Bachelor of Theology Course Requirements at SATS
South African Theological Seminary
The Bachelor of Theology is a bachelor's Degree offered by SATS for 2027 learners, taking Minimum 3 to 3.5 years (two courses a term); maximum 7.5 years (online, part-time) to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Bachelor of Theology at SATS
- A school-leaving certificate that grants access to degree study, such as a National Senior Certificate with a bachelor's pass
- Applicants who do not qualify for direct entry can start with the Higher Certificate in Christian Life and transfer credits
- You may not be enrolled in a similar programme at another institution at the same time
About this course
The SATS Bachelor of Theology (BTh) is a 360-credit online degree at NQF Level 7, designed as thorough preparation for pastoral ministry, missions, Bible teaching and other church work. It is made up of 30 courses of 12 credits each, taken term by term.
Structure of the degree:
- Five compulsory courses: Genesis, Romans, Doctrine of the Kingdom, Apologetics and Christian Ethics
- Electives spread across first-, second- and third-year levels
- At least 120 credits (ten courses) must be at third-year level
There are two ways to take the degree:
- General BTh, which lets you build a broad theological education across Bible, theology, church history, missions and ministry
- BTh with a concentration in Christian Counselling, with roughly 60% theology and 40% counselling courses, for people who want to combine ministry with counselling skills
If you take two courses per term you can finish in about three to three and a half years; one course per term takes longer, up to the maximum of seven and a half years. You must complete at least 48 credits every 12 months. The pass mark is 50% per course. Most courses are offered twice a year. Graduates who do well can move on to the BTh Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Theology.
Possible careers
Course intelligence for Bachelor of Theology
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Bachelor of Theology doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Missionary. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like SATS. Ask SATS directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
SATS’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with SATS and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply on the SATS Nexsis portal, upload your school results and ID, and pay the application fee. You then pay the enrolment fee and first course to receive your acceptance and login. You can apply any time and begin in the next term.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to South African Theological Seminary’s own official application page.
Apply NowYou will leave studies.mycourses.co.za and apply directly with South African Theological Seminary.
View all Courses at SATS
- Duration
- Minimum 3 to 3.5 years (two courses a term); maximum 7.5 years (online, part-time)
- NQF Level
- 7
- Fees
- Paid per 12-credit course before each term; see the SATS price list for current fees. Fees are non-refundable and rise each January.
- Application deadline
- Rolling; start in the next available term
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
Enter your own subject marks and we'll show you real courses you're likely to qualify for, right now, plus what those courses tend to lead to: how in-demand the work is, whether NSFAS is likely to fund it, and how competitive admission is.
Related courses
FPS approx. 435 (Band A gua…Source: Official website: https://www.sats.ac.za/programmes/undergraduate/bachelor-of-theology, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with South African Theological Seminary before applying.