DICASTERY
FOR INSTITUTES OF CONSECRATED LIFE
AND SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE
eStudium Course
MAGISTERIAL FORMATION,
ON CANONICAL LAW AND PRACTICE
OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Online course in Italian, French, English, Spanish
PURPOSE
Heir to the historic Practical School, established since 1951 in the then Congregation for Religious, eStudium is an online Course, offered exclusively on the e-studium.org platform, that aims to offer a qualified formation experience in theology and law of consecrated life, building on the praxis and experience of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
TARGET AUDIENCE
- Heads of services pertaining to the governance of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life;
- Episcopal Vicars and/or Delegates for Consecrated Life;
- Heads of formation;
- Those responsible for formation programs in diocesan seminaries and international colleges;
- Priests charged with animation and accompaniment of consecrated life;
- Consecrated persons who wish to enhance their own ongoing education;
- those who have a research interest regarding ecclesial Magisterium, canon law and praxis relating to the forms of consecrated life in the Church.
AREAS
The eStudium is divided into two complementary areas:
Interdisciplinary
Canon Law and Praxis
DURATION
The course runs on a two-year cycle and is divided into two teaching modules, offered in alternating years. It is possible to enroll each year and complete the program by attending both modules, at the end of which a single Diploma is awarded.
Classes are held each academic year from November through the first days of June, every Tuesday and Wednesday, from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM (Italian time), according to the official schedule.
DIPLOMA
Diploma: it is awarded after passing all the exams required by the study plan with a minimum grade of 27/30.
Certificate of participation: awarded to regular students who have passed all the required examinations with an average grade below 27/30.
Awarding: diplomas and certificates are handed out in the first months of the year following the completion of the course.
METHOD
The Course, offered exclusively in telematic mode, is in Italian with simultaneous translation into French, English and Spanish.
In addition to lectures and tutorials, there are hours of interactive teaching between lecturer and students for clarification or additional explanation.
Students will receive login credentials to access the dedicated platform, where they can attend the lectures, download the course materials, and access audio recordings of the lectures, in the language selected at the time of enrollment.
EXAMS
Examinations are given in written form, oral form, or both.
For each subject, three exam sessions are scheduled as follows:
1st semester subjects: February, June, October
2nd semester subjects: June, October, December
TWO-YEAR PLAN
FIRST MODULE
INTERDISCIPLINARY AREA
SI 101 – Biblical Hermeneutics of Consecrated Life
SI 102 – Liturgy and consecrated life
SI 103 – Pontifical and ecclesial magisterium
SI 104 – Theology of Consecrated Life
SI 105 – Ecclesiology
SI 106 – Consecrated life in the history of the Church.
AREA of CANONICAL NORMS and PRAXIS
SNP 101 – Introduction to canon law and practice
SNP 102 – Forms of consecrated life: theological and juridical criteria for discernment
SNP 103 – Norms common to all institutes of consecrated life
SNP 104 – Hermits (can 603), Ordo Virginum (can 604 – can 605)
SNP 105 – Proper law
SNP 107 – Religious institutes: government
SNP 108 – Temporal goods and their administration
SECOND MODULE
INTERDISCIPLINARY AREA
SI 201 – Synodality and Consecrated Life
SI 202 – Safeguarding in Consecrated Life: Prevention and Practice
SI 203 – Institution and charisms
SI 204 – Fraternal life in common
SI 205 – Consecrated life in sociocultural processes.
SI 206 – Ratio formationis: perspectives and methodology
AREA of CANONICAL NORMS and PRAXIS
SNP 201 – Religious institutes: religious houses – admission of candidates – formation of members
SNP 202 – Obligations and rights of institutes and their members
SNP 203 – Separation of members
SNP 204 – Special measures: assistants – visitors – commissioners
SNP 205 – International and national conferences of Major Superiors
SNP 206 – The approval process for an institute
SNP 207 – Monastic Law
SNP 208 – Law of Secular Institutes
SNP 209 – Law of Societies of Apostolic Life
SNP 210 – Delicta reservata
NOTE: During the 2026/2027 academic year, the FIRST MODULE takes place.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment takes place in the first year, from September to November, exclusively online through the dedicated platform, by completing the application form, uploading the required documentation, and paying the enrollment fee.
Once the documentation has been verified as complete and payment of the enrollment fee has been received, the student will receive confirmation of enrollment by email and will be granted access to the dedicated platform.
If the documentation is incomplete or the enrollment fee has not been paid, the student will receive an email requesting that the missing requirements be completed. If the situation is not resolved within 30 days of that request, the enrollment application will be cancelled.
To confirm enrollment in the second year, it is sufficient to pay the annual tuition fee between September and November. If payment is not made by the deadline, enrollment will be cancelled and the student will no longer be able to access the dedicated platform.
After completing the second year of classes, enrollment remains valid, with no additional payments required, until the December examination session, in order to allow students to complete any remaining examinations. During this period, students may not attend classes belonging to the new cycle.
REGULAR STUDENTS AND AUDITORS – REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Enrollment may be completed as either a REGULAR STUDENT or an AUDITOR.
A Regular Student takes the examinations and may earn the Diploma.
At the time of enrollment, the following documents must be submitted:
- Identity document.
- Secondary school diploma qualifying the student for university admission in their country of origin.
- Certificate from their Major Superior (for religious men and women) or from the Local Ordinary (for clergy).
- Proof of payment of the required fee, or documentation confirming that a scholarship has been awarded by the Dicastery.
An Auditor attends the lectures and has access to the course materials and recordings, but does not take examinations and is not eligible to earn the Diploma or receive a Certificate of Attendance.
At the time of enrollment, the following documents must be submitted:
- Identity document.
- Certificate from their Major Superior (for religious men and women) or from the Local Ordinary (for clergy).
- Proof of payment of the required fee, or documentation confirming that a scholarship has been awarded by the Dicastery.
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
Ordinary Student: euro €350
Auditor Student (one or two Areas): euro €250
Fee for Diploma or Certificate of Attendance: euro €50
IBAN: VA 4400 1000 0000 2197 4013
BIC CODE: IOPRVAVX or IOPRVAVXXXX
BENEFICIARY: DICASTERY CONSECRATED LIFE
Payment reference for first-year enrollment: Name (Surname and Name)
Payment reference for confirming second-year enrollment: Matriculation number, Name (Surname and First Name)
PLEASE NOTE: This is an international bank transfer. Please select the option for the transfer fees to be charged to the sender (ordering party).