The Bachelor of Divinity is an internal study course offered under the regulation of the Senate of Serampore university. This course is designed to equip a ministers for the essential ministries and functions of the Church in India who could commend their faith with relevance in the context of a pluralistic world. It aims at an integrative and inter-disciplinary approach among the biblical, theological, historical and religious fields with involvement in practical aspects of life and ministry in the regional, social and cultural contexts of the sub-continent. It also ensures adequate grounding in the discipline of linguistics for study of texts and provides hermeneutical tools and skills for understanding and interpreting the context of ministry. It is a four to five years course offered under Senate of Serampore university regulation.
Admission Requirements for the BD Degree:
A candidate at the time of admission to the Bachelor of Divinity degree course must satisfy the following conditions, as the case may be:
- A candidate who has passed Higher Secondary examination (12th or PUC or PDC with a total of 12 years of schooling starting from standard one) or its recognized equivalent programme (e.g., all Diploma courses (after completing 10th standard) with a minimum of two years duration, such as ITI, Nursing, Hotel Management etc., recognized by the Govt. Education Department, considered to be equivalent to 12th standard). Such a candidate shall be admitted to the 5 year BD degree course.
- A candidate who has completed a Bachelor or Post Graduate degree from a recognized University shall be admitted to the 1st year of 4 year BD degree course.
- A degree holder of a Bachelor of Theology/Bachelor of Missiology/ Bachelor of Christian Studies, irrespective of their overall grades, shall be enrolled in the 3rd year of 4 year BD degree course. Further, they have to fulfill the following requirements:
- A BTH/BMISS/BCS graduate shall complete BOS11 [English I] and BOS12 [English II] during BTH/BMISS/BCS studies. Otherwise he/she has to complete BOS11 & BOS12 prior to their admission to BD upgrading, as Senate examined Qualifying examination, held in the month of Oct/Nov. every year.
- In the case of Pre. Greek and Pre. Hebrew for B.Th./B. Miss. candidates, see the blow mentioned B.Th./B. Miss. Up-gradation table.
- BCS candidate has to do BBN01-Preliminary Greek and BBO11-Preliminary Hebrew during BD studies.
- An ATA B.Th. passed candidate has to pass BD Qualifying Examination (8 papers, including BOS11 & BOS12) of the Senate of Serampore College, held in the month of October/November. Additionally he/she has to do BBN01 and BBO11 during BD studies.
- Language Requirements for Upgrading candidates are mentioned below:
B.Th./B. Miss. to BD Up gradation [Up to 2017]
[To be effective from 2019 Academic year]
| S. No. | B. Th./B. Miss. Degree Level | B.D. Degree Level |
| 1 | Have completed Pre. Greek & Pre. Hebrew during BTH Orientation and BMISS studies | Exempted from BBN01-Pre. Greek & BBO11-Pre. Hebrew respectively. If the candidate intends to do other exegetical papers in Greek and or Hebrew, he/she has to complete Adv. Greek and or Adv. Hebrew (as per his/her choice) |
| 2 | Have completed other exegetical paper/s (in Greek & Hebrew, any one or both) | The candidate shall directly register for other exegetical papers (any one or both, as per his/her choice) |
B. Th./B. Miss. to BD Up gradation [Under New Regulations 2018]
[To be effective from 2019 Academic year]
| S. No. | B. Th./B. Miss. Degree Level | B.D. Degree Level |
| 1 | If the candidate have not passed in BTPG1/BMPG1-Pre. Greek and BTPH1/BMPH1-Pre. Hebrew (Optional) | He/she has to do BBN01- Pre. Greek and BBO11- Pre. Hebrew (Compulsory). |
| 2 | Have completed BTPG1/BMPG1-Pre. Greek and BTPH1/BMPH1-Pre. Hebrew (Optional) | Exempted from BBN01-Pre. Greek & BBO11-Pre. Hebrew respectively. If the candidate intends to do other exegetical papers in Greek and or Hebrew, he/she has to complete Adv. Greek and or Adv. Hebrew (as per his/her choice) |
| 3 | Have completed other exegetical papers (in Greek & Hebrew, any one or both) | The candidate shall directly register for other exegetical papers (any one or both, as per his/her choice) |
[ Kindly note the above mentioned B.Th/B.MISS. to BD upgrading candidates have to submit the BTH level Preliminary Greek, Hebrew Mark Sheet and Transcript of Records issued by the Senate of Serampore College, at the time of Registration ].
- A mature candidate is one who:-(1) has attained 25 years of age; (2) have minimum qualification of 10th standard; (3) have three years of ministerial experience; and (4) have passed “Mature Candidate Entrance Examination” of the Senate of Serampore College (held in the month of October/ November); he/she shall be admitted to the 1st year of 4 year BD degree programme.
- Candidates having Diploma in Christian Studies from the Senate of Serampore College, securing an overall 40% average with Higher Secondary (HSE/PU/PDC) or its equivalent qualification are eligible to register in 1st year of 4 year BD degree programme. Also they have to pass the Senate examined English Qualifying Examinations (held in the month of October/November) i.e., BOS11 [English I], BOS12 [English II], separately before joining in the BD degree programme.
Application Submission Dates:
Last date for Registration Form —-July 15
Registration with late Fee —-July 31