University in South Africa
Bryanston, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
The South African Theological Seminary (SATS) is a private, evangelical, distance-education seminary with its office at 37 Grosvenor Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg. It describes itself as Bible-based, Christ-centred and Spirit-led, and its mission is to provide Biblical, Christocentric distance education and training to Christians, and leaders in particular, within their local church environment. It is registered as a Section 21 non-profit company (reg. no. 2002/005184/08), a public benefit organisation and an NPO, and is governed by a Board of Directors.
All programmes are delivered entirely online through MySATS, the seminary's virtual classroom, and students enrol from more than 80 countries. Enrolment is open at any time of the year and enrolments are processed within about a week. Undergraduate offerings are the Bachelor of Theology (360 credits, NQF 7, general or with a Christian Counselling concentration), the Higher Certificate in Christian Life (120 credits, NQF 5) and the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling. Postgraduate offerings are the Bachelor of Theology Honours (general or counselling concentration), the Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (five 24-credit courses at NQF 8), the Master of Divinity (240 credits, NQF 9), the research-based Master of Theology, MTh Coursework streams in New Testament (first cohort February 2026, next intake February 2028) and Christian Counselling (started August 2026), and the PhD in Theology (NQF 10). Undergraduate courses are 12 credits each and run in four terms a year; students must complete 48 credits every 12 months.
Courses cover Bible and Old and New Testament studies, biblical Greek and Hebrew, systematic theology, mission studies, practical theology and preaching, church leadership, Christian ethics, and Christian counselling based on the seminary's 5E Model (Evaluating, Externalizing, Exploring, Emending, Empowering). Course readers are supplied, so most courses need no textbook purchases.
Students are supported by an enrolments officer, 24/7 live support on MySATS, a mentoring programme, a librarian and an electronic library of about 180,000 e-books and 16,000 academic journals.
All programmes are accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (registration number 2001/HE08/005). The seminary is a founder member of the National Association of Distance Education Organisations in South Africa (NADEOSA) and belongs to SAIDE, ICETE, ICHE, the CHEA International Quality Group and WETIA. Its MTh and PhD were evaluated by IERF and AACRAO International Education Services as comparable to US regionally accredited degrees, and the BTh was evaluated by Alberta's IQAS as equivalent to a three-year bachelor's degree with a focus in theology.
SATS offers a limited number of partial bursaries for students who cannot afford to study, including a special bursary fund for students from the Eastern Cape. Applications are made by email to [email protected] and, depending on available funds, are considered three times a year, in June, September and December.
SATS awards one full PhD scholarship (with a research internship) for 2027 to an emerging South African theologian with an accredited master's in Practical Theology or Christian Counselling, whose doctoral topic integrates biblical and theological understandings of transformation with pastoral care and Christian counselling in the African context. Applications closed on 9 October 2026 and the successful candidate is to be announced by 4 December 2026. The scholarship covers the PhD tuition, an annual Perlego subscription for the duration of studies, and a once-off R10 000 office allowance. The scholar serves as an unpaid research assistant to a senior academic for up to 8 hours a month during PhD phases 3 to 5, and the award is conditional on continued progress through phases 1 to 5. Applicants submit an essay package (profile, certificates and transcripts, ID, thesis title, abstract and a mini-lecture video) to the Registrar at [email protected]. Details: 2027 SATS PhD Scholarship and Internship.
Students linked to a ministry with a Letter of Association receive a 10% discount on advertised tuition fees. See Student Support for bursary details.
SATS 2027 PhD Scholarship and Research Internship (Pastoral Care and Christian Counselling) →
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RPL exemptions from specific courses are available for prior theology studies at accredited institutions or institutions with an RPL agreement, and for three or more years of full-time ministry. A portfolio of evidence including an official transcript is required and a once-off RPL assessment fee applies. Applications can be made with the online application or through [email protected].
Students from more than 80 countries study with the seminary. Foreign qualifications are assessed for equivalence case by case. Instruction is in English.
Apply online through the application form at any time; enrolment is processed in about a week. Tuition is paid course by course (or per research phase) as each is taken, and fees increase each January. All fees paid to SATS are non-refundable. Associated ministries holding a Letter of Association give their students a 10% discount on advertised tuition.
Administrative office, Bryanston, Johannesburg: 37 Grosvenor Road, Bryanston, 2191 (postal: PO Box 98988, Sloane Park, 2152). Registrars, enrolments, graduation and the helpdesk are served from this office.
Online campus: all teaching takes place on MySATS (the learning platform), with 24/7 live chat and ticket support, an electronic library giving unlimited access to about 180,000 e-books and 16,000 academic journals, online student mentoring, and live events. There are no residences or physical lecture facilities.
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