The Advanced Diploma is a nine-month postgraduate qualification especially designed for those who already have a degree, but in a subject other than Theology and Religious Studies. Taking this course may be a first step to doing an M.Phil. or Ph.D. in Theology and/or Religious Studies in this or another university, but does not count towards such a degree. Candidates submit a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words and offer three or four papers selected from Papers A1, B1-B16, C1-C12 and D1-D2 of the Theology and Religious Studies Tripos (the Faculty's undergraduate degree). Candidates shall offer at least one paper from the set consisting of Papers C1-12 and D1-D2 (third year papers). Only one may be from Papers A1, B1 or C1 (language papers). No candidate shall offer more than one paper examined by an alternative form of assessment (ie by essay). On completion of the Advanced Diploma students should have: made the transition from another discipline, usually in the humanities, and acquired a grounding in the key concepts and methods in the subject; acquired advanced understanding in up to four sub-disciplines of the subject; acquired detailed knowledge of a specific topic, either in a chosen sub-discipline, or of an interdisciplinary character, and of basic principles of scholarly research, through the writing of a dissertation; had the opportunity to acquire a basic or advanced proficiency in a scriptural language of a major religious tradition and in the interpretation of scriptural texts.