Information for applicants

Who are we?

St Thomas Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies is the only place in Ukraine where lay people can deepen their knowledge of philosophy and theology rooted in the tradition of Western Europe. We are close to the belief that true theology begins with faith and should lead to faith. This faith must be constantly deepened, according to the principle of fides quaerens intellectum – faith seeking understanding. After all, a living faith gives rise to a living theology, which not only increases theoretical knowledge, but also leads to God and enlivens the Christian life.

Our trump card is the ability to preserve our identity. This stems from the nature of our Institute. Our institution was founded and is run by the Dominicans, an order for which science has been a natural environment from the very beginning. Moreover, our patron is the eminent philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, a teacher of the Church, whose writings are still alive and original. He is called the Ecumenical Teacher, and his philosophy – eternal philosophy. Another trump card of our Institute is its strong academic staff. The lecturers of the Institute, apart from Dominicans, are eminent specialists from various educational institutions in Ukraine, as well as professors from Western Europe (Italy, Switzerland, France, Great Britain), Poland and the USA.

Training opportunities

• The training lasts for five years and consists of two cycles: the first cycle lasts three years, after completion of which the student receives a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies; the second cycle lasts two years, after completion of which the student receives a Master’s degree in Religious Studies with an indication of area of specialisation.
• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Religious Studies are granted by the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome with the issuance of the relevant diplomas of the established standard.
• The form of training is part-time, from Monday to Friday: 18:45-21:15. It is possible to receive training entirely online (lecture recordings are provided).
• It is possible to receive training as: a matriculated student – a person who seeks to obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Religious Studies, having met all the requirements provided for in the curriculum of the Institute and passed the relevant examinations; or a non-matriculated student – a person who does not seek to obtain any academic degree. They can attend individual courses and take the relevant examinations (3 examinations per term). A non-matriculated student does not receive a diploma, only (if necessary) a certificate of attendance.

The donation to be made by both matriculated and non-matriculated student is UAH 8,000 per year.

Please note! The Institute does not provide a dormitory.

Enrolment competition is open to individuals who have a certificate of general secondary education, regardless of their religion or citizenship.