Bishop's College - India

What Bishop's College - India does

Bishop's College is a 205-year-old theological college in Kolkata, India, founded on 15 December 1820 by Bishop Thomas Middleton as the first Anglican theological institution in India and now owned and managed by the Church of North India (CNI). It is registered as a Society under the Societies Act and operates from a single campus at 224 AJC Bose Road, Kolkata, which it has occupied since c.1883. The college delivers residential theological degree programs including a three-year Bachelor of Divinity (BD), a 3.5-4 year Bachelor of Theology (BTh), a one-year Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling (DCPC), and postgraduate Master of Theology (MTh) and Doctor of Theology (DTh) programs offered jointly through the North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS) with Serampore College. External/distance programs include a 4-year Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) and a 2-year Diploma of Christian Studies (Dip.CS) under the Senate of Serampore College (University), allowing nationwide reach.

The institution's core technological assets are limited to library infrastructure: KOHA open-source automation for its 35,000-book catalog and 150+ serial publications, JSTOR digital portal access for research students, and a Web OPAC accessible via campus Wi-Fi from 10am to 5pm. It also publishes the Indian Journal of Theology in partnership with NIIPGTS. Teaching faculty are predominantly ecumenical, drawn from CNI, CSI, Mar Thoma and Syrian Orthodox traditions, with several holding doctorates from UK and Indian universities.

Bishop's College generates revenue from a mix of recurring tuition and academic fees (Rs. 67,700 to Rs. 1,25,250 per residential student annually, depending on program, marital status and accommodation; external programs charge roughly Rs. 9,950/year), donations to a General Fund, and foreign contributions received under FCRA 2010 (quarterly receipts of Rs. 256K to Rs. 1M+). It sells no commercial products, holds no patents, and operates as a nonprofit educational institution with no external equity investors. Student enrollment is sponsored primarily by dioceses of the CNI and select other denominations for training clergy and church leaders.

Name

Bishop's College - India

Legal name

Bishop's College

Website

https://bishopscollege.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1820

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bishop's College is a 205-year-old theological college in Kolkata, India, owned by the Church of North India. It trains clergy through residential BD, BTh, MTh, DTh and DCPC programs plus external BCS and Dip.CS distance-learning courses under the Senate of Serampore College.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Divinity degree programs
• Pastoral counseling training
• Ministry formation
• Distance theology studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: The college generates revenue through tuition fees, examination fees, registration fees, and other academic charges from students enrolled in B.D., B.Th., M.Th., D.Th., BCS, DCS, and DCPC programs. Fees vary by program and student category (single vs married).
2. Donations and Contributions: The college accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support student scholarships, faculty salaries, maintenance, and operational costs. Donations are made to the Bishop's College General Fund.
3. Foreign Contributions: The college receives foreign contributions under FCRA 2010 regulations, with documented quarterly receipts ranging from approximately Rs. 256,000 to over Rs. 1,000,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bishop's College is a residential theological institution that delivers undergraduate divinity and theology degrees (B.D., B.Th.), postgraduate research degrees (M.Th., D.Th.), a one-year Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling (DCPC), and external/distance programs (BCS, Dip.C.S) through the Senate of Serampore College. Programs train men and women for ordained ministry, pastoral care, chaplaincy, and theological scholarship within Indian Christian churches and related traditions.

