Post Graduate Courses

The Post graduates courses of both the Master of Theology (M.Th) and Doctor of Theology (D.Th) are offered under the North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS), jointly sponsored by Serampore College and Bishop’s College. It started functioning from June 1980. The preamble of its constitution worked out by the joint sub-committee of both the colleges on 3rd May 1979 states:

With a view to avoid duplicating the work in post-graduate teaching and in order to offer jointly what the two colleges cannot effectively offer individually, Serampore College and Bishop’s College propose to set up a joint faculty consisting of competent staff drawn from both colleges. Such an institute would meet a pressing need for a Centre of advanced theological study and research in North India. The two colleges would share their resources of personnel and library for advanced theological education.

The management of the Institute acts under the authority of the Bishop’s College Society and the Council of Serampore College. A member of the faculty of either college appointed for a period of three years acts as the Registrar of NIIPGTS. The Institute is administered by a Management Committee consisting of the Principals of both the Colleges, the Registrar, the Dean of Doctoral Programme, as well as all the professors of the Institute. The academic programme in each branch of study offered by the Institute is administered by a departmental committee consisting of all the professors of the department and the NIIPGTS Registrar.

Aims and Objectives

The contemporary challenges that the church in India faces in the context of religious awakening and cultural pluralism, the issues of poverty and justice, and the concerns raised by liberation movements call for a contextual and holistic approach to higher theological studies paying also attention to our heritage. The M.Th and D.Th degree programmes of NIIPGTS are as such a creative response inNorth India. The perspective from which the programmes are envisaged underlines the following facets: (a) the study of Asian languages, cultures, patterns of thought and behaviour; (b) the cultural, ideological and religious plurality of our societies; (c) the legitimate aspirations of all people for justice, freedom, dignity and a life worthy of humanity; (d) The ecumenical dimension of all Christian thinking in relation to the unity of the Church, unity of faith, the integrity of creation, and sensitivity to all other dimensions of our life – local, regional and global.

The main objectives of the Programmes are:

(a) To train candidates for teaching in theological colleges.

(b) To promote the formation of well equipped Christian teachers, leaders, communicators, writers and scholars.

(c) To equip candidates with adequate academic tools and skills for critical and methodological reflection as well as creative participation in the diversified ministries of the Church.

(d) To provide leadership for shaping the self-understanding and structures of the Church, which are relevant for fulfilling its God-given vocation in the world.

(e) To promote critical and creative research in specialized fields of knowledge related to the life, heritage and mission of the Church as well as contextual Christian faith, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge.

(f) To encourage independent and original research using integrated and inter- disciplinary approach in theological education.

Academic Calendar:

The academic calendar begins in mid June every year with a retreat for renewal of the faculty and students’ commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. The College follows the Semester system for its programmes. The first semester ends in October with a term examination in the first/second week of October. The second semester begins in the third/last week of October and ends in mid April with both the Senate and the College Examinations.

ABOUT THE COURSES:

I. MASTER OF THEOLOGY (M.Th): The Master of Theology (M.Th) is a joint programme of the Serampore College and the Bishop’s College, Kolkata organized under the North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS).

The course is a Master Degree course under the Senate of Serampore College. The course is a residential course designed for 2 years and can be extended upto 4 years.

At present the courses are offered in Christian Theology and Religions.

II. DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY (D.Th): Same as the Master of Theology (M.Th) course, NIIPGTS also has been selected as one of the centres for the Doctoral Studies since 1999 and got approval of the Senate of Serampore College to offer the Doctoral Programme in the branch of Christian Theology and Religions.

For further information in regard to the Post Graduate courses, write to:

The Registrar,
NIIPGTS
C/O Serampore College
P.O. Serampore,
Hooghly District,
West Bengal – 712201
Email: niipgts@gmail.com
Website: www.niipgts.in