SATS is pleased to introduce the MTh Coursework. The first specialisation we introduced, starting on 1 February 2026, focuses on the New Testament. Additional specialisations will be launched in subsequent semesters.
If you are interested in completing a master’s with a specialisation in New Testament, this programme is for you. The MTh Coursework (NT) is a structured research programme, meaning that students complete a selection of courses combined with a research project. Our objective is to produce graduates who are masters of the Greek New Testament, handling it from a contextual and Christocentric perspective with high-level excellence. We also aim to produce people who have mastered the core skills of communicating the message of New Testament texts to specialist and non-specialist audiences, in both writing and speaking.
The MTh Coursework (NT) is a 2½-year programme in which you will collectively learn as a cohort. You will, therefore, not study at your own pace. Intake for this programme will only be every two years, with the next intake being February 2028.
The first two years will consist of coursework, which covers academic skills, Greek Bible reading, and specialisation in four New Testament corpi. In the final six months, you complete a research portfolio and take the final assessments.
SATS has two other master’s programmes on NQF level 9. Our research-based MTh contains no credit-bearing coursework and culminates in a full thesis. The research journey is individualised and predominantly lies between supervisor and student. The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is tailored for professionals credentialed in other fields who are seeking advanced training for ministry. It consists of 180 credits of coursework across the theological discipline with a 60-credit capstone research project.
In the MTh Coursework, your research journey is plotted along a predetermined selection of courses and culminates in a research project or a portfolio of evidence. As with the research MTh, you specialise in a specific field or sub-discipline (New Testament), but the research process is completed simultaneously by a cohort of students.
The programme consists of 180 credits, divided into core skills, specialisation courses, and a research portfolio. We require our MTh Coursework graduates to cultivate fluency in reading and translating the Greek New Testament. Therefore, a Greek reading programme runs through the programme. You will read large portions of the Greek New Testament. By the end of the programme, you need to demonstrate the ability to read the GNT proficiently.
The bulk of the programme is built around the study of passages of Scripture, seeking to build holistic or integrated exegetical competence. The passages are clustered into four themes: (a) Hermeneutics and Exegesis, (b) Johannine Literature, (c) Pauline Literature, and (d) Lucan Literature. The layout of the curriculum can be seen below:
Core (48 credits)
Orientation (12 credits)
Greek Bible Reading (4 x 6 credits = 24 credits)
Academic Skills (12 credits)
Specialisation (72 credits)
Hermeneutics (18 credits)
Johannine Literature (18 credits)
Pauline Literature (18 credits)
Lucan Literature (18 credits)
Research (60)
Research Portfolio (60 credits)
The timeline below will give you an idea of what the programme will look like:
To be admitted to the MTh Coursework (NT), you must have maintained an above-average grade in your previous degree. Additionally, you must meet one of these admission requirements:
An accredited four-year Bachelor or Honours degree in a theological field, or
An accredited Bachelor Honours degree in another field accompanied by an accredited Diploma or Bachelor in Theology.
For this New Testament stream, proficiency in New Testament Greek is required. A bridging programme will be available to those who want to brush up on their language skills through immersive reading, but basic grammar will not be covered.
Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses6 | ||
| BGK5061 | Greek Reading 1 | 6 credits |
| BGK5062 | Greek Reading 2 | 6 credits |
| GEN5121 | Theological Orientation | 12 credits |
| GEN5122 | Academic Skills | 12 credits |
| MNT5181 | Hermeneutics | 18 credits |
| MNT5182 | Johannine Literature | 18 credits |
As with our other programmes, students pay per course. The table below breaks down the programme costs for the first cohort, commencing studies in Semester 1, 2026. (Note that this is only an estimate, and that our fees are adjusted annually in January).
Please contact PGStudy@sats.ac.za for updates and to be added to the waiting list for the programme.