School Gate: Darth Vader explains the Pythagorean theorem

Lightsabres are not included but Queen’s University Belfast says it is the first institution in the UK to offer a course in Jedi.

The course, entitled “How to train in the Jedi way”, will use the psychology of the Star Wars knights to teach techniques for personal development.

"Battle your dark side: fear and aggression," says the course blurb. "Begin your own hero-quest. Lightsabres not provided."

It is the latest incursion by Jedi Knights into the British consciousness, after the UK’s first Jedi Church was established in 2007 by brothers Barney and Daniel Jones in Anglesea, Wales.

In the 2001 census 0.7 per cent of the population of England and Wales entered Jedi as their religion, more than described themselves as Buddhists, Sikhs or Jews.

Dr Allen Baird, course tutor, told Times Online: "I'm using Star Wars as a kind of teaching aid looking at psychological development techniques, social and political themes that are explored in the films."

Jedi Knights must master flow and mindfulness, which Dr Baird says are researched techniques to enable students to be fully immersed in a task, and control their thoughts and behaviour. The course will also explore the nature of liberty in the face of a facist empire and the place of technology. "Darth Vader becomes more and more mechanical as the film goes on and he loses his humanity," he said.

But the university admits that the course is really a publicity stunt to get people involved in life-long learning rather than a serious Jedi training scheme.

"I can't teach people telepathy, which the Jedi Knights use, because there's no such thing," Dr Baird said, "But I can teach you to recognise other people's state of mind through empathy, which is the basis of all human social interaction."

The open learning course, which begins in November will feature dialogue and clips from the Star Wars films. Director, George Lucas was strongly influenced by Joseph Campbell, professor of comparative mythology and religion.

Dr Baird describes himself as "a mild science-fiction fan" who collected Star Wars figurines as a child, and says he is expecting some people to turn up to the course in full Jedi attire. "I'm expecting I'll get a few people who believe there is a force, but I hope they will get something out of it too."

The university is also offering a course that might be of interest to Barack Obama and John McCain entitled “So you want to be President?” – a ten week programme in how to make your way to the top slot in the White House.

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