Lucent University Student Handbook

How do I access my program?

To access your program, enroll online by filling out the enrollment form. You can choose between Degree and Certificate programs or Extension courses, depending on your goals and interests. After you submit the form, you will see a new page where you confirm your login and password. Then you will have access to your dashboard, where you make payments and upload documents.

How is the program offered?

Lucent University delivers your program through an advanced, easy-to-use online Learning Management System (LMS). You can find everything you need on a single page: watch your lessons, view your materials, and take your exams. You can also submit your work, pay your fees, and reach out to your instructors. The learning platform works on any device, so you can learn wherever and whenever you want, with the same great interface on a smartphone or a big-screen TV.

What documents are required for enrollment?

You need to upload two government-issued IDs, one of them with your photo. You can use bills, bank statements, or other official papers as proof of residency. If you're taking continuing education courses, that's all you need.

• Associate or Bachelor's degree: also upload your high school diploma and transcripts.
• Master's degree: also upload your Bachelor's degree diploma and transcripts.

You have 90 days from the day you enroll to upload everything. Make sure the images are clear and high quality. If your documents are in non-Roman characters, you need to translate them into English.

Can I start at any time?

Yes, you can start your courses and advance in your program whenever you want. The first step is to enroll and choose a degree program. If you need help deciding which program is best for you, please contact Lucent. After enrolling, you will need to confirm your login address and complete the enrollment process, including setting up a payment plan, uploading the appropriate documents, and taking the Test of English Comprehension (TEC) if required.

How do I upload my documents?

Go to your learning dashboard and click on your profile picture. Then select the Documents tab and choose the files you want to upload. You can also reach the Documents section by clicking on your name in the top-right corner and going to My Profile.

What is self-paced learning?

Self-paced learning lets you study at your own pace without regular classes or interactions. Lucent offers self-paced degree programs that are flexible, affordable, and Bible-based. You can study online and ask questions through your dashboard if needed. It is a great fit for distance learners who want more flexibility and control over their learning.

What is the cost of the program?

The price of the program depends on where you live. Lucent University uses the World Bank's Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to set the price. To see your monthly tuition, go to the program page and choose your country from the dropdown menu in the “Affordable” section.

We cannot consider your nationality for tuition: our institutional policy requires program tuition to be based on the applicant's country of residence in order to apply the PPP calculations.

How do I pay my tuition?

You pay your tuition monthly:

You can pay with any major debit or credit card or with PayPal. Card payments are processed by Stripe. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can create one on the PayPal website for your country.

Are books and materials included in the program?

Yes. Books and materials are included: you can download everything you need for your studies from the learning dashboard for free.

Do all programs cost the same?

No, prices vary by program and by country. To find out your monthly tuition, visit the program page and select your country of residence from the dropdown menu.

How can I apply for a scholarship?

Students who need financial assistance may be eligible for special scholarships. To apply, please fill out the scholarship application. The decision on financial aid will be communicated within a week of submission.

What degrees are offered?

We offer degrees for different educational and ministry needs:

• Associate degree: a two-year program that gives you the essential knowledge and skills for ministry. You can choose the Associate of Ministry or the Associate of Theology; both have 60 credit hours of courses. The Associate degree is an abbreviated version of the Bachelor's and is considered a higher education degree in the US.
• Bachelor's degree: a 36-month (three-year) comprehensive program that trains you for a powerful and meaningful ministry, with 90 credit hours of courses.
• Master's degree: deepens your understanding of the Bible and equips you for advanced ministry or teaching. Choose the Master of Ministry or the Master of Theology (18-month programs with 36 credit hours), or the Master of Divinity (a three-year program with 72 credit hours).

What are credit hours?

A credit hour measures how much time you spend on a course, including lecture time, exams, reading, and the other assignments that help you learn.

What are independent courses?

Independent courses at Lucent University are self-paced, specialized programs designed for focused study. They are 180-day programs with no prerequisites, and they require a one-time tuition payment rather than a monthly plan.

Do I have to be fluent in English?

English proficiency is a prerequisite for all programs at Lucent, except for continuing education courses. If you are not a native English speaker, you will take the Test of English Comprehension (TEC), a free online exam that measures your ability to understand written and spoken English.

