Bhaktivedanta College is part of the educational vision for ISKCON
developed by its
Ministry of Educational Development. The Ministry’s
ideas are to create institutes of higher education in Vaishnava
Theology that facilitate exchanges of thought and experience and help
ensure the efficiency and competence of all levels of education needed
in ISKCON communities. Proper education is needed for a healthy society. Education not only
enriches our present lives with knowledge, but represents an investment
in the future. Students who are cared for and nurtured in a personal
way can later dedicate their skills and knowledge to society and thus
become instruments for spiritual change. By attending a range of
accredited courses, students develop their spiritual potential with
confidence and maturity, which enables them to serve in ISKCON and
build bridges of understanding and cooperation with the other religious traditions.
Bhaktivedanta College is in partnership with the University of Wales Lampeter, an acknowledged centre for Religious Studies in the U.K.
University of Wales Lampeter
The programme will provide students with:
- The education to become independently thoughtful and competent representatives of their tradition.
- A broad understanding of the Vaishnava theology, philosophy, and culture, through the study of:
- Vaishnava Canonical Texts
- Sanskrit Language
- Indian and Western Philosophy
- World Religions
- Sociology
- The knowledge and skills to evaluate the Vaishnava tradition from the perspectives of the practitioners and the academe, and to compare the similarities and differences of these standpoints.
- Understanding of the historical development of ISKCON, its internal social dynamics and its place in the society.
- Knowledge of, and appreciation for, the beliefs and practices of other religious traditions.
Students completing three years of studies at Bhaktivedanta College earn a Bachelor's degree in Theology, accredited by the University of Wales through its Open Learning Theology and Religious Studies program.
Students enrolled in the first year receive a Certificate upon completion and earn 120 academic credits. The College combines formal academic training, ministerial study, and devotional training. Students take modules in theology and philosophy, ministerial and vocational modules, and modules in introspection and devotion. The curriculum has been tailored to give students the breadth and depth for a solid basis in teaching and outreach work.
The second year of studies leads to accreditation of a Diploma in Vaishnava Studies and has the same three strands of courses as the first year. However, there is a greater emphasis on the theology and philosophy strand, enabling students to learn the intricacies of Vaishnava philosophy. The concentrated study and practice of Vaishnavism provides students with a depth of understanding that facilitates their teaching or their addressing virtually any audience.
The credits earned in the Certificate and Diploma programs are equivalent to two years of undergraduate study.
The third year specializes in Vaishnava scriptures on an academic level. The aims are to enable the students, under a directed programme of research, to enlarge their knowledge and understanding of four academic areas within the Vaishnava tradition:
1. Philosophy and Theology; 2. Scriptural Studies; 3. Religious Studies; 4. ISKCON Studies.
All credits and degrees received at Bhaktivedanta College correspond to the new standard of education in Europe (according to the Bologna process) and are internationally accepted.
