- Home
- Private Colleges
- ESSA
The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA): Courses, Prospectus and Applications for 2027
1
course listed
1
qualification types
1
campus
The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) is an evangelical theological college based at 189 Pine Street in central Pietermaritzburg. It was founded in 1980 as the Evangelical Bible Seminary of Southern Africa (EBSemSA), after several years of consultation from 1974 about the need for degree-level evangelical training in the region. The founding principal was Dr Phil Capp, who led the seminary until the end of 1992, when Dr Moshe Rajuili took over. The name was shortened to ESSA in 1999.
ESSA's mission is to train committed Christian leaders to serve effectively in urban African settings. Its teaching is shaped by three values:
- Evangelical: the Bible is treated as the highest authority
- Holistic: the whole gospel is applied to the whole of life, including social and community issues
- Contextual: students learn to apply their faith in the real places where they minister
The seminary aims to serve people in ministry who cannot move to a residential college or who do not do well with pure distance learning. For this reason its degree is part-time and built around a block-release model that fits around work and church responsibilities.
Accreditation history: ESSA was accredited by ACTEA and later offered a BTh Honours through a local university between 2004 and 2011. Its Bachelor of Theology was accredited by the Council on Higher Education in November 2017, and the seminary was registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution in June 2019.
What you can study:
- Bachelor of Theology (BTh), NQF level 7, 384 credits, part-time over at least four years
How the teaching works: the year has five academic blocks of nine weeks each. Students come to the Pietermaritzburg campus in weeks 3 and 7 of every block for contact sessions and work remotely in between, using the Moodle online learning system. Teaching is in English. Alongside academic modules, students keep ministry experience journals that link class learning to their own church or community work.
Community and partnerships: ESSA has been part of the Pietermaritzburg Cluster of Theological Institutions since 1994, which gives students access to library resources shared among several theological schools in the city. The seminary also runs its own library and a newsletter called Steps of Faith.
Fees (2026): tuition is charged per credit at R220, which works out to R2 200 for each 10-credit module and about R85 980 for the whole degree. There is also a non-refundable application fee of R300 and a yearly utilities fee of R300. Because fees are paid per module, students can spread the cost over the years they study.
How to apply: ESSA does not publish an online application portal. Prospective students should use the contact form on the website (choosing the option to be contacted about applying), phone +27 33 394 1679 or email info@essa.ac.za. The office is open Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 17:00.
Download
ESSA Prospectus 2027
We do not hold a downloadable 2027 prospectus for The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa yet. The full course list below is built from the institution's published programme information, so you can still check entry requirements, duration and APS for every qualification.
Step by step
How to Apply to ESSA for 2027
We do not have confirmed 2027 application dates on file for The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa. Check the official site for the current window before you start.
- Pick your course. Use the list below and open the course page to read its exact entry requirements and subject rules.
- Check that you qualify. Compare your APS and subject marks against the requirement shown on the course page.
- Get your documents ready. Certified ID or passport, your latest results, and proof of payment if an application fee applies.
- Apply on the official portal. Applications are handled by the institution directly.
- Track your application and reply quickly to any request for outstanding documents.
1 listed
Courses Offered at ESSA for 2027
We don't hold APS figures for ESSA yet, so there is nothing to filter on here. Each course below links to the entry requirements the institution publishes for it.
All 1 course at ESSA, grouped by qualification.
ESSA Bachelor's Degree Courses 1
Course information last checked 22 September 2026. Always confirm with The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa before you apply.
Entry
Admission Requirements at ESSA
Two things decide an offer: your APS, and the specific subjects a programme requires at a minimum level. A high APS does not help if a compulsory subject is missing, so check both on the course page before you apply.
We don't yet hold a numeric APS for any ESSA programme. The institution still scores applications, so treat each course page as the authority on what that qualification asks for, and confirm it with the faculty before you apply.
Money
Fees and Funding at ESSA
As a private institution, The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa sets its own fees and is not funded by NSFAS. Ask the finance office about bursaries, payment plans and what the registration fee covers before you commit.
Fees differ by programme and year, so take the current figures from the institution itself: official ESSA site.
Where to study
ESSA Campuses
Pietermaritzburg Campus
Main campusPietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
189 Pine Street, Pietermaritzburg
Tel: +27 33 394 1679
After you graduate
Careers You Can Study For at ESSA
These are the occupations the qualifications listed here lead to, most common first. The number is how many ESSA courses prepare you for that career.
