Bachelor of Divinity

School of Philosophy & Theology

The Bachelor of Divinity is taught by the Catholic Institute of Sydney and accredited by the University of Notre Dame Australia. The Program provides students with a grounding in philosophy, Sacred Scripture, Catholic theology and associated disciplines. You will graduate with broad knowledge and skills in at least one theological discipline, excellent oral and written communication skills, and research skills.

• Why study this degree?

  The Bachelor of Divinity offers students a unique opportunity to study at an Ecclesiastical Faculty recognised by the Holy See. This foundational degree is designed to introduce students to the breadth and beauty of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition by providing them with a grounding in philosophy, Sacred Scripture, Catholic theology and associated disciplines.

  Through critical engagement with the tradition that is at once both appreciative of its intellectual patrimony and sensitive to contemporary issues, students in the Bachelor of Divinity will gain the knowledge and skills to effectively communicate their beliefs to a variety of audiences.

  The Bachelor of Divinity represents an ideal qualification for those seeking to engage in ministry and leadership within the Church, as well as a pathway to further study which would build upon this foundation.

• Program summary

  The Bachelor of Divinity, as a comprehensive foundational qualification, introduces students to both the breadth and depth of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. The degree is structured so that students select courses across the various theological disciplines.

  Students in the Bachelor of Divinity will normally pursue studies in the Humanities (Philosophy, Ancient Languages, Church History and Patrology) before engaging the disciplines of Sacred Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) and Theology (Spiritual, Fundamental, Dogmatic and Moral), which the Humanities naturally serve to support and contextualise. Students are also required to undertake courses in Pastoral Studies, allowing candidates to pursue electives in Pastoral Theology and Ministry, Liturgical Studies, and Canon Law as they approach the end of the degree.

  To fulfil the requirements of this award, students must complete 600 units of credit comprised of:

  • At least 50 units of credit in Philosophy
  • At least 100 units of credit in Sacred Scripture
  • At least 100 units of credit in Dogmatic Theology
  • At least 25 units of credit in Moral Theology
  • At least 50 units of credit in Pastoral Studies
  • At least 25 credits in Church History and Patrology
  • 200 units of credit in electives

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements. For further information about this degree, please consult the Academic Dean of the Catholic Institute of Sydney

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements WA

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  * Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section*.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Entry requirements NSW

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

  OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section*.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Divinity applicants must meet the following specific requirements:

  • International students whose prior study has not been in English need an IELTS score of 6.5 with nothing below 6 in any field.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Divinity, graduates will be able to:

  1. Apply a broad and coherent knowledge of the Catholic faith, achieved through detailed study of the theological disciplines and Sacred Scripture, supported by philosophy, as a basis for independent lifelong learning;
  2. Critically analyse, synthesise, and evaluate Theological perspectives and methods, in the light of Catholic faith, across the main theological disciplines;
  3. Independently, and within teams, apply critical thought and theologically attuned judgement in a manner that demonstrates technical theological competence;
  4. Communicate theological concepts and knowledge, in a succinct, contextualised and doctrinally coherent way, to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  5. Adapt their knowledge and skills to act with competence and ethical responsibility in their Christian living and ministry in the world.

• Partnership with the Catholic Institute of Sydney

  This program is offered through an exclusive partnership with the Catholic Institute of Sydney (CIS) and provides the option to participate in this program externally, at one of the eligible CIS campuses or through Notre Dame, at the Fremantle or Sydney campus. By attending the CIS campus in Sydney, you will receive instruction from their internationally trained faculty and lecturers, and earn an accredited degree through the University of Notre Dame Australia.

  Learn more about our partnership.

• Career opportunities

  A Bachelor of Divinity can lead to careers in teaching (with additional training), chaplaincy (hospitals, prisons, schools, defence), public service, non-government organisations, writing, communications, advertising, education support, pastoral work, or Church agencies.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Domestic Fee-Paying
  A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

  Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session.

  Phone: 1800 878 916
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008

  Catholic Institute of Sydney
  If you need advice about studying the dual campus program, you can contact the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

  Phone: +61 2 9752 9522
  Email: cisinfo@cis.catholic.edu.au
  Address: 99 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135