Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD)

The Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD) is awarded to students who have successfully completed a three-year full-time programme devoted to the study of Theology. All students follow a common programme in First Year. Results in the first-year examinations determine a student’s progress at either Honours or General level.

Admission Requirements
1. In order to register for courses leading to the Degree of Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD), a student:

(a) shall have completed a secondary school course and obtained a certificate required for admission to an Irish civil university or what in the judgement of the Faculty is its equivalent;
(b) shall present a testimonial that he/she has successfully completed a two-year
course in Philosophy;
(c) shall be competent in Latin.

2. Students who do not qualify under 1 (a) may be considered for admission by the Faculty:

(a) if they are of mature age, i.e. if they have reached the age of 23 on or before
1 January of the year of entry into the First Divinity Class;
or
(b) if they present a testimonial of particular merit from an appropriate institute
of Third Level education, the testimonial to contain full details regarding subjects studied, approximate number of lectures, and level of achievement in each subject.

BD Add-On Mode: Students holding a Diploma in Theology or equivalent may be admitted to the BD programme in Add-On mode, both honours and general. Applicants for the BD Add-On mode programme must have at least five years professional experience and satisfy the Pontifical University matriculation criteria. Course Content will be based on the syllabus for the BD programme. The specific courses to be undertaken in the major and minor subjects will be decided in advance on an individual basis by the Course Director in consultation with the Dean and the Registrar. The minimum duration of these programmes will be one academic year, and must be full-time. Permission to extend the duration of studies must be sought expressly from the Faculty of Theology. Assessment will be by examination and course work.

Click here for the list of courses for the Baccalaureate in Divinity

Honours Programme:
In addition to the General BD Programme described above, students wishing to follow the Honours BD Programme will study the Gerneral BD Programme in Years II and III, with the following additional requirements:

• Supplementary Honours reading requirements in each of the major courses
• Introduction to Biblical Greek (BL 181)
• Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (BL 283)
• Special Honours seminars if indicated by the department in:
  • Systematic Theology
  • Moral Theology
  • Sacred Scripture

For further details contact:
The Admissions Office
Pontifical University
Saint Patrick’s College
Maynooth
County Kildare, Ireland
Telephone: (353) 01-708 4772
Fax: 353-1-708 3441
E-mail: admissions@spcm.ie
Web Page: www.maynoothcollege.ie