To be admitted to the postmaster Buddhist Spiritual Care, a master's degree in Theology and Religious Studies, with a specialization in Spiritual Care, including a preparatory Buddhism track, is required. An equivalent diploma can also suffice. Under certain circumstances, you can also follow the programme as a career-changer/lateral entrant (explanation of the conditions can be found below).
Students who have followed the preparational BA and MA programmes at VU Amsterdam automatically meet the admission requirements. Assuming they have chosen the Buddhism courses (including MA thesis) offered by the Buddhist seminary within the bachelor and master and meet the other requirements. In the bachelor, the Buddhism courses are offered in the minor Buddhism, yoga and spirituality. In the master Spiritual Care, students can follow the Buddhism track.
Other requirements
Students are expected to be rooted in Buddhist practice and connected to a Buddhist tradition of a (preferably, Dutch) group or sangha. At the beginning of the programme, one may still be looking for a Buddhist community. Students are encouraged to find the tradition that suits them. Connecting with a sangha is important to ensure a deep rooting in the tradition.
Additionally, students are expected to work in a tradition-transcending (trans-denominational, ecumenic) fashion. The Buddhist Spiritual Care training invites exploring various Buddhist traditions, which contain an abundance of inspiration regarding ethics, wisdom, loving-kindness, and mindful awareness. These form the basis for the activities and of the professional development of a Buddhist spiritual caregiver.
Career-changers/Lateral Entrants
The Buddhist Spiritual Care training is open to lateral entrants, i.e. mature professional who are seeking to change their career. To be admitted, you must meet the other requirements, as described above. Subsequently, it will be gauged whether a customized programme is possible.
If you do not have a BA in Religious Studies/Buddhism and the mentioned MA in Spiritual Care (Buddhism track)/with Buddhist subjects, we will look to what extent you might be eligible due to your academic background and (possibly) your professional experience. In consultation with you, we will determine which additional courses might be required. These agreements will be recorded in a personal education plan.
Official Buddhist Endorsement: Sending
Students following the Buddhist Spiritual Care training may, if they meet the criteria, qualify for a "sending" by the Buddhist Sending Authority (BZI). As is customary with other religious organizations, the BZI assesses whether the student can be seen as a representative of the tradition.
In practice, the assignment is always linked to a specific employment in the Netherlands. In some fields, such as the ministries of justice and of defense (for prison and military chaplaincy), the endorsement (sending) is mandatory. In Dutch healthcare, the situation is different. Here, the employer requests an endorsement for a Buddhist spiritual caregiver.
To ensure that students are eligible for a “sending” after completing the Buddhist Spiritual Care training, interviews are conducted before the start of the program together with the BZI. The starting position of the student and the endorsement-criteria of the BZI are discussed at these times.
For students who have completed the required pre-entry programs at VU Amsterdam, the admission interview takes place during the graduation phase of the Master Spiritual Care.
Admission and Final Enrollment
You will only be admitted to the program after an interview with the Admission Committee for the Buddhist Spiritual Care training. This committee consists of the rector of the Buddhist seminary, Prof. Dr. Bee Scherer, or his delegated VU teachers, and members of the Buddhist Sending Institution (BZI).
After approval from the Admission Committee for the Buddhist Spiritual Care training, you can enroll. You will receive an enrollment form from the secretariat of the Buddhist Spiritual Care training. Enrollment documents must be in the possession of the study coordinator of the program, Aafje van den Boogert, before May 1. (Sometimes it is possible to enroll at another time during the academic year.)
Costs
Your enrollment is only final when you have transferred the enrollment fee. For the Buddhist Spiritual Care training, a one-time fee of €2.314 is transferred to the Faculty of Religion and Theology of VU Amsterdam. Based on your application, you will receive an invoice to pay the enrollment fee. The amount must be transferred in one installment. The programme typically spans a period of 2 years, but the enrollment is valid for three years (allowing for a one-year extension without the need for re-enrollment).