SAC Prospectus 2026

St Athanasius College

Prospectus 2026

ST ATHANASIUS

COLLEGE

Table of Contents

Who is SAC?

Finding your Course

Our Courses

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

Units

Timetable

Key Dates

Who’s teaching in 2026?

How to apply

Overview and Accreditation

St Athanasius College (SAC), founded in 2001, achieved

accreditation as a member college of the collegiate

University of Divinity in 2011. SAC is a Coptic Orthodox

theological institution that provides a broad range of

units, including Theology, Church History, Biblical

Studies, Liturgy, Missiology, Counselling, Coptic Studies

and Syriac Studies. Many of these units are taught from

Christian

Orthodox

perspective,

reflecting

the

College’s commitment to its heritage.

Inclusive Learning Environment

SAC welcomes all individuals interested in exploring

Christian heritage and Orthodox teachings, whether

they wish to study full-time or part-time. We offer both

undergraduate and postgraduate study options, as

well as Higher Degree by Research (HDR) awards

through the University of Divinity.

Support for Students

Both local and international students are supported

throughout their academic journey at SAC. We aim to

foster a deeper understanding of Orthodox Christianity

and spirituality, encouraging students to grow in their

faith and prepare for service in a variety of ministry

fields. Christian fellowship, liturgical worship, and

learning are central to our community experience.

Spiritual and Professional

Development

SAC provides a nurturing learning environment that

promotes spiritual growth and helps cultivate the

unique gifts of each student. We aim to prepare

students for ministry by equipping them with the skills

and confidence needed for ministry and priesthood.

Additionally, lay people are prepared to serve in roles

such as religious educators, youth leaders, and

counsellors, thus contributing to mission and ministry

in diverse contexts.

Flexible Class Delivery and Campus

Locations

All our classes are offered online through both

synchronous and asynchronous delivery. This means

you are able to participate in live tutorial discussions

with your peers and lecturers, as well as have the

flexibility to access all the learning materials and

recorded lectures in your own time. Some units may

feature a blended format that incorporates face-to-

face tutorials. These in-person sessions take place at

either of our two Melbourne campuses: the Donvale

campus at 100 Park Road, Donvale, or the city campus

at 279 La Trobe Street in Melbourne’s CBD.

Student Life

Our students are the heart of our College community,

representing diverse backgrounds and traditions and a

shared interest in deepening their understanding of

theology and Orthodox Christianity. SAC offers a

supportive and academically challenging environment

for

spiritual

and

theological

growth.

Students

participate in College events like public lectures and

symposia led by renowned scholars and faculty. The

Student Representative Council (SRC) helps organise

these events and facilitates communication between

students and administration. If you wish to be a

member of the SRC, please contact our College

Chaplain, Fr Michael Salib at frmichael@sac.edu.au

Our Patron: St Athanasius

Our College is named in honour of St Athanasius, the

20th patriarch of Alexandria, renowned as the great

pillar of Orthodoxy and defender of the Scriptural

doctrine of Christ. SAC is committed to following in the

footsteps of St Athanasius by preserving the Gospel

truth for current and future generations.

We warmly invite you to become part of the SAC

community and embark on your journey of spiritual and

academic growth.

WHO IS SAC?

ST ATHANASIUS

COLLEGE

FINDING YOUR COURSE

The courses you are eligible for will depend on what

qualifications you currently have.

1) If you have finished High School and have the

equivalent of the VCE/HSC, you can apply to study in our

undergraduate programs, including:

Certificate in Divinity

Diploma in Theology

Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry

Bachelor of Theology

2) If you have a University Degree in any discipline,

you can choose to study a postgraduate award,

such as:

Postgraduate Certificate in Divinity or Theology

Postgraduate Diploma in Divinity or Theology

Master of Theological Studies

Master of Divinity

3) If you don’t have a university degree but have

acquired a minimum of five years of relevant

work/professional experience, you can apply to study

at Postgraduate level by first completing a Postgraduate

Certificate in Divinity or Theology and then progress up

to higher awards.

If you are curious to learn about some of our unit offerings but don’t want the

stress of submitting assignments, you are welcome to access our learning

environment as an audit student on a not-for-credit basis. This means you can

attend and participate in classroom discussions (in person or online), have

access to all the study materials, without the need to fulfill the assessment

requirements that earn credit towards an academic award.

Want to learn with us, without the stress?

