UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO
CATHOLIC FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO
CATHOLIC FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
As a new student of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, you have become part of a community that builds upon 135 years of tradition and scholarship. But more important than history is your future – and we are here to shape it together.
The studies you have begun are not a solitary path through books and exams. It is a journey with your colleagues who will become your closest collaborators, with professors who will be your intellectual guides, and with the Church, which is living and active. Here’s what you need to know: being a freshman means being at the beginning – a place where all questions are allowed, where mistakes aid learning, and where everyone cares for one another.
In your first year, you will focus on philosophical foundations – you will become acquainted with logic, the history of philosophical thought from antiquity to the present day, and you will begin to reflect on the great questions of human existence. Concurrently, you will begin learning Hebrew to be able to read the Bible in its original language. You will also become familiar with Church history, the methodology of academic work, and liturgical tradition. It may seem like a lot now, but each subject is carefully designed to provide you with the foundations for what is to come.
Professors at the Faculty are not just lecturers – they are your mentors who will guide you throughout your studies. During regular consultations, you can approach them with academic questions or personal concerns related to your studies. Many students find clarity and direction precisely through conversations with professors. Do not hesitate to use this opportunity – professors are here for you.
The Faculty is not just a place of learning – it is also a community. You will meet students from all five years, who will become your friends, companions, and support. Together you will attend lectures, discuss theological questions over coffee, prepare seminar papers, and share the challenges of study and formation. Some of your most important conversations may not take place in classrooms, but in the Faculty hallways, in the seminary, student dormitory, or during communal activities.
The five-year integrated philosophical-theological study is divided into two main phases. The first two years are dedicated to philosophical formation – you will learn to think critically, argue, and engage with various philosophical traditions. From the third year, you will delve deeper into theological disciplines – biblical theology, dogmatics, moral theology, patrology, Church history, pastoral theology, and canon law. The study encompasses a total of 303 ECTS credits, which means approximately 60 credits per year.
The Faculty library is your most important tool during your studies. There you will find not only required literature, but also a rich collection of theological, philosophical, and historical works. Library staff are there to help you find sources for your seminars and research. Utilize this resource to the fullest – reading is the heart of theological study.
At the end of your five-year journey, you will write a final paper (30-60 pages) under the mentorship of a professor you choose according to your interests. After defending your final paper, you will take a comprehensive final examination – the ‘tezarij’ – which covers three areas of philosophical-theological study. This is a public examination that demonstrates the maturity of your knowledge and your ability to integrate everything you have learned. Upon successful completion, you will earn the academic title of Master of Theology.
A degree from the Catholic Faculty of Theology opens many doors. You are prepared for the priesthood, for pastoral work in parishes and church institutions, for teaching and catechetical work in schools, for academic research, or for engagement in media, humanitarian organizations, and social institutions. Many of our students continue their postgraduate studies at home and abroad, specializing in various fields of theology or other related humanities.
During your studies, you will have the opportunity to participate in mobility programs – exchanges with other theological faculties in the region (Zagreb, Split, Đakovo) or the Erasmus+ program, which allows you to study at European universities. These are incredible opportunities to broaden your horizons, get to know different theological traditions, and gain international experience.
Over the next five years, you will not only acquire knowledge of philosophy, theology, and faith, but you will also grow as a person. You will find your path, discover people who will understand and support you, and become part of something greater than yourself. There will be times when it will be difficult, when you will question if you are in the right place, when exams and seminars will seemingly overwhelm you. But remember – you are not alone! The entire Faculty community – professors, students, administration – is here to support you.
Student years are the most beautiful years, as they say, but here they are also the most important. These are years of formation – not only academic, but also human and spiritual. Seize every opportunity, ask questions, get involved in community life, and allow the experience of philosophical-theological study to transform you.
