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Frequently Asked Questions?

Why study at SATS?

When you study with SATS you meet a team of educators and administrators who are creative, innovative, dedicated and passionate about the way they teach and deliver their courses. We are aware that it is crucial to balance business, careers, home and studies. With this in mind we believe we offer the following advantages to any person who would like to study via the distance learning method.

Is SATS Accredited?

The South African Theological Seminary is registered by the Department of Education (registration number 2001/HE08/005) and accredited by the Council on Higher Education to offer the following programmes:

  1. Certificate in Christian Life
  2. Certificate in Christian Counselling
  3. Certificate in Worship Studies
  4. Bachelor of Theology
  5. Bachelor of Theology Honours
  6. Master of Theology
  7. Doctor of Philosophy in Theology

SATS is registered as a Section 21 Company, registration number 2002/005184/08

Can you get credit for previous studies and life experience?

These are referred to as Recognition of Prior Learning.
Yes, you can! You need to provide us with details of what you have done, so that we can evaluate your prior learning in the light of our programmes and advise you as to your study options. When you apply to SATS, we conduct an assessment of your prior learning. If you have done additional work during your tenure as a SATS student, you may apply to have a new assessment of your prior learning. The fee for a second assessment of prior learning is R200.

What is a Credit?

One credit equates to approximately 10 hours of time on task. At the undergraduate level, all courses are 12 credits, requiring approximately 120 hours to complete, including research, writing of the assignment(s), and the examination. Since the courses as SATS run in 12 week semester blocks, an average student should study between 8-10 hours per week.

How do I enrol?

When you are ready to apply, please register online on the Enrolment page or complete the application form received from the Seminary and mail it together with certified/notarized copies of original Diplomas, Certificates and transcripts to: The South African Theological Seminary, Box 258, Rivonia, 2128, South Africa.

Those documents can also be sent as e-mail attachments to the following e-mail address: study@sats.edu.za (undergraduate degrees), or postgraduate@sats.edu.za (postgraduate degrees).

How much must I pay?

You need to consult the Pricelist, which you can download here:Pricelist 2012.
If you cannot download it, you may contact the Helpdesk to have a Pricelist emailed or posted to you.

Once we receive proof of your payment, your subjects will be activated on the MySats site or the material will be couriered to you (depending which learning format you have chosen). For students outside South Africa, no courier service is offered.

How can I pay?

Payments can be effected in two ways:

1. Directly into our bank account. Please use your name and student number as a beneficiary reference. You need to email or fax the seminary to indicate which subjects you are paying for; send your email to Chris Ndlovu chris@sats.edu.za or your fax to +27 11 2344445. Our bank details are as follows:

Name: South African Theological Seminary

Name of Bank: First National Bank

Branch: Fourways View Shopping Centre

Branch Code: 251655

Account: 51321182366

Account: Cheque

2. Via our online payment option:. The system accepts all major credits cards. When you order subjects online, please remember to indicate your student number and the codes of the subjects you are ordering (e.g. BIB1121; THE1122). Unless you do so, we cannot process your order.

What if I live outside of South Africa?

Foreign students can make payment in the same two ways as described above. Please use the SWIFT Banking Details below for direct payments. You need to email or fax the seminary to indicate which subjects you are paying for; send your email to Chris Ndlovu chris@sats.edu.za or your fax to +27 11 2344445.

Name: South African Theological Seminary

Name of Bank : First National Bank

Branch : Fourways View Shopping Centre

Branch : 251655

Name of account : S A Theological Seminary

Account number : 51321182366

Swift Address : FIRNZAJJ635

Does SATS offer bursaries or scholarships?

We offer a limited number of bursaries. As a private tertiary institution, we receive no subsidies from the government. Therefore, we are totally dependent on donor funding for these bursaries. As and when funds become available, bursaries are awarded to deserving applicants. For more information, contact Bev van Rensburg bev@sats.edu.za .

Does SATS offer a payment plan?

Only under exceptional circumstances. To request special permission to pay your subjects off, please contact the Registrar jane@sats.edu.za .

Where can I find the 2011 timetable?

You can download the 2011 timetable the MySats site:

How does the semester system work?

We offer most undergraduate courses within a semester based timetable (for exceptions, see the discussion of ‘Year Modules' just below). The academic year begins on 1 February, and is divided into four terms: Semester 1A, 1 February to 30 April; Semester 1B, 1 May to 30 July; Semester 2A, 1 August to 30 October; and Semester 2B, 1 November to 30 January. Courses that are offered in Semester 1A are repeated in Semester 2A, and courses that are offered in Semester 1B are repeated in Semester 2B. If you register early for a course, you will be able to access it two months before its official starting date (e.g. if you register for THE1121 Christian Foundations in Semester 2A, starting 1 August, you will be able to access your study materials from 1 June). This means you can arrange your studies to give you up to five months to complete a course.

