Department of Religion and Theology PLATE
Programme for Lay Theological Education
What is the purpose of this programme?
This programme provides theological training at a tertiary level for lay people in leadership positions in churches in the Western Cape region. It is aimed at people who are already serving as leaders in local congregations, for example, as preachers, counsellors, Sunday School leaders, Bible Study group leaders, youth leaders, women’s group leaders and leaders of Christian community organisations.
This programme assumes that Christian ministry is the responsibility of the whole people of God. The notion of Christian ministry includes ministries inside local Christian communities, but also the manifold ministries of Christians in the context of civil society. The programme recognises the increasing need for appropriate theological education for lay leadership.
Theological education at the University of the Western Cape is thoroughly ecumenical and responds to societal challenges in the African and South African contexts. Through this programme, UWC offers students access to university education as “A place of quality, a place to grow”.
The Programme for Lay Theological Education is offered under the auspices of the Continuing Education courses offered at UWC.
You may apply for admission to register for a module to obtain credits for it. You then have to attend the same classes, but you also have to do some coursework assignments and write examinations. Successful students will receive a UWC-validated Continuing Education Certificate for each module completed.
Who will be responsible for the programme?
The programme is the initiative of the Department of Religion and Theology at UWC. Prof Ignatius Swart is the head of the department, and Ms Ashley Maclennan is the program coordinator. Teaching the programme is a team of well-qualified academics, including current members of staff in the department, retired academics and postgraduate students.
Format of the programme
The whole programme consists of 8 modules offered over a period of 2 years, 2 in each semester. Each of the 8 modules will be subdivided into two parts (or papers) as indicated in the programme below.
Classes will take place at UWC on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a period of 6 weeks per module. Sessions will be from 17h00-19h00 each evening.
If you register for a module to obtain credits for it, you have to do the required coursework (which will be stipulated in the module outlines) and write an examination for each of the two papers during the June or November examination period of the semester concerned.
If you complete all eight modules in the programme (15 credits each), this will be the equivalent of a first year of university studies (120 credits). Successful students may approach the Department of Religion and Theology to continue their studies towards a B.Th. degree (which is aimed primarily at the ordained ministry).
Please click here for the 2026 Modules
Who may apply?
If you wish to obtain credits for a module, there are two possibilities: a) the normal admission requirement will be a Grade 12 certificate with either matriculation or age exemption (for those 23 years and older). This applies to students who wish to pursue studies towards a BTh degree. The number of credits is 120.
Students who do not have those requirements but still want to obtain credits may do so within the CE /DLL framework. They will have to present proof that they have completed Grade 10. Or may also be considered based on the recognition of prior learning. The number of credits is 60.
The programme is built on the assumption that there are many people who have previously obtained qualifications in other walks of life and who wish to further their theological education, given the responsibilities they have as lay leaders in local churches.
Please note that the programme operates on a cycle basis, which means that one can enter it at the beginning of any paper.
If you wish to participate in this programme, you are encouraged to contact your local congregation for financial support. It would be in the interest of any congregation to have a well-trained lay leadership.
What should I do next?
If you wish to enrol for this programme on February 2026, please attend to the following:
•All prospective students should complete the required application online at www.uwc.ac.za
•All applicants will receive a letter of admission.
•Pay the appropriate registration fees for the course.
This programme provides theological training at a tertiary level for lay people in leadership positions in churches in the Western Cape region. It is aimed at people who are already serving as leaders in local congregations, for example, as preachers, counsellors, Sunday School leaders, Bible Study group leaders, youth leaders, women’s group leaders and leaders of Christian community organisations.
This programme assumes that Christian ministry is the responsibility of the whole people of God. The notion of Christian ministry includes ministries inside local Christian communities, but also the manifold ministries of Christians in the context of civil society. The programme recognises the increasing need for appropriate theological education for lay leadership.
Theological education at the University of the Western Cape is thoroughly ecumenical and responds to societal challenges in the African and South African contexts. Through this programme, UWC offers students access to university education as “A place of quality, a place to grow”.
The Programme for Lay Theological Education is offered under the auspices of the Continuing Education courses offered at UWC.
You may apply for admission to register for a module to obtain credits for it. You then have to attend the same classes, but you also have to do some coursework assignments and write examinations. Successful students will receive a UWC-validated Continuing Education Certificate for each module completed.
Who will be responsible for the programme?
The programme is the initiative of the Department of Religion and Theology at UWC. Prof Ignatius Swart is the head of the department, and Ms Ashley Maclennan is the program coordinator. Teaching the programme is a team of well-qualified academics, including current members of staff in the department, retired academics and postgraduate students.
Format of the programme
The whole programme consists of 8 modules offered over a period of 2 years, 2 in each semester. Each of the 8 modules will be subdivided into two parts (or papers) as indicated in the programme below.
Classes will take place at UWC on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a period of 6 weeks per module. Sessions will be from 17h00-19h00 each evening.
If you register for a module to obtain credits for it, you have to do the required coursework (which will be stipulated in the module outlines) and write an examination for each of the two papers during the June or November examination period of the semester concerned.
If you complete all eight modules in the programme (15 credits each), this will be the equivalent of a first year of university studies (120 credits). Successful students may approach the Department of Religion and Theology to continue their studies towards a B.Th. degree (which is aimed primarily at the ordained ministry).
Please click here for the 2026 Modules
Who may apply?
If you wish to obtain credits for a module, there are two possibilities: a) the normal admission requirement will be a Grade 12 certificate with either matriculation or age exemption (for those 23 years and older). This applies to students who wish to pursue studies towards a BTh degree. The number of credits is 120.
Students who do not have those requirements but still want to obtain credits may do so within the CE /DLL framework. They will have to present proof that they have completed Grade 10. Or may also be considered based on the recognition of prior learning. The number of credits is 60.
The programme is built on the assumption that there are many people who have previously obtained qualifications in other walks of life and who wish to further their theological education, given the responsibilities they have as lay leaders in local churches.
Please note that the programme operates on a cycle basis, which means that one can enter it at the beginning of any paper.
If you wish to participate in this programme, you are encouraged to contact your local congregation for financial support. It would be in the interest of any congregation to have a well-trained lay leadership.
What should I do next?
If you wish to enrol for this programme on February 2026, please attend to the following:
•All prospective students should complete the required application online at www.uwc.ac.za
•All applicants will receive a letter of admission.
•Pay the appropriate registration fees for the course.
For more information contact
Ms Ashley Maclennan
Tel: 021 – 959 2201
Email: plate@uwc.ac.za