Certificate in Divinity

72 credit points of study (4 units). 1

semester of full-time study or two

semesters of part-time study. This

foundational course provides a pathway

to further undergraduate studies in

divinity-related areas.

Diploma in Theology

144 credit points of study (8 units). 1 year

full-time, or up to 4 years part-time. This

course introduces students to the key

theological disciplines of Biblical Studies,

History, Theology and other areas of study.

Advanced Diploma in Theology

and Ministry

288 credit points of study (16 units). 2 years

full-time, or up to 8 years part-time. This

course allows students to undertake basic

studies in the key disciplines and extends

those in areas of their choice.

Bachelor of Theology

432 credit points of study (24 units). 3

years full-time, or up to 9 years part-time.

This course allows students to develop

knowledge across broad areas of

theology, as well as depth in areas of

interest.

Our Courses

Graduate Certificate in

Divinity/Theology

72 credit points of study (3 units). 1

semester full-time, or up to 3 semesters

part-time. This course allows students to

develop and deepen their knowledge and

skills in theological disciplines and provides

a foundation for further study and a means

of engaging Christian thought and

traditions.

Graduate Diploma in

Divinity/Theology

144 credit points of study (6 units). 1 year

full-time, or up to 3 years part-time. This

course allows students to explore multiple

areas of interest in divinity and its

associated disciplines, or to engage with

one or two areas in depth.

Master of Theological Studies

288 credit points of study (12 units). 2 years

full-time, or up to 6 years part-time. This

course enables students to broaden their

knowledge and skills and deepen their

engagement with select areas of study.

Master of Divinity

432 credit points of study (18 units). 3 years

full-time, or up to 9 years part-time. This

course offers a high level of theological

study and offers a distinct emphasis on

integration, research and theological

reflection.

Undergraduate Programs

Postgraduate Programs

Cross-Institutional Study

If you are already undertaking study at another university, did you know that you

may be able study units at SAC as part of your award?

current institution about the flexibility of choosing electives at SAC as cross-

institutional study.

Studying theology is a great way for one to deepen their faith and knowledge of

Christian tradition and to serve in the mission of the Church.

Single Subject Studies

Interested in studying a specific unit and complete all the required assessment

tasks without pursuing an entire course of study? Consider enrolling in a Single

Subject unit. You may enrol in up to four individual units through this option.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Enquiries

To enquire about studying any of our Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses, or

to audit a unit, or simply to chat about your study interests and options, please

reach out to our Registrar, Amy Jackson, at registrar@sac.edu.au, or our

Academic Dean, Dr Lisa Agaiby, at lagaiby@sac.edu.au

Our Courses

The University of Divinity offers Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) to suitably qualified

candidates. Research degrees are undertaken under supervision of two appropriately

accredited research-active supervisors, one of whom must be a faculty member of the

University of Divinity. The following degrees are open to graduates of at least four years of

full-time tertiary study, including at least one year of study in theology or an associated

discipline.

Master of Philosophy

18 months full-time, or 3 years part time (Maximum 4 years). This degree is intended for

candidates with an established background in the relevant discipline. It requires

completion of a 40,000-word thesis and participation in eight hours of postgraduate

seminars annually. Admission is determined solely by the School of Graduate Research

Committee, which evaluates applicants based on their research potential, the quality and

viability of their research proposal, the availability of suitable supervision, and the strength

of referee reports.

Doctor of Philosophy

3 years full-time, or 8 years part-time. This degree qualifies individuals who demonstrate

expertise in applying an extensive body of knowledge to research, investigation, and the

advancement of new knowledge within one or more disciplines, scholarly fields, or areas of

professional practice. The program requires completion of a significant, supervised

research thesis of 100,000 words. Admission is granted solely by the School of Graduate

Research Committee who evaluate the applicant’s capacity for research, the quality and

feasibility of the proposed project, the availability of suitable supervision, and the strength

of referee reports.

Admission Criteria into HDR Courses

Applicants are admitted into HDR courses by the School of Graduate Research Committee.

Applicants must have successfully completed RQ9748M Minor Thesis (16,000 words) or

equivalent, achieving a grade of no less than 75%, and the completion of either RQ9021Z

Research Methodologies or DP9734W Human Research Methodologies (for human based

research).

HDR Enquiries

To enquire about undertaking a Minor Thesis or a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) course,

please contact our SAC Research Coordinator, Dr Katherin Papadopoulos, at

kpapadopoulos@sac.edu.au.

