DFFE Full-time Bursary Programme 2027 for South African students in environmental fields

What does the bursary offer?

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) awards full-time bursaries for the 2027 academic year to build skills the department needs. The maximum bursary is ZAR 80,000 a year, and successful applicants sign a bursary contract that includes a compulsory internship in the public service after graduation.

Who can apply?

The call is open to full-time students already enrolled at an institution of higher learning in South Africa and to unemployed learners in grade 12. Students who have previously taken part in the public service internship programme are not eligible. The DFFE promotes representativity in race, gender and disability, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Which fields are funded?

Study fields follow the department's branches: biodiversity and conservation, chemicals and waste management, climate change and air quality, environmental programmes, fisheries management, forestry management, oceans and coasts, and regulatory compliance, from diplomas to doctoral degrees in the natural sciences, engineering and law. Each field carries a reference number that must appear on the form.

How and when to apply

Complete the prescribed application form and attach a motivation, certified copies of qualifications and academic records, certified identity documents for you and your parents or guardian, proof of registration or your latest grade 12 results, and proof of household income. Applications are delivered by hand, courier or post to the department in Pretoria or Cape Town; faxed or emailed applications are not accepted. The closing date is 2 October 2026, and applicants not contacted by the end of January 2027 should consider their application unsuccessful.