufficient coverage through a parent, spouse, church or employer. Once you have created your network account and password, you will be able to access additional information in our Health Resources section of our internal website (Inside PTS).
    - 2020-2021 Student Health Plan Document (pdf)
    - 2019-20 Student Health Plan - Comprehensive Fee (pdf)
    - Glossary of Health Coverage and Medical Terms (pdf)
  2. Visa Matters for International Students: Specific information for entering international students is available through our Office of Global Services.
  3. Register for Classes: Registration for incoming students typically opens mid-July. A link to the online registration module is available on the Registrar's page of Inside PTS.
  4. Housing: Housing assignments for fall are typically made in the first week of July. Additional information about housing is available on the Housing page of Inside PTS, and questions should be directed to [email protected].
  5. ATS Entering Student Questionnaire: All incoming students are required to complete a questionnaire from The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) before starting classes. Once you have created your network account and password, you will be able to access this survey in the Student Life section of our internal website (Inside PTS). The link to the survey typically becomes available in August and a reminder to complete the survey will be sent via email as part of the Orientation instructions.

Additional information for entering students is available in the Student Life section of Inside PTS.


Entering Student FAQs

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Seminary’s current coronavirus guidelines and resources.

Housing for Entering Students

Is summer housing available for entering students?

Yes, summer housing will be available to those students who begin their program with the Summer Greek or Hebrew language courses. Other entering students will need to wait until they being their program in September to move into Princeton Seminary housing.

What housing accommodations will be available for the fall?

We will do our best to accommodate housing preferences, and we encourage you to complete your housing application early. Housing for incoming students will be subject to availability, and those who apply late may be placed on a waiting list.

Next fall we will offer housing in Brown Hall (a residence hall on the main campus), and apartment-style housing in Witherspoon and CRW apartments (on the Charlotte Rachel Wilson Campus).

Brown Hall is recently renovated. There are 53 single rooms with private bathrooms. All rooms are air-conditioned, carpeted, come fully furnished with a twin-size XL bed, desk, chair, nightstand, chest of drawers, bookcase, and a micro fridge. Laundry facilities and bike storage are located in the basement, a kitchen is located off the first-floor lounge, and each floor has a lounge with sofas, tables, chairs, a full-size refrigerator, and a TV.

There are one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments available in our various apartment buildings. All apartments are unfurnished with a full kitchen and private bathroom(s). Please see the Housing page for more information on campus and building amenities.

What dining options will be available?

Residents of Brown Hall will receive lunches in the Mackay Campus Center Monday through Friday. Brown Hall residents can also buy into a dinner plan Monday through Thursday. All other meals are up to the student to acquire.

Other students can purchase lunches at the Mackay Campus Center Monday through Friday. There are no other dining options available.

When will I learn about my housing assignment?

We will do our best to accommodate housing requests, and we ask for your patience as we try to accommodate as many students as possible. Incoming students will hear from the Student Administrative Services Office by the end of May. At that time, we will give you all the information you need about where you will be living in the fall.

When can we move in?

The check-in dates for the fall semester will be the last week in August. Apartments and rooms in Brown Hall will not be available before this time.

Summer Language

What classes are offered over the summer, and how do I register?

Each summer, we offer introductory Greek and Hebrew courses as summer intensive classes. Each summer language course is six credits, a full year of study over the span of eight weeks. For 2021, these classes will be virtual and are scheduled to run online from June 28-August 20.

In order to register for classes, including summer language, you need to complete the enrollment steps outlined above. We recognize that there may be delays getting immunization clearances, but you must have your final transcripts and enrollment survey completed before you can register for summer language, and your immunization clearances complete before you arrive on campus at the end of August.

Registration for summer language opens May 10 and closes June 18. Anyone interested in registering for summer language should email the registrar at [email protected], stating their interest in enrolling for either summer Greek or Hebrew.