What are Year Modules?

Year modules are subjects that do not run according to the semester system. They are open year-round, and do not have fixed submission dates for their assignments. You have 365 days to complete the course from the day that you registered .

What is e-learning?

e-Learning is an interactive methodology. You work as part of an online learning community consisting of 8-20 students. You interact with the others in your cohort over a period of 11-12 weeks, completing a variety of learning tasks. These include listening to .mp3 teachings by world renowned scholars, studying prescribed materials, participating in discussion forums, and submitting assignments.

What is MySats?

MySats is a website that integrates all your academic information. By logging into MySats, you are able to access all your course materials, interact with the teacher and other students, submit your assignments and keep track of their status, and receive feedback on your assignments. MySats also provide you with direct access to library resources and other vital documents (e.g. the student handbook, the guide for writing assignments). When the second phase of MySats has been completed (hopefully early in 2011), you will be able to view your curriculum, pay for your subjects and access them directly without having to contact the Admin dept.

Should I choose printed, download, or e-learning format?

If you have access to broadband internet, we would strongly recommend that you use the e-learning option. Over the past two years, students taking courses via e-learning have on average completed twice as many courses and achieved a 14- percent better pass rate than students who preferred the print-based methodologies.

Whichever format you select, all your assignment submissions will be made via MySats, our online platform which integrates all your academic information. By logging into MySats, you will be able to access all your course materials, interact with the teacher and other students, submit your assignments and keep track of their status, receive feedback on your assignments, and even write your examinations. MySats will also provide you with direct access to library resources and other vital documents (e.g., the student handbook, the guide for writing assignments).

For a detailed introduction to MySats, please download the ‘Introduction to MySats' .

Do I need textbooks?

All of the first, second, and third years subjects are self-contained, and therefore, do not require textbooks. We provide a reader of all the required readings for each course. There are two exceptions.

If you are registered for a Certificate in Christian Counseling , you will be required to purchase the following books:

•  Tan S 1991 . Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry .   Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

•  Collins G 2007.  Christian Counseling - a Comprehensive Guide (3 rd ed.).  Dallas: Word. 

•  Meier PD, Minirth FB, Wichern FB and Ratcliff DE 1999. Introduction to Psychology and Counseling : Christian Perspectives and Applications (2 nd ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

The third year subject, GCS3141 – Conflict and Reconciliation, requires the following textbook:

•  Sande K 2004. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict . Grand Rapids: Baker Books .

READERS: Since many of the prescribed theological textbooks are sometimes difficult to find and extremely expensive, the South African Theological Seminary has compiled Readers for all the subjects within the Diploma and Bachelor programmes. These Readers include selected extracts from the books recommended for the courses, as well as a selection of other relevant documents that you will need to produce high quality assignments.

What happens after I pay?

As soon as we have received your payment and the indication of which subjects you have ordered, we shall activate the subjects on your student profile. If you are taking your courses in download format, you be able to access your study materials from the MySats site within 5 working days. If you purchase printed materials, we will courier the study materials to you. If you registered for an e-learning subject, you will receive access to the course page from the day the course begins.

How many subjects must I take per year?

We require you to take at least two subjects per year. However, if you only complete two subjects per year, it will take you 15 years to complete a BTh (5 years to complete a Certificate). As a part-time student, we recommend that you do at least four subjects each year (to finish a BTh in 7½ years); if you can manage five subjects, you will earn a BTh in 6 years. If you are studying full time, you should do ten courses per year.

How do I order new subjects?

Simply make the relevant payment and complete the Subject Order Form . Send your completed Subject Order Form and the confirmation of your payment to Chris Ndlovu by fax (+27 11 2344445) or email chris@sats.edu.za . If you make the payment electronically, please use your name and student number as a beneficiary reference.

What is the closing date for the registrations?

Students may register for a course up to 4 weeks into the start of any given semester. However, the dues dates for the assignments will not change, and it will remain the responsibility of the student to submit the course work on the stipulated dates.

How long does it take to receive my study materials?

Provided you have submitted proof of payment and a clear indication of which subjects you are ordering, you should receive your study materials within 10 working days. If you have not received your materials after 10 working days, please query it with us.

