While teaching at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Joseph qualified for undertaking doctoral level research and registered as a doctoral degree candidate with the Senate of Serampore College (University) through the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Madras.
James Bergquist, a former Professor at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Deputy Director of the Theological Education Fund for Southern Asia of the World Council of Churches initiated the programme in 1973 to enable S. Joseph's overseas doctoral research and gather research material at the Ecumenical Institute and the École Biblique in Jerusalem, and at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where he was supervised by John H. P. Reumann, then Professor of New Testament.

S. Joseph was a recipient of scholarship from the Goethe-Institut which enabled him to pursue German language studies at Lüneburg, Germany in order to access New Testament research materials in German language.
Although S. Joseph returned to take up his teaching assignment at the Protestant Seminary in Secunderabad, it was not until 1980 that the Senate of Serampore College (University) awarded him the doctorate degree of Doctor of Theology (D.Th.).
during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan.
 After nearly 27 years, S. Joseph was able to revise and publish his doctoral work in 2007 under the title Adaptation of the Gospel tradition in Luke.
While teaching at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Joseph qualified for undertaking doctoral level research and registered as a doctoral degree candidate with the Senate of Serampore College (University) through the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Madras. James Bergquist, a former Professor at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Deputy Director of the Theological Education Fund for Southern Asia of the World Council of Churches initiated the programme in 1973 to enable S. Joseph's overseas doctoral research and gather research material at the Ecumenical Institute and the École Biblique in Jerusalem, and at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where he was supervised by John H. P. Reumann, then Professor of New Testament.
S. Joseph was a recipient of scholarship from the Goethe-Institut which enabled him to pursue German language studies at Lüneburg, Germany in order to access New Testament research materials in German language. Although S. Joseph returned to take up his teaching assignment at the Protestant Seminary in Secunderabad, it was not until 1980 that the Senate of Serampore College (University) awarded him the doctorate degree of Doctor of Theology (D.Th.). during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan.  After nearly 27 years, S. Joseph was able to revise and publish his doctoral work in 2007 under the title Adaptation of the Gospel tradition in Luke.
Suppogu Joseph