Registration for the fall semester will open in mid-July, and you will receive an email from the registrar with instructions about how to access the registration module and select your classes. You should plan to complete all enrollment steps by July 1 to ensure that you are able to register for classes as soon as the registration period opens.

Should I consider taking a summer language course?

Summer languages and all language study at the Seminary count as elective credits. Each summer language course is six credits, a full year of study over the span of eight weeks. The course is intense, and it will require you to focus your time and energy during those eight weeks on the study of the language. You will be doing so, however, with a committed teaching team (a professor or instructor, and a PhD student teaching assistant) dedicated to helping you be successful in learning how to read the Bible in its original language. Many students who have not studied any foreign language before can learn biblical Greek and Hebrew with dedication and hard work. An important piece of advice: If you do take the summer language course, you should definitely not plan on working even a part-time job alongside the course.

The advantages of taking a summer biblical language course as an incoming student include:

  1. Ahead of the early September orientation, you will develop a close-knit relationship with a group of Princeton Seminary students as you experience together the challenges and joys of learning an ancient biblical language.
  2. Learning a foreign language requires focus and dedication. Taking a summer language course as your one object of study for eight weeks allows you to be single-minded in studying Greek or Hebrew without the distractions and demands of several other courses at the same time, as is the case during the full academic year language courses.
  3. Taking a summer language course as an incoming student will earn you six credits upfront before the fall semester, which will allow you more flexibility and space for electives during your seminary career.
  4. You will immediately be able to enroll in upper-level biblical exegesis courses that require either Greek or Hebrew beginning in your first semester.

On the other hand, an intense eight-week course is not for everyone. If your learning style favors learning in smaller increments over a longer time, then the summer intensive language course may not be a good choice for you. You may wish to consider taking your language during the academic year in the fall and spring semesters.

How will summer language courses be offered online?

The summer language courses will follow a cohort model, facilitating the personal connections that are often lacking in virtual spaces. Small groups will walk through the material together, engaging many different modes of learning, including: attending live web conferences, viewing recorded lectures, participating in virtual study groups, and joining cohort discussions. Our hope is that this multimodal cohort model will offset the inevitable challenges that come with learning a new language, no matter the format. We are confident that with this intentional approach, students in the online summer language program will experience meaningful learning and sincere community, even at a distance.

To allow for maximum flexibility to suit a wide variety of learner’s schedules, the bulk of the course will be taught asynchronously, with lectures, exercises, and quizzes watched and completed at a time of each student’s convenience each day. There will also be small group meetings for a total of approximately two hours per day that will be available at several different times to suit a variety of student schedules, as well as optional meetings for enrichment exercises. While students should expect to devote a significant amount of time to the course, the online format will allow students much more flexibility in how they allocate that time throughout the day than a traditional classroom format. We will announce more details about the schedule and timing for the required daily meetings in May so that you will have ample time to schedule accordingly. If you have additional questions about the summer language program, the anticipated schedule, or the technological requirements, please email [email protected].

For those who choose to enroll in a summer language course, you should plan to enroll in a fall semester course in which to continue your new language skills. For 2021-2022, you may keep your Hebrew fresh through the one-credit OT1153 Hebrew Translation course and/or with any Hebrew exegesis course with the prefix OT34XX. For Greek, the options are NT1153 Greek Translation and/or any Greek exegesis course with the prefix NT34XX.

What is the cost of summer language, and when is it billed?

Summer language courses are billed on a per-credit basis. For 2022, the cost per credit is $730, so the total cost of summer language is $4,380. However, the same scholarship/grant that you have for the normal academic year is also applied to the summer. Any costs left over are due at the start of the summer session (June 27).

For example, someone with an 80% grant, would be billed $876 (or 20% of the total cost of summer language), with this amount due by June 27. Someone with a full tuition scholarship would not be responsible for any payment toward summer tuition.

Once you have a network account, you can view and pay your bill on the Bursar's page of Inside PTS (our internal website).

