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Licence in Divinity: Pathway in Catechetical Sciences
Licence in Divinity: Pathway in Catechetical Sciences
The Licence in Divinity: Pathway in Catechetical Sciences is a qualification of the Holy See, distinct from an STL, and has been offered by Maryvale Institute since 2012. The Licence in Catechetics is awarded through Maryvale’s Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS) and validated by the theology faculty of the Ecole Cathedrale of Paris (Faculté Notre Dame de Paris). It is a 12 month, part-time, distance-learning programme.
It is intended for those in leadership positions in catechetics and in other positions of responsibility. For example, the Licence in Catechetics is especially suited to:
Admission to the Licence in Catechetics programme is available for all those who have the Ecclesiastical B.Divinity, or an equivalent qualification. To gain the Licence in Catechetics, students first complete a Master of Arts in Catholic Applied Theology (Religious Education and Catechesis) at the Institute, unless they possess an equivalent qualification.
The Masters programme will take 30 months to complete, the Licence in Catechetics will take an additional 12 months.
Aims:
Licence in Catechetics Course Prospectus.
Admission to the Licence in Catechetics programme is available for all those who have the Ecclesiastical B.Divinity, or an equivalent qualification. To gain the Licence, students first complete a Master of Arts in Catholic Applied Theology (Religious Education and Catechesis) at the Institute, unless they possess an equivalent qualification. They then spend a year studying three specialist modules. These focus on:
While the vast majority of study is undertaken at home, 3 residential weekends at the Institute support these three modules of study and prepare the students for an oral defence of their MA dissertation which occurs at the end of the Licence in Catechetics year.**
**In response to restrictions imposed and uncertainties raised by Covid-19, Maryvale Institute is currently conducting all residentials and study days online. The situation will be monitored and reviewed regularly for course delivery in the future.**
Each module in the Licence in Catechetics year is assessed through a written assignment of 6,000-8,000 words. The final piece of work undertaken for the Licence in Catechetics is an oral defence of the MA dissertation. This consists in a presentation and evaluation of the potential relevance and impact of their dissertation.
The assignments are weighted as follows:
The Licence in Catechetics is a postgraduate ecclesiastical degree, distinct from an STL, which is awarded through Maryvale’s Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS) and validated by the theology faculty of the Ecole Cathedrale of Paris (Faculté Notre Dame de Paris) on behalf of the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome.
The level of course fees payable depends on whether you are a UK/EU or a non-EU student. Please ensure that you refer to the appropriate section on the
While we are unable to enrol new students at the moment, as HE provision is being phased out within the Archdiocese of Birmingham, the institute is currently in discussion with another institution to find a new academic home. In the meantime, we remain open to course enquiries and are happy to take declarations of interest from potential students. If you wish to register your interest, please get in touch with us through the contact button below and the Programme Director will reply to you.
If you have a disability or any long-term condition that impacts on your day-to-day life, please download the
To make an enquiry to the Licence in Catechetics Administrator, click on the Course Contact Form button below:
Reflections from the May 2021 Licence in Catechetics Study Weekend
Licence in Catechetics Students
- “Helpful to hear about key pedagogies from [a] Catholic perspective. Always engaging and great balance between lecturing and dialogue.”
- “Great lectures, and tied together much of my prior understanding. Strong research/methodological basis.”
- “[The lecturer] has a great way of encouraging engagement and discussion between everyone – very informative and enjoyable.”
- “[The lecturer] was very passionate about the topic and [this] was very evident in her delivery.”
Reflections from the January 2021 Licence in Catechetics Study Weekend
Licence in Catechetics Students
- “LOVED LOVED LOVED [the session on hermeneutics] could have had another 2 hours of this. [The lecturer] was incredible!”
- “This [session on module 1] was so helpful. Clear and concise as to what is expected in each module. [The lecturer] allowed time for dialogue and and sharing of experiences.”
- “Thanks for another great study weekend at Maryvale.”
- “Comprehensive presentation covered historical approaches, significant figures, education psychology. The slides were immensely detailed and will be useful going forward.”
- “Useful introductory overview.”
- “Comprehensive introduction to hermeneutics – thank you.”
Reflections from a 2020 Licence in Catechetics Study Weekend
Licence in Catechetics Students
- “Very informative.”
- “Great pacing.”
- “Interesting.”
Reflections from a Licence in Catechetics Study Weekend
Students particularly appreciated:
Licence in Catechetics Students
- “[The] friendly and approachable nature of the lecturer, and the informal atmosphere that promoted engagement and participation [on the Introductory session]."
- "[The] openness and friendly nature of the session [on The Divine Word: Culture And Exegesis]."
"[I found the course] very beneficial, it gave me a greater insight to other aspects of the faith including the contribution which catechesis provides."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"Many thanks for offering this superb course."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"I derived a sense of achievement after completing the course."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"I would recommend the Licence to MA students … I reflect upon the spiritual, theological, practical journey here at Maryvale and I know that it has enriched my life."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"Detailed, encouraging, challenging, practical and enjoyable."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"There is no substitute for this kind of experience, with the insight, encouragement and helpful criticism of colleagues and professors."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
"It is always a blessing to come together to share, discuss, challenge and support each other. Thank you for designing our programme of study so thoughtfully and thoroughly."
Licence in Catechetics Graduate
The Institute's regulations, procedures and complaints policy can be found here.