SATS received accreditation in 2002/3 for six programmes: Certificates in Christian Life, Christian Counselling, and Worship Studies, a Diploma in Biblical Studies (2 years), a Bachelor of Theology (4-year with an optional exit point after 3 years), and a Master of Theology. We added the PhD in Theology at our second attempt in 2007/8.
During the reaccreditation cycle in 2009/10, due to changes in the higher education framework, we could not apply for reaccreditation of the Diploma in Biblical Studies or the four-year BTh with an optional exit point after three years. We decided to teach out the Diploma, but to apply for a three-year BTh plus a BTh Honours to replace the four-year BTh. We received the BTh and BTh Honours in 2011, at which point we discontinued our old, four-year BTh. At the same time, the CHE renamed all Certificates as Higher Certificates. We
chose to discontinue the Certificate in Worship Studies due to lack of interest.
The next reaccreditation cycle began in 2015 and ended in 2018—the process took long because of capacity constraints at the CHE. The outcome was full reaccreditation for all six of the current programmes with no conditions.
The DHET and the CHE occasionally introduce new or modified regulations. When they do so, we (and all accredited institutions) need to comply. As long as we comply, these changes pose no threat to our accreditation status. In recent years, changes to the regulations governing RPL and partnership agreements have required adjustments on our side. Whenever such changes arise, SATS complies fully and swiftly. There is currently no threat to our status as a registered and accredited institution.