Candidatus theologiæ (male), Candidata theologiæ (female), abbreviated cand. theol. is an
academic degree
An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including unde ...
with a long tradition, awarded after a six-year higher education in
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
in Iceland, Denmark, and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "
Quality Reform
The Quality Reform was a reform initialized by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research after recommendation from the '' Mjøs committee'' (1998–2000). It was introduced in 2002–03 and changed the entire system of higher education in N ...
". In Denmark the title is described as equivalent to
Master of Theology
Master of Theology ( la, Theologiae Magister, abbreviated MTh, ThM, or MTheol) is a post-graduate degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries. It can serve as a transition degree for entrance into a PhD program or as a stand ...
, while in Norway it ranks higher.
The title is protected by law in Denmark and Norway. In Norway it can only be issued by three institutions, the
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...
, the
MF Norwegian School of Theology
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society ( no, MF vitenskapelig høyskole for teologi, religion og samfunn), formerly the Free Faculty of Theology ( no, Det teologiske menighetsfakultet) and MF Norwegian School of Theology, is an accr ...
, Oslo and the
School of Mission and Theology, now
VID Specialized University
The VID Specialized University ( no, VID vitenskapelige høgskole) is a Norwegian accredited, private, non-profit university-level higher education and research institution. VID Specialized University has 6,000 students and 600 employees, makin ...
, Stavanger. The latter two are private.
Master's degrees
Academic degrees of Denmark
Academic degrees of Norway
Religious degrees
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