In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Decree Novo Codice of the Congregation for Catholic Education, this article takes a closer look at the norms regarding the study of canon law, both in terms of its content and structure and its institutional aspects, taking into account the historical development of the Holy See’s norms regarding ecclesiastical studies. The article shows both the lines of continuity and, at the same time, the outlines of subsequent development.