Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa (BTC): Courses, Prospectus and Applications for 2027

The Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa (BTC) was set up by the Baptist Union of Southern Africa to prepare pastors for Baptist churches. The Baptist Union Assembly voted for its creation in 1950 and the college opened in 1951. Since 1993 it has been based at 260 Oak Avenue in Randburg, Johannesburg. While it remains rooted in Baptist convictions, it welcomes students from every denomination and describes its purpose as equipping believers for service in the church and the wider world.

Accreditation: BTC is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (certificate no. 2000/HE08/004). Its qualifications are registered on the NQF with SAQA.

Qualifications offered:
- Higher Certificate in Ministry (NQF 5, distance)
- Higher Certificate in Theology (NQF 5, online and self-paced)
- Bachelor of Biblical Studies (NQF 7, contact or distance)
- Bachelor of Theology Honours (NQF 8, contact or distance)
- Master of Theology (NQF 9, distance research degree)

The college also runs occasional short courses for church leaders and ministry teams. These change during the year, so contact BTC for the current list.

Study modes: the bachelor's and honours degrees can be taken on campus in Randburg or by distance. The Higher Certificate in Theology is fully online with recorded video lectures and you can start at any time, while the Higher Certificate in Ministry is a distance programme. The Master of Theology is a research degree completed by distance under supervision.

A feature of the degree programmes is the Biblical and Church Residency modules, which place students in a local church throughout their studies so that classroom learning is linked to real ministry. The Bachelor of Biblical Studies followed by the BTh Honours is the route many denominations, including the Baptist Union of Southern Africa, expect for ministerial recognition.

Who studies here: school leavers who feel called to ministry, lay leaders and preachers, church interns, people taking a gap year, working adults and retirees who want structured Bible training.

Fees: BTC charges per course, plus an application fee, an annual registration fee and a technology fee. In 2026, higher certificate courses cost between R1 750 and R2 900 each, bachelor's courses R3 470 and honours courses R3 680. The Master of Theology is billed at about R23 940 a year. Campus fees and upfront payments differ depending on the mode of study, and BTC asks students to confirm a final quotation before enrolling.

How to apply: complete the online application on the BTC Nexsis portal and pay the R300 application fee (MTh applicants pay a R550 eligibility assessment). Applicants without a National Senior Certificate who are 26 or older may apply through the Recognition of Prior Learning route for the undergraduate programmes. For questions, phone 011 886 0421 or email info@btc.co.za; the office is open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00.

Useful documents (official PDFs):
- 4884: https://www.btc.co.za/documents/4884.pdf