• Associate or Bachelor's degree: intermediate level of English.
• Master's degree: advanced level of English.

The TEC has 100 multiple-choice questions covering vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening. You have 90 minutes to complete it, and you need at least 70 points out of 100 to pass. If you don't reach this score on your first attempt, you can retake the exam as many times as you need at no extra cost.

How long does it take to complete a program?

You can complete a term faster or slower than the recommended six-month period, depending on your pace. The six-month period is a general guideline for finishing your required courses. Since the program is self-paced, you can finish your coursework before or after the six months, and you can request more time if you need it. The shortest time for a term is four months, and the longest is eight months.

If you want to move on to the next term sooner, you can apply for advancement once you have completed all the course requirements for the current term. You do this through your learning dashboard, and you pay the remaining tuition for the current term and the first installment of the following term before moving on. Approval may take up to 14 days and depends on the availability of courses for the next term.

There are two ways to finish a program early: advancing each term (minimum four months per term, subject to course availability) or transferring credits from another program.

Likewise, you can ask for an extension of up to two months by submitting an extension request through your learning dashboard. There is no extra cost for extension requests. Approval may take up to 14 days.

How much time do I need to dedicate to my studies?

Because our programs are fully online and entirely self-paced, we do not monitor or require a fixed number of daily study hours. As a general guideline:

Can I change my program after enrollment?

To change your program after enrolling, submit a written request to Lucent's academic office. Students in the Master of Ministry, Master of Theology, or Master of Divinity (M.Div.) may request to switch among these three programs, depending on the availability of the program they want to join. Each request is reviewed individually, and additional fees may apply. Please note that courses completed in a bachelor's program cannot be transferred or applied toward a master's program.

Can I transfer credits from another institution?

Yes. Send us an official transcript from the other institution, and we will check whether the courses you took are similar to ours based on their learning outcomes. We decide whether we can accept your credits depending on the program you want to join and the program you have finished or started. We can accept at most three credit hours per course.

The maximum number of credits we can accept in total is 75% of the program requirements, as per the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) standards.

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is an organization that evaluates and accredits distance education institutions and programs. DEAC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a reliable authority on quality and integrity in distance education. DEAC accredits institutions and programs from the primary level through universities, covering all distance education activities within them.

What institutions accept degrees or credits from Lucent University?

Lucent University cannot guarantee that other colleges or universities will accept your degree and/or credits from Lucent. If you want to continue your education at another institution after studying at Lucent, contact that institution and ask whether it will recognize your Lucent degree and/or credits before you enroll.

Academic Support

Our team of academic advisors can help you with questions about registration, pricing, program duration, and course content. Contact academic support through the learning dashboard or the contact form. We respond within 1 business day.

Technical Support

Our technical team can help with any issue related to the learning system, such as logging in, accessing materials, submitting assignments, or taking exams. Contact technical support through the learning dashboard or the contact form. We resolve problems within 48 hours.

Assignments are the written work you complete in each course. They are guided steps that help you take what you learn and use it in real life and real ministry. Every degree course follows the same clear structure, so once you understand how one course works, you understand them all.

How every course is organized

Each degree course is built from the same core parts, so you always know what to expect. Every course gives you:

• Syllabus. A short guide that explains the course, the units, and the work you will do.
• Reading Material. Selected readings, provided for you inside the LMS (your online learning platform).
• Media Resources. Videos and other media that support your learning, listed in the LMS.
• Three Exams. Multiple-choice exams that check your understanding as you move through the course.
• Five Assignments. The written work described in this chapter, including the Growth Assessment.
• Feedback. Comments from Lucent on your work, to help you grow and improve.

Most courses are divided into 18 units, or 6 modules with 3 units each. You move through them one at a time, at your own pace.

The three kinds of courses

Lucent courses share the same structure, but the assignments are shaped to fit the goal of the course:

• Foundational courses. These build your knowledge of the Bible, theology, and Christian thinking. Their assignments help you understand ideas deeply and connect them to Scripture.
• Ministry courses. These prepare you for practical service, such as preaching, evangelism, or pastoral care. Their assignments help you turn ideas into a real plan of action.
• Hybrid (blended) courses. These mix both goals. Their assignments are chosen to match the course, so they may include some work from each of the other two kinds.

