Goals:

1. To introduce the students to the systematic study of Catholic doctrine, according to the scientific method proper to theology.
2. To help the students deepen their own living faith so that they can share it more effectively with others in the building up of a true Christian community.
3. To provide the students with the knowledge necessary for effective reflection on the life situation and ever-changing pastoral needs of the local Church.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):

Since the Academic Year of 2025-26, the Institute adopts European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and uses ECTS credits to express the volume of learning of students. 1 ECTS credit corresponds to at least 25 hours of work, which includes 8 hours of lecture. This helps professors and students to objectively determine how much learning time each course needs.

Structure:

1. The programme is a degree course, of three years of full-time study or four to six years of part-time study. Students who fulfil the graduation requirements will be awarded the Baccalaureate in Theology by the Pontifical Gregorian University.
2. The programme curriculum covers 13 major areas, contributing to a total of 180 ECTS. Please refer to the detailed curriculum here..
3. Students may study the whole programme or take individual courses. However, certain advanced subjects require the completion of relevant foundational subjects in the corresponding area of study.

Academic Year:

1. The academic year lasts from the beginning of September until the end of May. The break between the semesters is from Christmas to mid-January.
2. Class periods are of 50 minutes’ duration. 28 class periods are equivalent to 3 ECTS credits.
3. Classes are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. If needed, classes may also be arranged on Wednesdays and Saturdays’ mornings.

Entrance Requirements:

1. Admission to the STB programme is open to all, priests, lay or religious, who are marked by their moral conduct and who have the required qualifications; any exception to this norm will be made by the Admissions Committee set up by the Director of the Institute.
2. The required qualifications are the following:
   
   1. All applicants must have obtained the qualifications for entry into a university in Hong Kong or equivalent;
   2. They shall have completed two years of Philosophy study (full time) in a Catholic Higher Institute; and
   3. A working knowledge of Chinese and English is required as teaching and assignments are done through the medium of these two languages.
      
3. If a student does not know Latin and Biblical Greek, he/she must study them before graduation.

Theological Thesis:

1. Students must write an English thesis (50,000 to 60,000 characters, excluding references) on a theological topic under the guidance of a professor, following the Institute's prescribed thesis format. The thesis must be submitted no later than one month before the end of the final year.
2. If the thesis involves substantial Chinese material, it may be written in Chinese (approximately 8,000 words), but students must also submit an English summary approximately one-third of the thesis length.

Graduation Requirements:

1. Students must complete all required courses and some elective courses, and successfully obtain a minimum of 180 credits.
2. Complete a theological thesis with a minimum score of 60 out of 100;
3. Achieve a minimum overall average of 60 out of 100 for all completed courses;
4. Pay all fees required by the Institute and the Pontifical Gregorian University (including tuition and diploma fees).

Assessment Language:

Students who intend to obtain a degree are required to write their thesis in English. For the rest of the examinations and assignments, students only need to answer in the language required by the professor.

Tuition Fees (2026-27):

Per Year:               HK$21,500
Per ECTS Credit:  HK$460

Timetable: For the date and timetable of class, pleaser refer to the links in the right column.

Applicants should first download the application and recommendation forms from the link in the right column. After filling in the forms, please send them together with copies of all supporting documents to:

    Holy Spirit Institute of Theology
    6 Welfare Road
    Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen
    Hong Kong
    Attn: College Secretariat

(Please indicate the programme you are applying for on the envelope and affix sufficient postage.)

For enquiries: (852) 2553 0265 (Ms CHUI)
            email: college@hsscol.org.hk