Greenwish School of Theology & North-West University in SA

I'm interesting in the PhD by North-West University in SA through Greenwich School of Theology in UK. Can anyone provide more information about the school and its PhD program? If you are graduated student from GST, please give me more opinion. I am applying the PhD for Jan/2012, because they only have one enter every year. Thank you.

 

People never talk about North-West but it's a viable alternative among the set of South African universities. On the other hand, I am suspicious of Greenwich. There is huge amount of information in our archives about Greenwich (you know, it's available through that little search function thingy) and most of it is kinda smelly. I'm worried that the North-West sponsorship of Greenwich is a lot like the University of Wales sponsorships that all just died a painful death. Proceed with extreme caution.
If it were me I'd be looking at SATS or UNISA instead.

 

A North-West degree is far more prestigious than one from SATS or UNISA (alongside Stellenbosch and Pretoria it is among the top three and also has one of the oldest program). I would, however, steer clear of Greenwich for the reasons Kizmet has already stated and rather look at the distance options at the Bible Institute of South Africa also awarded by North West and highly regarded and well established (since 1923). Their website doesn't have the details of the PhD but I understand that they do it and basically facilitate the distance aspect. The degree is actually done entirely through North West.

 

Thanks for your reply and opinion. Actually, the Greenwich School of Theology is no connection with the University of Greenwich in England.

 

Regardless, I think the fact that people might confuse the one with the other should at least play some part in choosing which school to enroll in. The last thing you want is people assuming that you "studied" at the other Greenwich...

 

Kizmet: I am suspicious of Greenwich. There is huge amount of information in our archives about Greenwich ... and most of it is kinda smelly.

John Bear: Well, as co-founder and first president of KSGU (Kinda Smelly Greenwich University), perhaps I may have a word or two. From the earliest editions of Bear's Gide (1974-75), I wrote favorably about a small but, I felt, quite good little theological school, Geneva School of Theology, founded in 1958, with an office in the US, but most of the academic work handled in England, shepherded by Rupert Judge (whose other academic connection was the NVSUC (Not Very Smelly University of Cambridge), which, to this day, has the Judge School of Business). When the founder of Geneva, the Rev. Banks Blocher died, things were very much in disarray, and the academics in England urgently felt the need to make some arrangement to validate their degree-granting process. To help them out in their hour of need, my colleagues at Kinda Smelly Greenwich University and I offered to make them a part of KSGU until such time as they could make other arrangements. We urged them to pursue an affiliation with a traditional Christian university. Because they liked the name "Greenwich" more than "Geneva," with permission, they changed the name of the It was a pleasant and benign relationship. I attended two of their graduation ceremonies in London (at the Hall adjoining Westminster Abbey), and spoke to the large crowd at one, along with the Archbishop of Armagh. I was extremely pleased when the Greenwich School of Theology became affiliated with the venerable and prestigious Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in South Africa (later renamed North-West University), and not at all surprised when it was accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council in the UK. To thank me for my assistance over 25-or-so years, the trustees of the school of theology invited me to be the honorary president of the school. I reminded them that I was not a Christian. Mrs. Judge said, "Oh, yes, we know that. CHristian can be so tedious, you know." I warned them that I came with a tainted reputation as the co-founder of the Kinda Smelly Greenwich University, and they . . . no, wait, this sentence is not true. I was pleased to note, on their website, this sunny afternoon in 2011, that the three faculty/administrators that I dealt with 37 years ago are still actively involved in running the school (Byron Evans, Stuart Sime, Ben Rees).

 

Thanks for the story. Maybe Greenwich is a name like Trinity. Too many of them to keep track. I'm thinking of the one that on that island next to Australia.

 

That was Greenwich University, after John Walsh de Brannagh (here, or here), bought it from John Bear, moved it, yes, to Norfolk Island, and all sorts of misadventure seems to have transpired, and it closed.

 

Thanks for your information. Actually, I did not any idea about the Greenwich University... However, about the Greenwich School of Theology? Who can provide more information, history, and so on. It will be important for me now...

 

Any information about Greenwich School of Theology (UK)? Have any idea about their professors to work with PhD students? If you are a student or was a student, can you share more information. Thank you.

 

I'd still choose of the North-West affiliates with better names. In fact, I've put my money where my mouth is and enrolled in BISA last week.

 

Graduate of GST/NWU

Friends,

I did extensive research on Greenwich in 2009, after completing my Masters. I was teaching at Saint Leo University in Florida and asked the administration to verify the validity of the degree as well. Fully satisfied with their qualifications, I enrolled and graduated with an Internationally accepted degree from North-west University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

It will be beneficial for you to know that Greenwich School of Theology (GST) works in cooperation with North-west University as an administrative agency in England. They will filter students to North-west, not offering the degree themselves. They were accredited by Open and Distance Learning Quality Council 25 September 1997. This is a highly respected institution that I recommend highly, as well as North-west University.

One nice feature with GST was the Convocation in London. It was held at the South African House on Trafalgar Square, London. It was an excellent ceremony with internationally known speakers. This is no fly-by-night organization. They are truly top shelf (an American term meaning they are of high quality).

 

This is a great review! I like the school from what I can see. I don't mind the extra price for going through the UK vs. directly through SA. Adds cache in my mind. What was process like? Was it broken into stages for submission of your topic, chapters, etc? Were you basically on your own or was involvement from the tutors at GST and NWU?