The STL programme is spread over two academic years. For the STL programme in Systematic Theology and in Missiology each student is expected to do:

1. 1.seventeen courses
2. 2.write a Guided Research Paper
3. 3.take part in an Exposure Programme
4. 4.submit for defence a Dissertation on a topic in the area of one’s specialization.

The total number of credits for the STL Programme in Systematic Theology and Missiology is 120 (Courses: 17x4 = 68; Guided Paper = 10; Exposure Programme = 12; Dissertation = 30). The workload for a 4-credit course is equivalent to 60 contact periods spread over 15 working days and each period lasts 45 minutes. Students are also expected to have a working knowledge of any two of the following languages: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Sanskrit, Syriac.

As regards the STL in Pastoral Management, in Biblical Studies and in Spirituality refer to their respective Course Contents and Credit-systems.

A student can submit his or her Dissertation for the defence only after completing all the Courses.

Each student will write a STL Dissertation of 25,000 to 30,000 words, according to the guidelines provided. The Dissertation is to be written under an approved Guide with the prior approval of the Coordinator.

A Second year STL student is expected to begin working on the dissertation from the beginning of December. After the completed dissertation has been approved by his/her guide, the student should hand it over to the Registrar.

Evaluation of Courses

Each course will be evaluated by the Course instructor according to the norms laid down by the instructor at the beginning of the Course. The evaluation will comprise an on-going evaluation of the student’s participation in Course discussions and assignments, as well as a final evaluation of the student’s comprehension of the subject by means of an oral examination or a written test or an essay-paper.

The approved Guide will evaluate the guided paper according to the norms of the faculty.

The STL Dissertation will be defended before a board of two examiners, one of whom will be the Dissertation Guide, and the other a Reader appointed by the STL Coordinator. A member of the faculty, appointed by the STL Coordinator, will preside over and moderate the defence, actively participating in the discussion to allot marks for the defence without, however, allotting marks. The marks obtained in the Dissertation-cum-defence will count for 40% of the student’s final rating in the STL Programme.