Bachelor of Divinity: Course Details, Eligibility, Fees, Syllabus, Jobs

Ram Rakshith V

Bachelor of Divinity or B.Div is a four-year undergraduate programme designed to teach students various religious elements and the correct interpretation of the Bible and Theological Education. The job roles offered for graduates of Bachelor of Divinity in India are Ministers in Church, Theology Teachers, Missionaries, etc.

What Is Bachelor of Divinity Course?

B.D or B.Div course teaches students how to think critically about religious aspects of the Bible. The candidates will learn about the functioning of churches and the religious sects of Christianity. The course is divided into 8 semesters. Bachelor of Divinity syllabus includes subjects like Introduction to Bible, Pneumatology, Christology, etc.

Bachelor of Divinity Admission 2023 is open to students who have completed their 10+2 exam with a minimum aggregate of 50% from a recognized board. The fees for Bachelor of Divinity vary from INR 12,000 to 2 Lakh.

As there is a growing interest in knowing the Bible and increased religious fervor among people, the Bachelor of Divinity jobs are plenty. Pastors, Missionaries, Educators, etc are some promising job roles offered to students.

Why Choose a B.D degree?

B.D course teaches students the major Ethics of Christianity and Christian Theology. Candidates will develop spirituality and will be a part of Christian Leadership. Given below are some salient points why a student should pursue a Bachelor of Divinity:

• There are nearly 15,947 Churches in India and so there is more scope for students to know about their functioning
• Christianity is India's third-largest religion, making up 2.3 percent of the population with about 26 million adherents. 
• Students will understand to interpret Biblical scriptures clearly.
• They will understand the concepts of community organization and social justice and can seek promising careers as teachers or instructors at Churches.

Who Should Study B.Div?

Students interested in learning the various theological concepts of the Bible and religious factors in Christianity can take up the Bachelor of Divinity course. Candidates who wish to lead their lives through spiritual freedom can also benefit from this course. Bachelor of Divinity jobs also help students to take ministerial positions in community congregations.

Bachelor of Divinity Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the Bachelor of Divinity course is through the required marks obtained in the higher secondary education and entrance exams. Given below are some eligibility requirements for the Bachelor of Divinity course:

• Students should have completed 10+2 with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
• The minimum age limit to pursue a B.Div course is 18 years.
• They should pass the required entrance exam conducted by the university.

Bachelor of Divinity Admission

The admission process at many colleges for the B.D in India is either through merit or entrance exams depending on the type of university. Given below is the procedure for Bachelor of Divinity Admission into various colleges:

• Make a list of colleges offering Bachelor of Divinity courses and check the eligibility criteria. 
• Candidates can visit the website of the colleges and apply online after the announcement of the course application.
• All documents should be uploaded correctly during registration.
• The students must visit the respective college for offline registration and complete the application form by attaching the required documents.
• Test centers will be announced in the web portal to help the students choose their nearest centers.
• After completion of the exam, results will be announced on the website.
• Based on the cut-off marks scored in the qualifying exam, candidates will be called for the counseling process.
• Candidates can then get admitted to their choice of college by producing original documents and after attending PI/GD.

Bachelor of Divinity Entrance Exams

The candidates get selected for the B.Div course based on the score obtained in the college-level entrance examinations. Some of the entrance exams are listed below:

• Union Biblical Seminary Entrance test
• Gurukul Lutheran Theological College Entrance Test
• Senate of Serampore College Entrance Test
• ATC Entrance Examination

Quick Glance at Entrance Exam Pattern

Given below is the typical entrance exam pattern for B.D course:

• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Exam duration: 2-3 hours
• Mode of exam: Online/Offline
• Subjects: Bible, English and General Knowledge

Top Bachelor of Divinity Colleges in India With Fees

The average Bachelor of Divinity fees varies from INR 12,000 to 2 Lakh. The fees also differ according to Bachelor of Divinity Colleges. Given below is a list of some Bachelor of Divinity Colleges in India: 

Bachelor of Divinity Syllabus and Subjects

Various subjects related to Christianity and Biblical ideologies are taught in the Bachelor of Divinity degree. The subjects taught in the course may differ from one college to another. However, some standard Bachelor of Divinity course subjects are listed below:

• Introduction to Bible
• Introduction to Spirituality
• Group Dynamics
• Pneumatology
• Mariology
• Liturgy
• Meditation
• Biblical Hermeneutics: Methods and Perspectives
• Bible: Its Content and Message
• Johnnie Spirituality
• Christology
• Church History
• Prayer and Mysticism

Bachelor of Divinity Optional Subjects

Some colleges offer optional subjects in B.D for the students. Listed below are some optional subjects:

• Reading of Apocalyptic: Daniel and Revelation
• Life and Ministry of the Early Church: Study of Acts
• Principles and Methods of Bible Translations
• Skills of Bible Translations
• Introduction to NT Apocrypha
• Reading the Bible from Feminist, Dalit, Tribal and Adivasi Perspectives
• Reading the Bible from the Ecological Perspective

Year-wise Bachelor of Divinity Syllabus

Bachelor of Divinity Syllabus covers various topics on Spirituality, Churches, Bible, etc. Bachelor of Divinity Syllabus pdf gives complete details of the subjects taught in the course. Given below is the first and second-year B.Div Syllabus:

The third and fourth-year Bachelor of Divinity Syllabus is listed below:

Bachelor of Divinity Course Comparison

Students usually compare the Bachelor of Divinity degree with other courses related to Bible and Theology. Some comparable courses can also help the students gain knowledge on the same. 

Bachelor of Divinity vs Bachelor of Theology

Given below is the difference between Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Divinity.

Read More: Bachelor of Theology (B.Th)

Courses After Bachelor of Divinity degree

Students can get a question like “What after B.Div?’’. The Bachelor of Divinity course duration is 4 years.  If interested to know more about Bible scriptures, individuals can do another course after their Bachelor of Divinity degree. Given below are some courses:

• Master of Divinity (M.Div)
• Master of Theology (M.Th)
• Doctor of Divinity (D.Div)
• Ph.D. in Theology
• Civil Services Examinations

Career Options After Bachelor of Divinity

Bachelor of Divinity scope is good for students with many job roles. Given below is a list of famous firms or areas that offer Bachelor of Divinity jobs:

• Churches
• Religious Organizations
• NGOs
• Educational Institutions
• Charity Organisations
• Social Organisations
• Counseling Institutes

Bachelor of Divinity Salary in India

The average Bachelor of Divinity salary for graduates in India is INR 2-5 LPA. However, the salary changes according to the job profile and experience. Salaries offered by some top companies for Bachelor of Divinity are:

Skills to Excel in Bachelor of Divinity

Candidates are required to have the skills listed below to perform well in the B.Div degree:

• Knowledge of Bible
• Research
• Theology and Religion
• Working Style of Churches
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Spiritual analysis
• Teamwork
• Hygiene