Our Courses

Higher Degrees by Research (HDR)

Fee Payment Options

Students have a number of fee payment options depending on the course

or unit in which they are enrolled.

TUITION FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Upfront Payment: Students can choose to pay upfront by credit card,

cheque or BPay. Students can now pay their fees online via the

University's payment portal: https://pay.divinity.edu.au/

FEE-Help: Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian

visa may choose to defer the payment of University of Divinity fees through

the FEE-HELP loan scheme. For information, go to: www.studyassist.gov.au

For more information about fee payment options at the University of

Divinity go to: https://divinity.edu.au/study/fees/

Parish Sponsorships: Coptic Parishes offer sponsorship to their

parishioners who study at SAC. Sponsorships are limited. Please

talk to your Parish Priest about opportunities for sponsorship. For

information go to: https://www.sac.edu.au/fees-and-sponsorship/

The University of Divinity sets tuition fees annually, which are the same

at all its colleges. Fees are charged per unit of study each semester

and include tuition, library access, and student facilities.

All Undergraduate unit fees: $2,184

All Postgraduate unit fees: $3,384

Audit of a unit: $550

Why study apologetics?

In a world filled with questions, confusion, and doubt, Christian apologetics calls us

to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) by uniting reason, theology, and

witness. Grounded in the wisdom of the Church Fathers and the living tradition of

the Orthodox faith, apologetics helps us explain the truth, defend our faith with

humility and live the Gospel with conviction.

This unit is the first of its kind at SAC and will introduce students to the

foundational knowledge and skills necessary to examine how Christianity responds

to contemporary challenges.

*This online unit will run mid-year from 1 Jun to 30 August. For further information,

please contact our registrar, Amy Jackson, at registrar@sac.edu.au.

NEW UNITS

ANCIENT FAITH, MODERN QUESTIONS: ORTHODOX APOLOGETICS

FOR TODAY’S WORLD (CT1300A/CT8300A)

Lecturer: Fr Dr Antonios Kaldas

Lives and Times of the Desert Fathers

(CH3500A/CH9500A)

This unit will engage students in the study

of the pioneers and centres of the early

monastic movement in Egypt and their

impact on the spread of the movement

throughout the Late Roman Empire. It will

consider

the

various

theological

viewpoints that became prominent in Late

Antique Egypt and its impact in Egyptian

monastic circles.

The Eucharist in the Early Church and

Coptic Tradition (CT3620A/CT9620A)

This unit presents an overview of the

sacrament of the Eucharist, examining it

from historical, liturgical, and theological

perspectives. A primary focus will be on

the Coptic interpretation of the Eucharist

and the fundamental aspects of Coptic

sacramental theology.

The Illuminated Heart: An Introduction to

Counselling Microskills for those in

Service and Ministry

(DP1400A/DP8400A)

This introductory unit provides students

with an overview of basic counselling

micro-skills and is designed to provide

experiential learning opportunities that

will equip students with skills necessary

for fostering and facilitating effective

communication and conversation in a

variety of ministry and pastoral service

settings within the Orthodox Church.

An Introduction to the New Testament:

History, Culture & Canon

(BN1600A/BN8600A)

This

foundational

unit

provides

overview of the literary genres, historical

and cultural contexts, and theological

themes found within the New Testament.

Students will engage with contemporary

critical

methodologies

for

scriptural

interpretation,

particularly

from

Orthodox perspective, and will explore the

development

the

New

Testament

canon.

An Introduction to the Old Testament

(BA1100A/BA8100A)

This unit offers an introduction to the

literature of the Old Testament, and a

study of the history and geography of

biblical Israel. Students will be introduced

to the study of the Old Testament and its

different genres, comparing modern and

patristic methodologies of interpreting the

Old Testament.

Coptic Language: Bohairic I

(AL1200A/AL8200A)

This unit introduces the student to the

basic morphology, syntax, basic grammar,

and

vocabulary

Coptic

language

(Bohairic dialect). Throughout the unit

selected Coptic texts will be studied from

Coptic liturgical books and the Bible.

History of Orthodox Missiology

(DM2800A/DM8800A)

This

unit

examines

the

historical

development of Orthodox Missiology by

situating it in the key Orthodox mission

movements from the Eastern and Oriental

Orthodox traditions. The unit will critically

look into several historical approaches

that took shape in engaging Orthodox

evangelisation.

