Potter popularity leads to witchcraft university course

Harry Potter's popularity has led Adelaide University to launch a course in sorcery, witchcraft and shamanism.

Students will study seances, exorcisms, healings, ritual magic and African witchdoctors from March 20.

Only two people have enrolled for the 12-week course so far, but the university says there have been dozens of inquiries.

The course is being offered through their Centre for Professional and Continuing Education at a cost of AUS$495 (about €294), reports The Advertiser.

There are no course pre-requisites and lectures will be conducted by anthropologist and recently retired Adelaide University lecturer Dr Kingsley Garbett.

Programme administrator Megan O'Brien said: "The popularity of recent movies like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings has generated interest in mystical and surreal worlds.

"This course offers participants an opportunity to explore the origins of spiritual beliefs from an anthropological perspective that will further heighten their interest in this area."

Dr Garbett says the course will study real-life spirit mediums, witches and related matters rather than mythical creatures.

The popularity of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings stories will be addressed in the latter part of the course.