Master of Divinity [MDiv]: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees, Syllabus, Jobs

Ram Rakshith V

MDiv degree is a three-year postgraduate course that focuses on Christian Theology and Ministry, Biblical Studies, Spiritual Philosophy, Languages and History, etc. The job roles offered for graduates of M.Div in India are Hospice Chaplain, Pastors, Counselors, etc.

About M.Div Course

M.Div full form is Master of Divinity. Students will understand the need to address the challenges in the contemporary working style of churches through this course. The M.Div course is divided into 6 semesters. The MDiv program includes subjects like Elementary Hebrew Language, Advanced Church History, Advanced Theology, etc.

MDiv Admission 2023 is open to students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree (B.Div/ B.Th/ BA/ BSc/ B.Com) from a recognized university like the Senate of Serampore, Asia Theological Association, etc with a minimum aggregate of 50%. Master of Divinity fees vary from INR 50,000 to 2 lakh.

As there is a lot to explore in the field of Christian Ministry and Churches, the job market for MDiv is plenty for graduates. Pastors, Educators, Speakers, etc are some promising job roles offered to students.

Why Choose an MDiv Degree?

M.Div course teaches students the Ethics of Christianity and Christian Theology. The candidates will develop spirituality and will be a part of Christian Leadership on completion of the course. Given below are some salient points why a student should pursue an M.Div course in India:

• 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 can seek promising careers as pastors, teachers, or instructors at Churches or do specializations in various subjects related to Theology and Bible.
• Candidates will learn to work with people on different social causes.

Who Should Study MDiv Degree?

Students interested in learning the various theological concepts of the Bible and religious factors in Christianity can take up the Master of Divinity programs. Given below are some points on who should study M.Div course:

• Candidates who wish to lead their lives through spiritual freedom can benefit from this course. 
• Master of Divinity (MDiv) course also helps students who want to take ministerial positions in community congregations.
• The course will benefit those who love to organize social and cultural events.

MDiv Eligibility

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

• Students should have completed their Bachelor’s degree (B.Div/ B.Th/ BA/ BSc/ B.Com) from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
• Candidates who have related experience, and are above 30 years old, but do not meet the minimum educational requirement, can apply for this course as mature candidates.
• Students should pass the required entrance exam and personal interview conducted by the university.

MDiv Admission

The admission process at many colleges for the MDiv degree in India is through entrance exams and personal interviews. Given below is the procedure for Master of Divinity Admission into various colleges:

• List the colleges that offer M.Div course and check the eligibility criteria. 
• Students can visit the college website and apply online for the course.
• Submit all documents during the registration.
• The students must visit the respective college for offline registration and fill out the application form by attaching the necessary documents.
• Students can choose their nearest test centers once they are announced.
• After completion of the exam, results will be announced on the website.
• Candidates will be called for the counseling process based on the qualifying marks scored in the entrance exam.
• Students will get admitted to colleges upon completing their PI/GD and after producing their original documents.

MDiv Entrance Exams

The candidates get selected for the M.Div course based on the score obtained in the college-level entrance examinations. Prominent colleges like Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary, South Asia Institute of Advanced Asian Studies, etc conduct their own entrance exams.  

Some of the entrance exams for MDiv degree are listed below:

• Union Biblical Seminary Entrance Test
• Gurukul Lutheran Theological College Entrance Test

Quick Glance at Entrance Exam Pattern

Given below is the typical entrance exam pattern for M.Div course:

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

Top M.Div Colleges with Fees

The average MDiv fees varies from INR 50,000 to 2 lakh. The fees also differ according to Master of Divinity Colleges. Given below is a list of some MDiv degree colleges in India:

Some of the other prominent colleges offering MDiv degree are:

• Oriental Theological Seminary
• Faith Baptist Bible College
• AP Theological University
• A G Tamilnadu Bible College
• Central India Theological Seminary
• Mission India Bible College

Master of Divinity Syllabus and Subjects

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

• Introduction to Bible
• Survey History of Christianity
• Advanced Hebrew Language
• Advanced Theology
• Introduction to Mission and Evangelism
• Gospels: Synoptic and Johannine
• Advanced Greek Languages
• Christian Ethics
• Church Organization and Administration

Semester-wise Master of Divinity Syllabus

MDiv degree curriculum covers various topics on Spirituality, Churches, Bible, etc. MDiv degree duration is 3 years. Since most colleges have their own curriculum structure, the Master of Divinity Syllabus pdfs are provided on their official websites. Given below is the First and Second-Year MDiv Syllabus:

First-Year MDiv Syllabus

Given below is a list of subjects taught in the First-Year MDiv Syllabus:

Second-Year MDiv Syllabus

Given below is a list of subjects taught in the Second-Year M Div Syllabus:

Third-Year MDiv Syllabus

Given below is a list of subjects taught in the Third-Year M Div Syllabus:

MDiv Scholarships

Students are offered several study and work scholarships during the M.Div course in many colleges. Listed below are some Master of Divinity Scholarships:

• Charis Scholarship
• VVV Scholarship
• Christian Leaders Scholarship
• Sahaya Scholarship
• Raja Mohan Doss Scholarship
• Nehemiah Goreh Scholarship

M.Div Course Comparison

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

Master of Divinity vs Master of Theology

Given below is the difference between MDiv and M.Th courses:

Read More: Master of Theology

Courses After MDiv Degree

Students can get a question like “What after Master of Divinity in India?’’. If they are interested to know more about Bible Scriptures and Theology, they can pursue the courses listed below:

• Doctor of Divinity (D.Div)
• Ph.D. in Theology
• Doctor of Sacred Theology
• Civil Services Examinations

Career Options After M.Div

MDiv scope is good for students as the course offers many job roles. Given below is a list of famous firms or areas that offer MDiv jobs:

• Churches
• Chapels
• Hospitals
• Religious Organisations
• NGOs
• Educational Institutions
• Charity Organisations
• Social Organisations
• Counseling Institutes

Master of Divinity Salary in India

The average Master of Divinity salary for graduates in India is INR 2-6 LPA. However, the salary changes according to the job profile and experience. MDiv jobs offered by some top companies for MDiv degree are:

Skills to Excel in Master of Divinity

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

• Knowledge of Bible
• Research
• Working Style of Churches
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Spiritual Mind
• Teamwork
• Hygiene