Theological studies since 1607

In Napoleonic times, when Tyrol was occupied by Bavaria, teaching was temporarily suspended. In the second half of the 19th century, the theological formation centre was one of the most famous in the Habsburg Empire. The division of Tyrol and thus also of the Diocese of Brixen/Bressanone after the First World War led to a gradual loss of students from the Austrian North Tyrol.

The College experienced an upswing with the reorganisation of the diocese of Bozen-Brixen/Bolzano-Bressanone in 1964, which brought Theology students and some professors from the former "German part" of the diocese of Trento to Brixen/Bressanone. After the number of theology students had fallen sharply in the 1970s as a result of the decline in candidates for the priesthood. The college gradually experienced an increase as more and more lay people turned to the study of theology. Likewise, students from German and Austrian dioceses now regularly came to Brixen/Bressanone for the semester abroad.

A new situation arose for the College as a result of the negotiations conducted in 1974-76 with the Faculty of Theology at the University of Innsbruck and with the responsible Austrian Federal Ministries. The studies completed at the College are now recognised by the Faculty of Theology in Innsbruck due to the harmonisation of curricula. Students of the Brixen College are free to enrol in Innsbruck for at least one semester after obtaining the theological diploma in Brixen in order to obtain the academic degree of Master of Theology also there.

From 1976 onwards, courses for the formation and training of teachers of religion and for various pastoral ministries were also offered at the College. In 1987, the Italian Ministry of Education included the Brixen/Bressanone College in the list of those institutions that can award a valid degree for religious education in public schools.

In addition, the "Higher Institute for Theological Education" was established at the College in 1991 by the Congregation for Catholic Education. It awards the academic degree of "Magistero in Scienze Religiose" and entitles the holder to teach religion at all school levels in Italy. This degree can be obtained in the Italian language at the Bozen/Bolzano section of the College.

In 1991, the Congregation for Catholic Education granted Brixen/Bressanone College the status of an academic institution of Pontifical right with the official title "Studium Theologicum Academicum Brixinense" and with the authority to award the academic degree of Baccalaurate of Theology (Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus).

In 2006, the Congregation for Education approved the statutes of the "Higher Institute for Theological Education" (ISSR), which is supported by the College, for an initial period of five years. It is linked to the Faculty of Theology of Triveneto (based in Padua) by a cooperation agreement, according to which the corresponding academic degrees are also awarded by the Faculty of Theology of Triveneto. This agreement regulates in detail the reorganisation of theological studies in north-eastern Italy.

From the academic year 2001/2002 onwards, cooperation with the Institute for Christian Philosophy at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Innsbruck has been intensified. The academic degree of Master of Philosophy awarded is recognised by the Italian state ("Laurea in Filosofia").

In 2002, a cooperation agreement was concluded with the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano for academic collaboration. While preserving the autonomy of the Philosophical-Theological College and its competence in philosophical and theological education, the agreement provides for, among other things, mutual recognition of study credits, insofar as these correspond to the respective curriculum, joint research projects and the exchange of teachers and students.