1. I would like to study AT Bhaktivedanta College. How can I prepare?
Bhaktivedanta College welcomes applications of candidates from all types of schools and backgrounds, from all over the world. Proficiency in English and a Bhakti-Sastri degree are required.
2. What are the contact details of Bhaktivedanta College?
Bhaktivedanta College
Petite Somme 2
6940 Septon-Durbuy
Belgium
Telephone: 00 32 86 32 32 77
Fax: 00 32 86 32 20 29
e-mail: college@pamho.net
Office hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9.30 - 13.30
Friday: 9.30 - 11.30
3. What are the aims of Bhaktivedanta College?
The aims of Bhaktivedanta College are to promote the students’ appreciation for learning, their love of spiritual knowledge and its application, and integrity in research and publication; to develop the students’ dedication to devotional service to Lord Krishna and to increase their faith in the Gaudiya-Vaishanava philosophy, the disciplic succession, and Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON; to foster an environment that promotes the pursuit of knowledge, devotion to Krishna, and dedication to the sankirtana movement; and to nurture leaders, teachers, preachers, scholars, and managers in preserving, developing, and promoting Srila Prabhupada’s mission.
4. Who runs Bhaktivedanta College?
Bhaktivedanta College is a non-profit educational initiative. The college is overseen by the ISKCON Ministry of Educational Development. There is a Board of Trustees and a Faculty Council. The day-to-day management is done by the Administrative Council.
5. What are the expenses for a student going to Bhaktivedanta College?
The participation in the expenses is 6,600 Euros. It is a package price: Accommodations and prasadam are included. More details are given in Costs.
6. My family does not have much money. Should I even bother to apply?
You can check whether your local ISKCON temple or congregation may be able to sponsor your education. The College also organizes donors for full and partial scholarships for students in financial need. Students receiving scholarships may be asked to render some service for the smooth running of the College. A scholarship application form can be download here.
7. Do students do services in the Radhadesh temple?
The College students attend the morning program at Radhadesh, and they may lead kirtanas, make garlands, and sometimes cook breakfast or serve prasadam. All such services to the temple community are voluntary. The students take part in monthly home programs and harinamas, and they stage dramas for major festival.
8. Does Bhaktivedanta College offer a degree?
Bhaktivedanta College is in partnership with the University of Wales Lampeter, an acknowledged centre for Theology and Religious Studies in the U.K. Since September 2003, Bhaktivedanta College has been offering a Certificate in Vaishnava Studies accredited by the University of Wales Lampeter through its Open Learning Theology and Religious Studies programme. Students enrolled in this one-year course receive a Ministerial Certificate upon completion and earn 120 academic credits. The partnership between the institutions has led to the accreditation of further programmes: a Diploma in Vaishnava Studies since June 2006, for our second year of studies. The credits earned by the Certificate and Diploma programmes are equivalent to years one and two of undergraduate study. A third year of studies, started in the academic year 2006-07, is awarded a Bachelor's degree in Theology.
9. How do I apply?
You submit the Application Form, accompanied by supporting documents, including recommendations.
10. How can I request or download application materials?
You can print the Application Form. Or you can ask for the Application Form:
Bhaktivedanta College
Petite Somme 2
6940 Septon-Durbuy
Belgium
Telephone: 00 32 86 32 32 77
Fax: 00 32 86 32 20 29
e-mail: college@pamho.net
Office hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9.30 - 13.30
Friday: 9.30 - 11.30
11. How long does the College program last and when are the breaks?
The academic year runs from mid-September through June. Each term runs for eleven to twelve weeks. There are three terms, separated by a three-week break at Christmas and a two-week vacation at Easter. Generally the Bhaktivedanta College courses in any term last one or two weeks. Some weeks are also set aside for writing essays.
12. Is the curriculum dry and difficult or is it fun?
The curriculum is fun yet challenging. The College facilitates the artistic, cultural, intellectual, devotional, and missionary aspirations of the ISKCON community. Therefore the curriculum includes all these aspects, and the courses contain varied teaching methods to best involve the students in the process of education. Each course has its own mood and is exciting and inspiring in its individual focus.
13. Who teaches?
Bhaktivedanta College has several dozen teachers on its faculty. You can read about them in Faculty.
14. How many students are there?
In the first year of the Ministerial Programme, there were nine full-time students (four men and five women), who ranged in age from eighteen to forty-nine and came from seven countries. In the second year, five students completed the course, and in the third year, ten. In the fourth year (2005-06), nine students completed the Year Two studies (offered for the first time) and eight students took the Year One courses. A few students merely audited the academic courses, but did not receive credit or evaluations. In addition, there were students participating in one or more of our vocational courses. During the 2003-04 school year, we had a total of 102 students taking such courses. The current facilities of the College allow for twenty to thirty full-time students each year. In the academic year 2006-07, we offered the Year Three course for the first time, and we had about twenty-five students enrolled in all three years of studies.
15. What kind of assignments and assessments are there?
There are a large variety of assignments and assessments, depending on the nature of each course. Some courses require essays or other samples of personal writing. Others require group presentations or individual presentations made to the class. There may be required reading or research for some academic courses. Overall, student assessment is gathered from work done in class, longer assignments done outside of the classroom, and class participation.
16. What do you study?
The academic areas include Philosophy, Sanskrit, Theology, Religion, Sociology, and Ethics. The devotional courses and retreats involve the study of sastra and a variety of exercises. The vocational courses are Communications, Interfaith, Counseling, Teacher Training, Leadership and Management, Mediation, Strong Speaking, Meeting Skills, and Congregational Development.
17. Do you have a good library?
The library is an excellent resource of the College. It has borrowing and research sections, and the students may use the library's computers. You can read more about the library here.
18. What is the daily schedule?
The students attend the morning program at Radhadesh, followed by breakfast. The morning classes run from ten till one or one-thirty, followed by lunch. Afternoon classes (if required for the course) run from about three till six. For those who want an evening snack of freshly baked bread and milk, this is at six-thirty, followed by an arati at seven.
19. How do I get to Bhaktivedanta College?
To get to Bhaktivedanta College, please follow the Directions under Visiting on this Web site.
20. What are the students doing after graduating?
The first students to complete the one-year programme at Bhaktivedanta College have gone on to various positions, such as the interim temple president of ISKCON Amsterdam; the membership director of Bhaktivedanta College; a Theology undergraduate at Oxford; a teacher in the former Vaishnava Academy for Girls, in Florida; a psychology undergraduate at Oxford-Brookes; a travelling congregational preacher and teacher; and a mentor for the female students at Bhaktivedanta College. The graduates from the three-year program earn a Bachelor's degree in Theology. Bhaktivedanta College is in contact with ISKCON projects concerning placement after the students finish their studies. Graduates who wish to pursue a graduate education can do so through established programmes such as the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies or a university. More on this subject you can read here.
21. According to the University of Wales, is it possible for holders of a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Bhaktivedanta College to pursue postgraduate studies in a discipline other than theology or religious studies?
There is no straightforward, universal answer to this question. While some institutions or programmes will regard the Bachelor's degree in Theology suitable, others will not necessarily do so, but will require subject-specific foundational studies. While Theology or Religious studies BA/BTh will demonstrate a good level of education and required academic ability, many programmes will have subject-specific entry requirements. Therefore it is best to make enquiries about specific programmes, as and when there is interest.