The Bachelor of Divinity
The Bachelor of Divinity equips students with the theological knowledge and practical skill to serve a church community. It integrates careful study of Scripture, the biblical languages, church history and Reformed theology with supervised practical ministry.
- NQF exit level
- 8
- Credits
- 504
- Modules
- 32
- Duration
- 4 years
At a glance
- Delivery
- Full-time contact teaching, on campus at 80 Molen Street, Potchefstroom
- Timetable
- Five days a week, normally 08:00 to 16:00
- Work-Integrated Learning
- 32 credits over 8 weeks, in a local congregation
- Notional hours
- About 5 040 across the four years
- Attendance
- At least 70% of the scheduled contact sessions per module
- Qualification
- Bachelor of Divinity, a professional bachelor’s degree
- Duration
- Four academic years, full-time
- NQF exit level
- 8
- Credits
- 504
- Modules
- 32 compulsory, eight a year. There are no electives.
- Languages
- Separate Afrikaans and English classes. Assessments may be written in either.
- Guided research
- 30 credits at NQF level 8, embedded in four final-year modules
- Classification
- Philosophy, Religion and Theology (CESM 170303)
- Articulation
- To a cognate master’s degree, subject to its admission requirements
The degree is an academic qualification in its own right. Completing it does not by itself confer ordination, ecclesiastical office or professional registration. Each church or employer applies its own requirements.
Curriculum
Old Testament and Hebrew
Pentateuch, History and Poets
Hebrew 1
Hebrew 2
Hebrew Exegesis 1
Prophets
Hebrew Exegesis 2
Old Testament Biblical Theology
New Testament and Greek
Greek 1
Greek 2
Hermeneutics
Greek Exegesis 1
Gospels and Acts
Greek Exegesis 2
Pauline Epistles
Hebrews to Revelation
New Testament Biblical Theology
Systematic Theology and Apologetics
Introduction to Reformed Theology
Introduction to Dogmatics
Apologetics
Dogmatics
Ethics
Church History
Ancient and Medieval Church History
Reformed and Modern Church History
Practical Theology and Missiology
Introduction to Homiletics
Biblical Counselling
Reformed Worship and Spirituality
Homiletics Practicum
Missional Theology and Missional Churches
Reformed Pastor
Church Polity and Ecclesiology
Ecclesiology, Polity and Cults
Academic foundations
Academic Literacy Development
Rhetoric and Logic
Year 1
NQF level 5 · 120 credits · 8 modules
Academic foundations, theological orientation, reasoning, Old Testament introduction and introductory Hebrew and Greek.
| Code | Module | Semester | Credits | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACEL111 | Academic Literacy Development | 1 | 8 | — |
| OLDT111 | Pentateuch, History and Poets | 1 | 16 | — |
| REFT111 | Introduction to Reformed Theology | 1 | 16 | — |
| SEMT111 | Hebrew 1 | 1 | 16 | — |
| DOGM121 | Introduction to Dogmatics | 2 | 16 | — |
| GRKS121 | Greek 1 | 2 | 16 | — |
| RELO121 | Rhetoric and Logic | 2 | 16 | — |
| SEMT121 | Hebrew 2 | 2 | 16 | SEMT111 |
Year 2
NQF level 6 · 128 credits · 8 modules
Intermediate biblical languages, hermeneutics, church history, apologetics, preaching and disciplined exegesis.
| Code | Module | Semester | Credits | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIS211 | Ancient and Medieval Church History | 1 | 16 | — |
| GRKS211 | Greek 2 | 1 | 16 | GRKS121 |
| HERM211 | Hermeneutics | 1 | 16 | — |
| SEMT211 | Hebrew Exegesis 1 | 1 | 16 | SEMT121 |
| APOL221 | Apologetics | 2 | 16 | — |
| HOML221 | Introduction to Homiletics | 2 | 16 | — |
| OLDT221 | Prophets | 2 | 16 | — |
| SEMT221 | Hebrew Exegesis 2 | 2 | 16 | SEMT211 |
Year 3
NQF level 7 · 128 credits · 8 modules
Independent exegesis, biblical theology, pastoral care, worship and integrated historical and theological judgement.
| Code | Module | Semester | Credits | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIS311 | Reformed and Modern Church History | 1 | 16 | — |
| GRKS311 | Greek Exegesis 1 | 1 | 16 | GRKS211 |
| NTES311 | Gospels and Acts | 1 | 16 | — |
| PAST311 | Biblical Counselling | 1 | 16 | — |
| GRKS321 | Greek Exegesis 2 | 2 | 16 | GRKS311 |
| NTES321 | Pauline Epistles | 2 | 16 | — |
| OTES321 | Old Testament Biblical Theology | 2 | 16 | — |
| REFW321 | Reformed Worship and Spirituality | 2 | 16 | — |
Year 4
NQF level 8 · 128 credits · 8 modules
Advanced integration, guided research, ethical leadership, external quality assurance and supervised professional practice.
| Code | Module | Semester | Credits | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOGM411 | Dogmatics (R 8) | 1 | 16 | — |
| HOML411 | Homiletics Practicum (WIL) | 1 | 16 | HOML221 |
| NTES411 | Hebrews to Revelation (R 8) | 1 | 16 | — |
| NTBT411 | New Testament Biblical Theology (R 6) | 1 | 16 | — |
| ECCL421 | Ecclesiology, Polity and Cults | 2 | 16 | — |
| ETIC421 | Ethics | 2 | 16 | — |
| MISS421 | Missional Theology and Missional Churches (R 8) | 2 | 16 | — |
| REFP421 | Reformed Pastor (WIL) | 2 | 16 | — |
(WIL) Work-Integrated Learning, based in a local congregation, in the final year.
(R) Guided research credits embedded in the module.
weeks in a congregation
Work-Integrated Learning
In the final year, students spend time in a congregation gaining supervised, assessed ministry experience through two modules — Homiletics Practicum and Reformed Pastor — totalling 8 weeks and 32 credits. A mentor pastor guides the student, and a lecturer visits and assesses the work. The Institute approves the site and the mentor, sets the outcomes, monitors the placement and keeps final academic authority.
credits of guided research
Guided research
A coherent research strand of 30 credits sits inside four final-year modules rather than in a separate dissertation: Dogmatics, Hebrews to Revelation, New Testament Biblical Theology and Missional Theology. Every project follows the same process: question and scope, literature search, method, ethics screening, recorded supervision, an assessed product, moderation and archiving. Where people or identifiable information are involved, the work requires gatekeeper permission, informed consent, confidentiality and secure data handling under POPIA.
Assessment
- Continuous assessment
- 50% of the module mark
- Final examination
- 50% of the module mark
- Admission to the examination
- A 40% semester mark
- Examination subminimum
- 40%
- To pass a module
- 50% overall
- Attendance
- At least 70% of the scheduled contact sessions
- Moderation
- All summative assessment. Every final-year module is exit-level and externally moderated.
- Examinations
- Printed, invigilated and written on site
Register your interest
Register your interest and we will be in touch. You can also sign up for our newsletter and download the prospectus.
There is no application fee.