Where and how can I write the exam?

You may write your exam online or offline . The course homepage on the MySats site provides a way for you to write the exam online. If yours is a multiple choice exam, one of the great advantages of writing online is that you will receive your results immediately after the exam date closes. Alternatively, you can write your exam offline. To write offline, you need to contact the seminary on kathy@sats.edu.za at least five working days before you intend to write, and ask us to email the exam to your invigilator. (If you need the exam sent to your invigilator by post, you need to request it three weeks before the due date.)

How do I submit my assignment?

All assignments must be submitted on-line. When you register for a subject, that course will appear under your MySats profile. Inside the course, a link is available for assignment uploads.

What do I do when I need help with my assignment?

Each course has an assigned assessor who facilitates the course. They are available (during office hours) to answer all your content related queries. You may contact them via the telephone, or via e-mail. If you wish to speak to other students, there is a discussion forum available to get in touch with others taking the same course.

How long will I wait for my results?

In the case of multiple-choice assignments, which are graded by computer, we shall release the results the day after the assignment closes. For essay-type assignments, we strive to release the results two weeks after the due date. For major assignments that fall due at the end of a course, the turn-around time may extend to three weeks after the due date. If you submit by post, please allow time for delivery at both ends, plus 2-4 weeks for making. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the time it will take for delivery.

Can I change my curriculum?

Yes. When you apply for a Certificate in Christian Life or a Bachelor of Theology, we shall send you a recommended curriculum. The recommended curriculum includes both compulsory and suggested courses. You may exchange elective courses for other courses at the same academic level (see below). When you first receive your curriculum, you can change it free of charge by contacting the Marilyn marilyn@sats.edu.za . Subsequently, an administrative fee of R60 per change is levied for adapting a curriculum.

Can I switch programmes (e.g. CCL to BTh, or BTh to CCL)?

In other words, if you have enrolled for a BTh, can you downgrade your enrolment to a Certificate in Christian Life (CCL)? Or if you enrolled for a CCL, can you upgrade to a BTh? A change in your programme registration is possible in some cases, but needs to be evaluated and approved by the Registrar.

Does SATS have residential facilities?

No. SATS is a distance learning education institution.

Are there libraries available I can use?

Yes. We also have a growing library and students are welcome to visit the Seminary to browse through the books (fifteen thousand) or to search our vast electronic collection (over 8000 e-books).

The "Christian Lounge" and "Theological Research" pages on the SATS website also contain a wealth of information and resources that will help you with your studies.

What is the Christian Lounge?

This site is your starting point for finding anything and everything to do with your Christian Studies. Whether you are searching for serious academic articles or websites for assistance with your assignments, dissertations or theses, or simply desiring to increase your knowledge of God and the Bible,Christian Lounge is the place to start! We have everything you need from Bible software to articles and websites that explore every aspect of Christianity.

Does my denomination recognise the SATS qualification?

There are a number of denominations currently enrolling students at SATS for their theological studies. You will need to contact the head of your denomination in order to find out if the SATS degree is sufficient for their denominational requirements. SATS does not ordain ministers.

Will my SATS qualification be acceptable overseas?

South African degrees are well respected overseas, and since SATS has the highest level of accreditation in South Africa, most foreign institutions will admit our graduates to further studies. However, each institution is sovereign with respect to which applicants it admits, so no institution—local or international—is obliged to admit a SATS graduate (or, for that matter, a graduate from any other institution).

Does SATS have a formal graduation?

Yes. Graduation takes place annually during April. If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, special arrangements can be made with the Registrar to graduate in absentia . The cost for mailing your certificate is R75 locally and $30 overseas. There is a basic cost for the graduation which includes the hiring of the gown, hood, and cap. The seminary orders these for you so that when you arrive for the ceremony, everything will be ready. Expect to pay approximately R250 for these items.

When does SATS award certificates?

Yes, twice each year—April and October. The deadlines for the submission of your work are 30 December for the April awards, and 30 June for the October awards. If you make your final submissions later than those dates, we cannot commit to process your graduation at the next award of certificates.

In which languages may I submit work?

Our official language is English. At present, we are only registered to offer programmes in English. This means that all assignments, examinations, and theses must be submitted in English. We do, however, understand that many of our students are notfirst-language English speakers. Therefore, unless your poor English makes it difficult to understand what you are saying or you could easily have corrected the spelling and grammar mistakes by using>your word processor, our assessors will not to penalise you for imperfect English usage. We are presently translating our materials into French, and we hope to introduce French as a second official >language in the near future.