Your syllabus always tells you which kind of course you are taking and which assignments you will complete.

Your five assignments

Every degree course has five assignments. Together they move you along a clear path: from reading and understanding, to comparing and applying, to practicing and planning. The first four are graded and count toward your course grade. The fifth is the Growth Assessment, explained below.

In a Hybrid course, the assignments are selected from both lists to fit the subject. Your syllabus names the exact assignments for that course.

The Growth Assessment

The Growth Assessment is a personal, spiritual reflection. It is required to complete the course, but it is graded only on completion and does not count toward your course grade. Simply complete it honestly and thoughtfully.

Where do the readings for my assignments come from?

The books and readings used in your assignments are in the public domain, so you will find a copy of each one already provided for you inside the VisEd LMS, ready to read.

You are also welcome to look for these books on your own. Because they are in the public domain, different versions are freely available online, sometimes in different formats (PDF, e-book, audiobook, and others) and from different sources. You may use the version in the LMS or any other free version you find, as long as it is the same book and edition indicated in your assignment.

What are the passing grades?

Exams are multiple-choice, and assignments are scored from 1 to 100 points. To pass, you need at least 60 points (a D letter grade) in the Associate, Bachelor's, and Certificate programs, and at least 70 points (a C letter grade) in the Master's programs. You can retake an exam as many times as you need until you pass, and each exam gives you different questions each time.

Your grade for a course is the weighted average of the grades you earn on the exams and assignments in that course. Your syllabus shows how much each part is worth. The point totals correspond to the following letter grades:

Do I have to write a thesis?

No. You do not have to write a traditional thesis, book review, or long research paper in the older sense. Your written work is done through the five assignments above, which guide you step by step and help you connect the course material to your own ministry context.

Lucent courses are self-paced, so there are no fixed due dates for your assignments. You are free to move through the course as your schedule allows. We still encourage a steady pace, and many students complete about one unit each week, but the timing is up to you.

How do I turn in my work?

When you finish an assignment, save it as a PDF and upload it in the matching assignment area on the LMS. After your work is reviewed, you will receive feedback to help you understand your strengths and grow in the areas that need more attention. If you have any trouble submitting your work, our technical support team is ready to help.

What if a safety issue or other serious circumstance keeps me from completing an assignment?

If a safety concern, or any other serious circumstance, keeps you from completing one or more of your assignments as originally designed, please contact our team. We will evaluate your situation and offer a proposal suited to your specific context.

Whenever you face any difficulty completing your coursework, please contact our support team. We will guide you on exactly how to proceed.

Can I pause my studies?

You can pause your studies anytime you need to and resume when you are ready. You do not pay any monthly tuition during the pause. To pause or resume your program, email us from the contact area of your learning dashboard or use the contact form on our homepage. Please note that the current tuition on the program page will apply when you return, and you may lose your scholarship if you pause your studies for more than six months.

Can I withdraw from a program?

Yes, you can withdraw through the learning dashboard or the contact page. It may take up to 30 days for us to process your withdrawal. You don't pay any fine or fee if you don't owe us any money, but we don't give a partial refund if you have already paid the tuition for the month in which you asked to withdraw.

What is the refund policy?

If you pay monthly and want to withdraw or cancel, you won't get any money back for the month in which you do it. However, you can still use the class material for the rest of that month, and we won't charge you for any future months.

If you have paid for multiple months or the whole program in advance and want to withdraw, we will refund 80% of the money left for the remaining months. We send the refund within 30 days of receiving your notice of withdrawal or cancellation, to the same payment method you used.

You are considered withdrawn if you tell us you want to withdraw, or if we end your enrollment because you don't attend, don't make enough progress, don't follow the rules, or don't pay what you owe.

What happens when I finish my program?

When you complete your program, the digital PDF copy of your Diploma or Degree will be available for download in your learning dashboard.

• Printed Degree: we can ship your printed degree via UPS to your home or church address within 90 days. You cover the shipping cost. The processing and handling fee is US$ 50.00 per copy, in addition to shipping. All degrees are printed on standard US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches). Once shipped, the carrier is responsible for delivering the package; we share tracking information but can't guarantee or assume liability for delays, loss, or damage in transit. Lucent University does not sell or ship graduation caps and stoles; you will need to purchase these locally or online.
• Digital Degree: we email you a high-resolution PDF of your degree. The file includes a Digital Certificate Number (DCN) verifiable on CertVue. You can print the PDF on any paper type, size, or color, and even frame it. We usually recommend this option because it is faster and more practical. Buying your graduation cap and stole locally is a cost-effective option.

After graduation, you can still use your dashboard to access the video classes, reading materials, and all other resources available to current students.

Requirements to receive your Diploma or Degree

• Upload all the required documents to your student profile accurately.
• Pay all your tuition and fees in full, with no outstanding debt.
• Finish all your coursework, including required class time, reading materials, exams, and assignments, and pass all your courses.
• Maintain a minimum overall grade point average corresponding to at least 60% in the Associate, Bachelor's, and Certificate programs, or at least 70% in the Master's programs.

Graduation Ceremony

Completing a degree program is a significant milestone and an accomplishment worth celebrating. It marks the end of an important season of learning, dedication, and spiritual growth.

If you would like to celebrate with family, friends, and your church community, you are welcome to organize a graduation ceremony at your local church. It can be a meaningful way to recognize your achievement, give thanks to God, and share this moment with the people who supported you throughout your studies.

How will my academic records be kept?

While you are enrolled, you can access your academic records digitally through your student dashboard. After graduation, Lucent will continue to keep a digital copy of your records with a secure, established global cloud storage provider.

How can I request a transcript?

To request an official transcript or a copy of your academic records, please contact Lucent. Our team will be glad to assist you.

What is authorization and accreditation?

Authorization refers to the legal authority of an institution to offer educational programs in a particular jurisdiction. Depending on the state, this may involve obtaining authorization or a license to operate, qualifying for an exemption, or operating in a state where specific authorization is not required.

Accreditation is a quality assurance process conducted by an independent accrediting organization. Accrediting bodies evaluate areas such as academic standards, institutional policies, governance, student services, and operational practices according to their established criteria.

Authorization and accreditation serve different purposes. Authorization relates primarily to an institution's legal permission to operate, while accreditation evaluates institutional quality according to the standards of the accrediting organization.

What authorization does Lucent University have?

Lucent University operates in Texas under a religious instruction exemption from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

For students residing outside Texas, Lucent University enrolls students only in states where the University has obtained the required authorization, qualifies for an applicable exemption, or where state regulations do not require additional authorization for its educational activities.

Because authorization requirements vary by state, prospective students should verify that Lucent University is authorized or otherwise permitted to enroll students in their state of residence before enrolling.

What organization accredits Lucent University?

Lucent University holds Premier Institution accreditation from the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC), an international accrediting organization based in the United Kingdom.

Lucent University also holds UK Recognized (UKVI) status and ISO 9001:2015 certification and participates in international organizations and networks related to education, quality assurance, and academic mobility, including BQF, ENQA, EDEN, and NAFSA.

Lucent University is currently pursuing U.S. accreditation.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is the set of rules and expectations Lucent University has for its students. It covers both personal and academic conduct and aims to foster a Christian educational community that honors God and respects others. It explains what is considered dishonest or unacceptable behavior and the possible consequences if a student violates the code. It also encourages students to uphold the moral and ethical standards of Lucent University and to report any major violations to university personnel. The Code of Conduct is not a contract and can be revised at any time by the university. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with it.

Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy explains how Lucent University handles your personal data and respects your privacy rights. It tells you what data we collect, what we do with it, and who we share it with. It also explains how you can access, update, or delete your information, except for your academic records, which cannot be deleted. We follow the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a law that protects your privacy and data security. Our Privacy Policy applies to all our services and activities, such as courses, programs, events, and websites.

What if I have a disability?

Lucent University is committed to providing equal access and opportunity to students with disabilities. We offer resources and accommodations in our Learning Management System to help students with visual and auditory disabilities learn effectively and comfortably. We comply with the federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability and ensure that our academic requirements are fair and reasonable. These laws include Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title II; and their implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 104 and 28 C.F.R. Part 35.

If you have a disability and need any special assistance or consideration, please let us know by contacting our support team after you register. We will do our best to meet your needs and help you succeed in your ministry education.