Fall Semester Courses & Registration

Where can I find the academic calendar?

The academic calendar is available here.

When can I register for the fall semester?

Registration for the fall semester will open up in mid-July, and you will receive an email from the registrar with instructions about how to access the registration module and select your classes. You should plan to complete all enrollment steps by July 1 so that you are able to register for classes as soon as the registration period opens.

Once you have a network account, you can find more information and a link to our registration module on the Registrar's page of Inside PTS (our internal website).

What courses should I take?

Program guides are available on the Registrar's page of the main website and you can access the Course Catalogue online. All students are assigned a faculty advisor at the end of the summer who will guide them on selecting courses that meet their degree requirements and support their vocational aim.

When are charges for the fall semester billed and due?

We bill tuition, fees, housing, health insurance, etc. for the entire semester upfront, and the bill needs to be taken care of (by financial aid, monthly payment plan, or a direct payment) prior to the start of classes on September 1. Fall billing usually takes place in late July/early August, and you will receive an email from the bursar with instructions of how to view your account and pay your balance online.

Once you have a network account, you can view and pay your bill on the Bursar's page of Inside PTS (our internal website).

The Direct Deposit information remains the same.

Can I set up Direct Deposit?

Yes! The Seminary encourages all students to set up Direct Deposit. Once you have a network account and can access Inside PTS, there is a form to complete so that any student account refund you receive would be by Direct Deposit. Students are encouraged to set up Direct Deposit as early as possible, and the form to do so is available at this link.

Can I advance place out of introductory-level courses?

If you believe that your previous undergraduate studies would qualify you for advanced placement for any required introductory course(s) (i.e., OT2101 Orientation to Old Testament Studies, NT2101 Introduction to the New Testament, and TH2100 Systematic Theology), you must apply. Detailed information will be posted in the fall registration documentation, which will be available in the summer.

I have already successfully taken a Greek and/or Hebrew language course. Can I place out of introductory Greek or Hebrew?

You may place out of introductory Greek and/or Hebrew by taking a placement exam. The Greek and Hebrew placement tests will be administered during Fall Orientation. Detailed information will be posted in the fall registration documentation, which will be available in the summer.

Does Princeton Seminary allow students to transfer credits from other institutions?

An admitted student who wishes to transfer credits and has completed graduate coursework in a program conducted by a school accredited by a recognized accrediting organization may apply through the office of the registrar. Transfer of credit is ordinarily reviewed in August and students are required to submit syllabi for any course that they wish to transfer from another institution. Detailed information will be posted in the fall registration documentation, which will be available in the summer.

I wish to enroll in the MDiv and MSW Dual-Degree Program in Ministry and Social Work. Can you provide information for enrollment in the program?

The MDiv/MSW Dual-Degree program meeting is ordinarily scheduled during the first full week in October, where you will have an opportunity to meet with the Rutgers team as well as the PTS team to hear first-hand how the program works from start to finish.

Are students assigned a faculty advisor?

Yes, students are assigned a faculty advisor and meet with their advisor during orientation in September and prior to the start of the spring registration period in November. Advisors guide students with selecting courses that meet their degree requirements and support their vocational aim.

All incoming students will receive an email in August from Shawn Oliver, Senior Associate Academic Dean, directing them to sign up for Advising Day, which will likely be offered online this year. Part of this sign-up process will be to indicate the first and second choice for meeting with a faculty member from a specific department. Academic Affairs will match students and Faculty Advisors to ensure an even distribution of advisees. The student will be assigned to a 20-minute advising session. After assignments have been made, students will receive via email the name of their Faculty Advisor and their confirmed Advising Day meeting time approximately one week prior to Advising Day.

Educating faithful Christian leaders.

Chaplain at the Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Khristi Adams, Class of 2008

“At Princeton, we had precept groups—we’d engage text and debate. That gave me confidence to have those conversations anywhere.”