What is the Christian Hall?

A Christian Hall is a local, independent learning community, offering college, skilled trade, and other post-secondary education opportunities.

Based on the Oxford University college system and its tutorial-based teaching model, students join a Private Hall in their local community, where they attend weekly tutorials. These Hall Members also enroll in one of our university partner’s degree programs, where they will earn undergraduate and graduate degrees, or learn a skilled trade.

This long-standing, historic model of education takes advantage of both accredited university degree and trade-school programs, while also creating a deeply formational, local learning community where love for Christ, love for people, and love for place flourish.

Oxford Origins

The Oxford University college tutorial system, rooted in medieval Oxford and Cambridge, is central to our philosophy at Christian Halls International. Inspired by his own Oxford experience, our President, Dr. Nicholas Ellis, aimed to bring the tutorial model’s intimate discussions to communities worldwide. We are now training Hall Directors and Tutors across four countries and hundreds of Private Christian Halls. Read more about Oxford Tutorial model here, and about how you can be trained in this method to bless your own community.

Socratic Engagement

At Christian Halls, discussion and Socratic engagement through the tutorial model is central. Facilitated by subject-matter competent tutors, students engage in thought-provoking dialogues, challenging preconceptions, fostering critical thinking, and intertwining intellectual, spiritual, and vocational growth.

Human Formation

We define human formation as the lifelong journey of nurturing individuals within their families and faith communities to worship God and interact with the world in accordance with divine design and commands. 

Our approach emphasizes intellectual, spiritual, and vocational formation and recognizes the essential role of family and the local church in shaping core beliefs and worldviews. 

Human formation encompasses life within and beyond the home, with the goal of preparing individuals for life both in this world and in the world to come.