SEMESTER 1 UNITS

Hidden Pearls: A Survey of Syriac Christian

Literature (CH1110A/CH8110A)

This unit surveys the main genres of Syriac

Christian literature in the first six centuries AD,

commencing

with

the

origins

Syriac

literature and the Syriac Bible and ending with

the first Syriac historiography of the sixth

century. In addition to biblical and apocryphal

literature, students will be introduced to the

writings of Syriac-speaking authors from the

Classical, West and East Syriac traditions.

Jesus Christ in the Asian Context

(DM3710A/DM9710A)

This unit seeks to critically examine the

Christological developments in the Asian

context. Primarily, it aims to demonstrate ‘who

is Jesus Christ’ for the people in the multi-

faceted context of Asia and analyses the

Asian social realities to recognise ‘Christ’s

social face’ that emerged in this context.

Seeking Christ in Scriptures: Scripture and Its

Exegesis in the Orthodox Tradition

(BS3000A/BS9000A)

This unit explores the place of Scripture in the

Orthodox Tradition, focusing on the principles

of patristic hermeneutics, and exploring a

range of homiletic, ascetic, liturgical, and

iconographic exegeses of the Holy Scriptures.

The unit explores the position of Scripture in

the Orthodox tradition and in the spiritual life

of a believer.

*Capstone projects and Supervised Reading

Units (SRU) can be undertaken in either

semester. For enquiries, please contact Dr Lisa

Agaiby at: lagaiby@sac.edu.au

A Journey with Lady Wisdom: Biblical Wisdom

Literature and its Reception

(BA3510A/BA9510A)

The unit examines various aspects of ancient

wisdom as depicted in the following four

canonical books of the Old Testament (Job,

Wisdom Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes); and

Deuterocanonical books (Wisdom of Solomon,

Ben Sirach [Book of Ecclesiasticus]). Modern

reception of Wisdom literature in addressing

contemporary world concerns will also be

investigated.

Coptic Language: Bohairic II

(AL2200A/AL9200A)

Following on from AL1200A (Bohairic I), this unit

enables students to read and understand texts

in Bohairic Coptic. Building upon basic skills

acquired in the previous unit of study, this unit

presents further grammatical material and

vocabulary necessary to read and translate

from Bohairic Coptic to English and vice versa.

Coptic Liturgy: The Canonical Hours in the

Coptic Church (Books of Horologion and

Psalmodia) (DL1400A/DL8400A)

This unit examines the two important liturgical

books used daily in the Coptic Church: the

Horologion (Agpeya = book of hours) and the

book of Psalmodia (book of midnight and

evening praise). Students will gain insight into

the historical development and the current

structure of the canonical hours and their role

in spiritual practice.

Foundations of Christian Ethics in the

Orthodox Tradition (CT1900A/CT8900A)

What is the good life? How do and should we

make moral judgments? These questions are

investigated

through

understanding

what

Orthodox theological reasoning contributes to

ethical deliberation. Working from scriptural,

liturgical, and theological sources, the unit asks

what significance beliefs about key theological

themes such as the doctrine of the Triune God,

Christology,

and

theological

anthropology,

have for theological ethics. A range of models

for ethical decision making are considered in

the light of these theological resources.

SEMESTER 2 UNITS

MID YEAR UNITS

(1/6/26–30/8/26)

Ancient Faith, Modern Questions:

Orthodox Apologetics for Today’s

World (CT1300A/CT8300A)

The question of whether Christian faith

remains tenable in the modern world is

a subject of ongoing debate. In recent

years, increased criticism of religion

and Christianity has led some to

question its rationality and relevance.

By offering an overview of Orthodox

Christian

apologetics,

this

unit

introduces students to the foundational

knowledge and skills necessary to

examine how Christianity responds to

contemporary challenges. This unit

engages

with

the

study

logic,

theology, and philosophy.

SUMMER UNITS

(4/12/26–26/2/27)

The Theology of the Fathers

(CT1400A/CT8400A)

This unit explores the writings of the

Fathers

the

Church

and

their

contribution to the formation of Orthodox

Theology from the first century to the turn

of the sixth. A variety of genres will be

studied, including the epistle, apology,

homily

and

martyrology.

The

unit

highlights the Fathers of Alexandria, the

Cappadocian Fathers and Latin Church

Fathers.

