Why Pursue a Bachelor of Theology?
In today’s rapidly changing world, the church needs leaders who are spiritually grounded, theologically informed, and able to respond wisely to the needs of society. The Bachelor of Theology (BTh) at AFM Theological College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and ministry competencies required for meaningful Christian leadership.
Whether you are called to pastoral ministry, missions, teaching, chaplaincy, community development, or church leadership, this programme provides a strong biblical and theological foundation while remaining relevant to real-world ministry contexts.
At AFMTC, the programme is shaped by:
a Pentecostal and missional ethos
academic excellence integrated with practical ministry formation
relevance to South African and global ministry contexts
flexible online delivery suited to working adults and ministry leaders
Students have the opportunity to pursue a fully accredited Bachelor of Theology degree awarded by AFMTC, which may form part of the pathway toward possible ordination in the AFM of SA (where all additional church requirements are met).
Bachelor of Theology Overview
AFM Theological College is provisionally registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI).
Registration Certificate Number: 2025/HE08/002
The Bachelor of Theology (BTh), NQF Level 7 (SAQA ID 123825) is fully accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by SAQA.
The programme offers a comprehensive grounding in:
Old Testament & New Testament Studies
Systematic & Practical Theology
Church History & Missiology
Students also develop skills in:
biblical interpretation and exegesis
preaching, teaching, and pastoral care
leadership and ministry practice
academic writing and theological reflection
Elective options include Greek, Hebrew, Philosophy, and Christian Spirituality.
Do I Qualify?
To register for the BTh, applicants must normally have:
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting admission to degree studies, or an equivalent qualification, OR
A recognised tertiary qualification (South African or international) from an accredited institution
Applicants must submit certified copies (dated within the last 3 months) of:
school-leaving certificate or prior qualification
identity document or passport
All applicants must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency to engage in academic study.
If you do not meet the direct entry requirements, you may begin through one of the recognised pathway programmes with AFMTC partner institutions.
All applications for admission must be submitted online during the prescribed application period. For more information on application and enrollment, please visit the Application Instructions Page.
Bachelor of Theology Programme Outline
Qualification: Bachelor of Theology (BTh)
NQF Level: 7
Total Credits: 360 credits
Mode of Delivery: Online learning
Language of Instruction: English
Programme Length & Study Load
Students may study at a flexible pace:
Minimum requirement: 48 credits per 12-month period
Typical study load: 4–6 modules per semester
Faster pace: up to 10 modules per semester (where appropriate)
Normal completion ranges from 3–6 years, depending on workload.
Semesterisation
AFMTC follows a semesterised structure
All modules are presented every semester
Students may register according to capacity and progression requirements
Prerequisites
Some modules require successful completion of a prior module.
Example:
NTS101 must be completed before NTS102
Electives
Elective streams are chosen in first year and continued to third year to ensure academic coherence.
Online Learning Requirements
To complete your studies, you will need:
a computer or laptop
reliable internet access
Learning takes place through an online student platform that serves as the central learning and communication hub.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
AFMTC may recognise:
prior accredited qualifications
relevant ministry or professional experience
Where applicable, credits may be awarded toward modules in the BTh, in line with policy and regulatory requirements.
Postgraduate Readiness
Graduates are well prepared to continue to postgraduate theological studies, subject to institutional entry requirements.
Here follows an outline of modules offered by AFMTC:
First Level | Course | Code | Provider | Term |
Compulsory non-formal, church-based modules | Principles of Leadership 102 (Prerequisite for PLS202) | PLS102 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 |
Old Testament Studies 101 (Prerequisite for OTS102) | OTS101 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 101 (Prerequisite for STE102) | STE101 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Practical Theology 101 (Prerequisite for PTS102) | PTS101 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Church History 101 (Prerequisite for CHS102) | CHS101 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Principles of Leadership 202 | PLS202 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Old Testament Studies 102 | OTS102 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 102 | STE102 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Practical Theology 102 | PTS101 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Church History 102 | CHS102 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 |
Second Level | Course | Code | Provider | Term |
Compulsory non-formal, church-based modules | New Testament Studies 201 (Prerequisite for NTS202) | NTS101 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 201 (Prerequisite for STE202) | STE201 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Practical Theology 201 (Prerequisite for PTS202) | PTS201 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Missiology 201 (Prerequisite for MSS202) | MSS201 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Church History 301 (Prerequisite for CHS302) | CHS301 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
New Testament Studies 102 | NTS102 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 202 | STE202 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Practical Theology 202 | PTS202 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Missiology 202 | MSS202 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Church History 302 | CHS302 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 |
Third Level | Course | Code | Provider | Term |
Compulsory Non-formal, Church-based modules | New Testament Studies 301 (Prerequisite for NTS302) | NTS301 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 301 (Prerequisite for STE302) | STE301 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Practical Theology 301 (Prerequisite for PTS302) | PTS301 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
Missiology 301 (Prerequisite for MSS302) | MSS301 | AFMTC | 1 & 2 | |
New Testament Studies 302 | NTS302 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Systematic Theology & Ethics 302 | STE302 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Practical Theology 302 | PTS302 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 | |
Missiology 302 | MSS302 | AFMTC | 3 & 4 |
Timetable
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
10 Feb. to 28 March | 7 Apr. to 27 June | 21 July to 5 Sept. | 15 Sept. to 5 Dec. |
The programme operates on a semester-based academic calendar.
All modules are offered each semester, allowing students to plan their studies flexibly according to prerequisites and workload capacity.
Pricing
Fees are charged per module, allowing students to register for a manageable number of modules per semester.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), where approved, may reduce the number of modules required.
South African Pricing | |
Application and Enrolment | Fee |
Application Fee (Once-off) | Free |
Enrolment Fee (Once-off) | R2000 |
| |
Modules | |
6 Credit Modules | R1625 |
| |
Other Services | |
RPL Fee (Once-off) | R2500 |
Re-assessment Fee | R500 |
Special Letters | R120 |
Transcripts | R200 |
Re-activation Fee | R500 |
Please be advised that for certain modules, students are required to independently purchase prescribed textbooks at their own cost, providing greater flexibility in sourcing these materials.
Rules for Assessment, Credit Accumulation, Progression and Qualification
Assessment
All assessment for both formal and non-formal modules is conducted online. Unless otherwise indicated, the pass mark for all assessment tasks is 50%. To pass a course, you must maintain a grade average of 50% or above.