Product overview

Bishop's College is a theological college belonging to the Church of North India, offering a portfolio of theological education programs. The college provides residential degree programs including Bachelor of Divinity (BD - 3 years), Bachelor of Theology (B.Th - 3.5-4 years), and postgraduate programs (M.Th and D.Th) through NIIPGTS jointly with Serampore College. It also offers a one-year Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling (DCPC). Additionally, the college provides external/distance learning programs through the Senate of Serampore College, including a 4-year Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S) and 2-year Diploma of Christian Studies (Dip.C.S). The institution also maintains a library with digital resources and publishes the Indian Journal of Theology. Programs are designed for training men and women for ministry in the Church of North India and related Christian denominations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) A three-year theological degree program designed to equip persons for essential functions and ministries of the Church in India. It offers an integrative and inter-disciplinary approach among biblical, theological, historical and religious fields with involvement in practical aspects of ministry. The target audience is men and women aspiring to ordained ministry and church leadership within Indian Christian traditions.
• Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) A three-and-a-half to four-year residential degree program considered adequate for the exercise of pastoral ministry. The curriculum emphasizes study of the Bible, Christian Faith, History of Christianity, and Religions with missiological implications in a pluralistic world. The target audience is prospective pastors and ministers within Indian Christian churches.
• Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling (DCPC) A one-year full-time program designed to train those called to participate in the ministry of healing. The curriculum integrates clinical and pastoral perspectives with theologically faithful, clinically grounded, and contextually sensitive counselling training. The target audience is pastoral caregivers, chaplains, and counsellors seeking clinical pastoral training.
• Master of Theology (M.Th.) A postgraduate theology degree offered under the North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS), jointly sponsored by Serampore College and Bishop's College. The target audience is theology graduates pursuing advanced research degrees and academic careers in seminaries or teaching.
• Doctor of Theology (D.Th.) A doctoral theology degree offered under the North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS), jointly sponsored by Serampore College and Bishop's College. The target audience is doctoral candidates pursuing advanced scholarly research in theology.
• Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.) A 4-year external course under the Senate of Serampore College (University) designed to provide theological education as a critical transforming influence in personal, ecclesial, and societal life in India and South Asia. The target audience is working clergy, lay leaders, and geographically constrained individuals who cannot attend residential seminary.
• Diploma of Christian Studies (Dip.C.S.) A 2-year external course under the Senate of Serampore College (University) designed to impart the study of Christianity, its history, faith and practices, with understanding and interpretation of the Bible in the Indian and South Asian context. The target audience is working ministers and lay learners seeking a foundational theological credential.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Serampore College (Senate of Serampore College - University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 1979Joint sponsorship of North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS) since June 1980. The partnership was formalized through a constitution worked out by a joint sub-committee on 3rd May 1979. The institutes share faculty and library resources for advanced theological education to avoid duplication and offer jointly what neither college could offer individually.
• North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint postgraduate institute offering M.Th. and D.Th. programs. Bishop's College shares its library resources including JSTOR access with NIIPGTS students. The Registrar of Bishop's College serves as Registrar of NIIPGTS.
• Church of North India (CNI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop's College is owned and managed by the Church of North India. The Moderator of CNI serves as President of the College Society. Students from CNI dioceses are sponsored for theological education. The college aligns with CNI's ministry and governance structure.
• North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS) - JSTOR SupportsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNIIPGTS provides support for JSTOR Digital Library Portal access, enabling research students to access scholarly journals within the library's WIFI network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Calcutta Bible Seminary: A theological college located in the same Kolkata geography as Bishop's College, sharing faculty through crossover appointments (e.g., Rev. Bishakh Dutta teaches at both). Comparable in regional theological ecosystem, though smaller and more narrowly evangelical in identity.

Direct peers

• Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute: An ecumenical Lutheran theological college offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College. Comparable in mission, residential format, and ecumenical Protestant character.
• Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Madurai: A CSI-related theological seminary affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Comparable in residential model, program structure, and Christian-ministry focus.
• Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur: A long-established Protestant theological college in central India, affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College. Comparable historical heritage (founded 1899) and denominational sponsorship structure to Bishop's College.
• Trinity Theological College, Dimapur: A Senate of Serampore-affiliated theological college in Northeast India offering BD and M.Th. programs. Comparable in scope, denominational mix, and program structure, though serving a different regional student base.
• Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad: Senate of Serampore-affiliated theological college offering BD, M.Th., and D.Th. programs across multiple Christian traditions. Comparable in program portfolio and ecumenical admissions approach.
• Senate of Serampore College (University): The affiliating university for Bishop's College's BD, B.Th., BCS, DCS, and joint M.Th./D.Th. programs via NIIPGTS. Operates as the degree-granting authority for theological education across multiple affiliated seminaries in India, making it the closest peer in mission, governance, and academic framework.
• Madras Theological Seminary and College of Christian Education: One of India's oldest theological institutions, affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College and historically supported by ABCIC/Methodist traditions. Comparable in scope, longevity, and postgraduate offerings.
• United Theological College, Bengaluru: Premier ecumenical Protestant theological seminary in South India offering BD, M.Th., and D.Th. programs. Directly competes for postgraduate theological students across India and shares the ecumenical ethos and Senate of Serampore affiliation with Bishop's College.

Emerging players

• Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam: Theological seminary serving the Mar Thoma Syrian Church tradition, affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College. Bishop's College already trains Mar Thoma students, so this represents both an analogous offering and a potential pipeline/competitor for that student segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bishopscollegekolkata2109
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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