ESSA’s Bachelor of Theology (BTh) programme is on NQF level 7 and carries 384 credits. The programme is specifically designed for part-time students who are in full-time ministry or employment. Part-time students can complete their studies as in as few as four years.
The ESSA BTh programme is specifically designed for part-time students who are in full-time ministry or employment who cannot commit to a full-time residential programme.
The ESSA BTh programme is offered in a block release or module mode with English as the language of instruction. There are five (5) academic blocks in a year. Each academic block is nine (9) weeks long. During this nine-week block, students can take up to two modules concurrently and will spend the third and seventh week of the block on campus involved in contact learning with the lecturer. If a student only takes one module instead of two, the on-campus commitment is half of the third week and half of the seventh week.
For the seven weeks that student is not on campus, studies will happen at home. This allows a part-time student to incorporate BTh studies into his or her current life instead of giving up that life to study. Internet access and access to a computer (either a desktop or a laptop) is required since students will actively use Moodle during the off-campus weeks of guided learning.
| Understanding the Bible Modules | Understanding Tradition Modules | Understanding Ministry Modules | Core Academic Modules |
| Survey of the Old Testament (part 1) | Systematic Theology (part 1) | Teaching as Ministry | Study Skills & Research Methods |
| Survey of the Old Testament (part 2) | Turning Points in Christianity | Homiletics | Academic Communication |
| Survey of the New Testament (part 1) | Systematic Theology (part 2) | Church & Disciple-making | Thinking Theologically |
| Survey of the New Testament (part 2) | The Early Church | Youth & Children’s Ministry | |
| Hermeneutics & Exegesis | Introduction to World Missions | Counselling | |
| Life of Christ | Church in Africa | Pastoral Care | |
| Pentateuch | Evangelical Christianity | Church and Health | Ministry Experience Journal (8 Cr.) |
| Major & Minor Prophets | Ethics and Problem-solving | Principles of Development | Ministry Experience Journal (8 Cr.) |
| New Testament Epistles | Leadership & Management | Urban Ministry | Ministry Experience Journal (8 Cr.) |
| Poetic & Wisdom Literature | World Religions & Cross-cultural Ministry | Gender Issues | |
| Apocalyptic Literature | Apologetics | Peace & Justice / Current Issues |
Train dedicated leaders, for the church-inmission, within an African context, who :
- are able to reflect critically and articulate a personal theological position that is Evangelical and issiological in emphasis and which shows an appreciation for historical and contextual processes and the richness of African culture
- have developed communication, administrative, inter-personal, leadership and academic skills;
- are teachable, servant-hearted, compassionate, concerned for justice and whose spirituality bears godly fruit.
Fees Structure
Fees are subject to annual increases or adjustments to reflect changes in costs, service, or operational needs.
| Detail | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee Payable when submitting your application (non-refundable) | R 300.00 |
| Utilities Fee Payable at the start of each year of studies to contribute towards tea, coffee, internet fees, and other sundry material but NOT copies, printing and other high-cost items. | R 300.00 |
| Tuition Fee Billed after each registration period (February and June for new students; December and June for returning students) and paid based on a payment plan agreed to with ESSA. (Students will not be permitted to register for a new set of modules if there is an outstanding account balance at the time of registration.) | R 220.00 per credit |
| Tuition Fee for each 10-credit Academic Module (36 academic modules in the programme) | R 2 200.00 |
| Tuition Fee for each 8-credit Ministry Experience Report Module (3 MERs in the programme) | R 1760.00 |
| Total: (application fee) R300 + (first year) R15 700 + (second year) R24 060 + (third year) R24 060 + (fourth year) R21 860 | R 85 980.00 |