Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary

Who can apply

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be currently in Matric or you have completed Matric
• You must be studying or intend on studying full time, towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above
• You must be studying or intend on studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa
• You must NOT be employed
• You must NOT be an employee of the DFFE
• You must NOT have previously participated in the public service internship program
• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged candidates and those living with disabilities

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to Department Forestry, Fisheries And - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE DFFE BURSARY COVER?

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies in the following fields:

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION:

• ND/BA Environmental Management / B Sc Environmental Science
• B Sc Natural Sciences Management
• ND/ Degree Eco tourism and game range management
• N Dip/BTech/ Postgraduate Diploma: Nature conservation
• BSc Zoology and Botany

CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT:

• ND/ B Tech/ B Degree/ Hons/ M Sc: Chemistry
• ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech : Environmental Science/ Environmental Management / Environmental law/ Environmental education
• ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech Waste Management/ Recycling Economy/ Waste as resource
• BA Degree/Hons/M Sc Geography and Society with research in Waste Management/ Rescource Efficiency/ Circular economy/ Extended producer responsibility
• B Degree/Hons/MA : Chemical Engineering / Civil Engineering
• B Degree/ Hons/ M Sc/ PhD Natural Sciences with research in resource efficiency/ Geography/ Development Studies
• LLB Degree/ LLM/ PhD : Environmental Law with research or thesis in transforming environmental law to keep up with the latest international trends on waste as a resource

CLIMATE AND CHANGE AND AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT:

• ND /B Sc Environmental Science
• ND/B Sc Environmental Management
• B Degree Earth and Environmental Sciences
• B Degree Natural Science
• B Sc Chemistry
• B Sc Geography / Archaeology and Environmental
• ND/ B Degree in Sustainable Development

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES:

• BSc Degree/ Hons/ MSc in Environmental Management/Science
• BSc Conservation Ecology/Biodiversity/ Biology
• BSc Marine Biology
• B Degree/Hons/ MSc Engineering Management / Civil Engineering
• B Sc/ Hons Geographical information System
• MSc Ecological Economics

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT:

• Maritime Studies (related to harbour/ports - fishing harbours) /Maritime law
• BSc/Hons/MSc/PhD Oceanography, Marine Biology, Ichthyology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• B Sc Marine / Fisheries Biology
• Hons/MSc/PhD Zoology (freshwater ecology or specialising in the field of freshwater fisheries)
• Bachelor’s degree, Post graduate studies, B Tech, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD, (Marine biology, Aquaculture, Environmental Science/management, Fisheries Science, Aquatic Science, or a related field)
• Actuarial Science
• MSc Applied Mathematics/ Statistics with population dynamics modelling
• BTech, Beng Tech or BSc Eng in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
• BSc/MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing / Environmental Informatics
• Postgraduate Diploma/ MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Hons/Masters Economics, Agriculture Economics, Fisheries Economics

FORESTRY MANAGEMENT:

• Diploma in Forestry
• Advanced Diploma in Forestry
• Bachelor of Science
• Honours in Natural Resource Management
• BSc in Forestry and Wood Sciences

OCEANS AND COASTS:

• B Sc/ Hons/ M Sc/ PhD: Biodiversity/ Conservation Biology/ Marine Biology/ Environmental Science
• BTech Engineering: Electrical/ Electronic/ Mechanical/ Communication
• Hons/ Masters : Physical/ Chemical/ Biological Oceanography
• BA/ BCom/ Hons/ Masters/ PhD : Natural Resource Economics/ Environmental Economics/ Maritime Studies/ Maritime Economics
• Hons/ Masters : Ecophysiology/ Taxonomy/ Systematics
• B Sc/ BTech/ Hons/ M Sc/: Marine Biology and Ecology/ Environmental Management/ Nature Conservation or equivalent
• B Eng/ B Sc Eng: Coastal Engineering, coastal dynamics and adaptation, restoration and rehabilitation
• BA/ BCom: Marine and Coastal policy, Community engagement and stakeholder management
• B Tech/ Hons: Coastal and Marine climate change
• B Tech/ Hons: Coastal Spatial Planning/ Town and Regional Planning
• Hons/ M Sc: Chemistry-Heavy Metals/ Hydrocarbons
• Hons/ M Sc: Ecophysiology/ Taxonomy (Systematics and Biodiversity)

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SECTOR MONITORING:

• LLB (Major courses: administrative law, legislative drafting, Environmental Law)
• LLM
• B.A Law, A Diploma, or a Degree in Paralegal
• Bachelor of Environmental Sciences/Management
• BSC majoring in Geography, Geoinformatics
• