1) The goal of the Licentiate in Theology Programme is to train students in scientific research and to prepare them to give theological courses in seminaries and centres of higher religious education and also to perform functions that demand higher theological competence.
2) The Licentiate in Theology programme consists of lectures, tutorial courses, seminars, written assignments, practical exercises, and a scientifically prepared thesis. It offers ample opportunities for private study and personal work under competent professors’ guidance and personal training for self-expression.
3) The Licentiate in Theology granted at the end of the successful completion of this programme qualifies students for admission to a Doctorate in Theology in all Ecclesiastical Faculties of Theology worldwide.
| S. No. | Subjects | ECTS |
| 01 | Obligatory Courses (LST) | 42 |
| 02 | Auxiliary Subjects of the Specialization (LAS) | 12 |
| 03 | Optional Subjects – Any Four – (LOS) | 12 |
| 04 | Seminar – One per year – (LTS) | 06 |
| 05 | Other Requirements (LOR) | 18 |
| 06 | Thesis and Comprehensive Exam (LTC) | 30 |
| Total | 120 | |
| LST 01 | Theology of Revelation and Christian Faith: Contemporary Approaches | 3 |
| LST 02 | The God-Question Today and the Triune God of Christians | 3 |
| LST 03 | Jesus Christ: The Challenges of His Person and Message Today | 3 |
| LST 04 | Salvation in Christian Thought: Contextual Responses | 3 |
| LST 05 | The Holy Spirit: The Creator of New Humanity | 3 |
| LST 06 | Contemporary Trends in the Theology of the Church | 3 |
| LST 07 | The Lord’s Supper and Social Mission | 3 |
| LST 08 | Theology of Reconciliation and Anointing | 3 |
| LST 09 | Mary and the Church | 3 |
| LST 10 | Christian Anthropology: Human and Theological Anthropology | 3 |
| LST 11 | Grace: Theological and Contextual Investigation | 3 |
| LST 12 | Ministries in the Church: New Perspectives | 3 |
| LST 13 | Theology of the Unity of the Churches: Current Outlooks | 3 |
| LST 14 | Asian and Indian Theologies: A Historico-Theological Introduction | 3 |
| LAS 01 | Theological Hermeneutics and Interpretation | 3 |
| LAS 02 | Life Beyond: Catholic and Other Perspectives | 3 |
| LAS 03 | Theology of People’s Movements in the Context of Public Theology | 3 |
| LAS 04 | Eco-Feminist Theology | 3 |
| LOS 01 | Theology of Creation and Covenant | 3 |
| LOS 02 | Key Concepts of Pauline Theology | 3 |
| LOS 03 | Theological Issues in Bio-Ethics | 3 |
| LOS 04 | Solidarity, Conscience and Compassion | 3 |
| LOS 05 | Theology of Patristic Writings | 3 |
| LOS 06 | Inter-Culturation in the History of Christianity | 3 |
| LTS 01 | Theology of Integral Mission | 3 |
| LTS 02 | Liberation Theology and the Magisterium | 3 |
| LTS 03 | Dialogue with the Cultures, Religion and Atheists | 3 |
| LTS 04 | Media, Cyber and Artificial Intelligence Ethics | 3 |
| LOR 01 | Methodology | 3 |
| LOR 02 | Tutorial – I Year | 3 |
| LOR 03 | Field Study | 3 |
| LOR 04 | Review of Literature, Conferences, Annual/Extension Lectures | 3 |
| LOR 05 | Language – I (Italian) | 3 |
| LOR 06 | Language – II (German) | 3 |
| LTC 01 | Thesis and Defence | 15 |
| LTC 02 | Comprehensive Examination – Viva Voce | 15 |
i. All courses at the Licentiate level are 3 ECTS courses. Along with the course on methodology, there will be 30 courses altogether for every batch, distributed in the following way: 10 courses each in the first three semesters and the fourth semester is set apart for the thesis, defence, and comprehensive viva voce.
ii. The duration for each course is 9 working days, in which 45 classroom lectures will be given by the professor, and the students will work for another 45 classroom hours of academic work outside the classroom. The 8th day is for exam preparation, and the 9th day is either an oral or written exam, or the presentation of the paper.
iii. In each semester, it is obligatory that students take written exams for any of the two subjects other than methodology and seminar courses. The duration for each written exam is 2 hours.
iv. For seminar courses, the professor will give introductory lectures for 4 hours on the first day. The presentation of the seminar will be held on the final day. The allotted time for each student’s presentation is 45 minutes, with 25 minutes for presentation and 20 minutes for clarification. The schedule for the seminar course regarding the title, schema, and submission of the first draft of the chapters will be fixed by the concerned professor. A scientific paper of 13–15 pages for 100 marks, with 75 marks for the paper and 25 marks for the presentation, is required.
v. During the summer holidays after the first year, students must conduct a field study on a selected relevant issue. Due orientation is given before the end of the first year, introducing the topic with methodology to prepare a questionnaire. The field study lasts at least two weeks, and the theological analysis is presented at the beginning of the second year, followed by discussion and assessment.
vi. Book reviews must be done only on dogmatic theology books with at least 100 pages and must be submitted on the last day of the first semester. Reviews should not exceed 3-4 pages.
vii. For all other courses apart from the two chosen for written exams, the exam for 100 marks could be either a 15-minute oral, a 2-hour written exam, or the presentation and submission of a 9-10 page scientific paper (75 marks for the paper, 25 marks for the presentation), as agreed by the professor and student.
viii. The decision regarding any of the above modes of evaluation, other than obligatory requirements, is left to the choice of the concerned professor in consultation with the students.
ix. All scientific papers are to be submitted within nine days from the completion of the respective courses.
x. A scientific paper once submitted at the office is final, and no further corrections are allowed.
xi. The reference method followed at the Licentiate level is the latest booklet provided by the Institute.
xii. The frequency and mode of exams for foreign language courses are left to the discretion of the professor in consultation with the students.
i. There will be a comprehensive oral exam by the middle of March in the fourth semester, conducted by a board of three examiners. 20 minutes before the exam, the student selects by lot three theses from a list of Systematic Theology subjects learned during the programme, as provided by the Controller of Examinations at the beginning of the fourth semester. The 20 minutes is for immediate preparation.
ii. The exam lasts 60 minutes, with 20 minutes per examiner: 10 minutes for the student to present the thesis, followed by 10 minutes of questioning.
iii. The average of the marks given by the three examiners will be the mark awarded to the student.
i. Before the inter-semester holidays in the first year, students must submit the theme and the name of the moderator in writing at the office. The synopsis, schema, and basic bibliography are to be submitted by the end of the second semester of the first year, both requiring Academic Council approval.
ii. At the end of the second year, students must present a thesis of 80-100 pages, including bibliography, on an approved systematic theology theme.
iii. A moderator can guide only one student at a time and may accept another only after completion.
iv. The guide must be a resident or visiting professor; external guides require Academic Council approval.
v. Two spiral-bound copies (one for the moderator, one for the reader) must be submitted before the defence, and four hard-bound copies (with corrections) after the defence for the moderator, reader, St. Paul’s Institute, and St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute.
vi. The dissertation is accepted only if all other academic requirements are successfully completed.
vii. The defence will be held towards the middle of March in the fourth semester, with at least one full month between submission and defence.
viii. Two copies of the summary must be submitted at the Academic Office three days before the defence.
ix. The defence occurs before a board of two examiners (moderator and reader), with staff and students invited to attend.
x. The candidate must prepare a 10-minute introductory prayer and vote of thanks, followed by a 20-minute presentation, 20-minute moderator feedback, and 20-minute reader feedback, including questioning on the thesis or programme. The average of the examiners’ marks is awarded.
xi. Corrections must be supervised by the moderator before submitting final copies.
xii. Late thesis submission is allowed within one year; a two-year extension requires a written request with the moderator’s recommendation and Academic Council approval, valid for five years from the first year.
i. Students need to produce a certificate of completing a basic Latin course.
ii. They also need a certificate for a basic Italian, German, or French course. For those unlearned in these languages, an Italian or German course will be arranged during the first year.
i. The final average at the end of the first year is calculated by multiplying each course’s marks by its ECTS, summing the values, and dividing by the total ECTS.
ii. The final average after completion is based on: 55% (23 courses, 69 ECTS), 5% (2 seminars, 6 ECTS), 5% (2 languages, 6 ECTS), 20% (thesis/defence, 15 ECTS), 10% (comprehensive exam, 15 ECTS), 5% (tutorial, field study, literature, 9 ECTS).
i. Basic room needs are provided; students must bring technical devices like computers.
ii. A concelebrated Mass at 7 a.m. daily in the domestic chapel is mandatory.
iii. Outside Masses are allowed only on weekends; no other liturgical commitments are permitted.
iv. Students must join monthly recollections and inform the Prefect of non-weekend overnight stays.
First Years
i. Title and Moderator – 01 October
ii. Pre-Thesis works – March 18–24
iii. Synopsis, Schema, and Bibliography – March 19
Second Years
i. First Chapter – 01 October
ii. Second Chapter – 29 November
iii. Third Chapter – 29 January
iv. Thesis – 11 February
v. Defence, Comprehensive Oral Exam, and submission of the Thesis – 10–24 March
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