Study Tour of Coptic Egypt: Crossroads of

Civilisations (AH3510A/AH9510A)

This unit combines intensive study with an

immersive cultural experience. Students

will explore the main sites in Egypt: Ancient

(pagan), Late Antique (Christian), and

Islamic, looking at the ways in which

society, culture and religion transitioned

and assimilated from one civilisation to

the next and the use and re-use of sacred

space. Students will examine how primary

textual

information

reflected

architecturally,

archaeologically,

and

culturally. The study tour engages with the

archaeological, geographical, historical,

cultural and theological context of the

history of Egypt, with particular emphasis

on the first millennium A.D.

MID YEAR/SUMMER UNITS

TIMETABLE

All classes will be offered in online (synchronous and asynchronous) mode, with weekly

evening zoom tutorials from 6.30pm that will consist of discussions and guided

readings.

Unit codes 1–3 are Undergraduate levels (18 credit points)

Unit codes 8 & 9 are Postgraduate levels (24 credit points)

For enquires on any of our offerings, please contact our Registrar, Amy Jackson, at

registrar@sac.edu.au, or our Academic Dean, Dr Lisa Agaiby, at lagaiby@sac.edu.au

TIMETABLE

KEY DATES

WHO’S TEACHING IN 2026?

Fr Dr Jacob Joseph

Fr Jacob is a priest in the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian

Orthodox Church in Australia. He has a Ph.D. from the University of

Divinity, and lectures in Missiology. His interests include the history

and theology of Orthodox Mission and his interest in mission focuses

on the youth and the socially marginalised.

Dr Lisa Agaiby

Lisa has a Ph.D. from Macquarie University, and from the University of

Göttingen,

Germany.

Her

interests

include

Early

Egyptian

Monasticism, Manuscript Studies and Christian-Arabic Studies.

Fr Dr Gregorios Awad

Fr Gregorios is a Coptic Orthodox priest. He has a Ph.D. from Aristotle

University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and from Martin-Luther-University

Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. He lectures in Church History, Dogmatic

and Systematic Theology and Coptic Language. His interests include

Christian-Arabic Studies and Liturgy.

Fr Dr Shenouda Boutros

Fr Shenouda is a Coptic Orthodox priest. He has a Master of Theology

from the University of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh

Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, USA. He lectures in Christian

Ethics in the Orthodox Tradition and Systematic Theology. His interests

include Ethics, Gender Studies, and Ecumenism.

Ms Ireni Farag

Ireni lectures across Counselling and Human Services programs at

Western Sydney University. A Ph.D. candidate at Flinders University, she

has extensive experience as a professional counsellor. Her interests

include Conversation Analysis, psychotherapy and spirituality.

WHO’S TEACHING IN 2026?

Fr Dr Antonios Kaldas

Fr Antonios is a Coptic Orthodox priest. He received a Ph.D. in

Philosophy from Macquarie University and is currently undertaking a

second Ph.D. through the University of Notre Dame researching

Natural Theology in the Eastern Christian context. He lectures in

Philosophy and Apologetics at St Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological

College in Sydney.

Dr Amir Malek

Amir is a medical practitioner by profession. He has a Master of

Theology from the Australian Catholic University, and a Ph.D. from the

University of Divinity. He lectures in Old and New Testament, and his

interests include the Pentateuch and Christian-Arabic Studies.

Mr Abraam Mikhail

Abraam has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from St Vladimir’s

Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York, and lectures in Patristics. His

interests include the Alexandrian Church Fathers, Church History and

Systematic Theology.

Fr James Nessim

Fr James is a Coptic Orthodox priest. He has a Master of Theological

Studies from the University of Divinity, and lectures in Liturgical Studies

and Bohairic Coptic. His interests include Coptic and Arabic literature

and liturgy, and Egyptian Church history.

WHO’S TEACHING IN 2026?

Dr Katherin Papadopoulos

Katherin received her Ph.D. from the University of Divinity, and lectures in

History and Church History. Her interests include Late Antique memory

culture, Hagiography, history of the Mediterranean East, and Patristics.

Fr Dr Nebojsa Tumara

Fr Nebojsa is a Serbian Orthodox priest. He has a Master of Theology

from St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, a Master

of Arts in Biblical Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in

Israel, and a Ph.D. from the University of Belgrade in Serbia. His interests

include Biblical Languages, Biblical Studies, and Iconography.

ST ATHANASIUS

COLLEGE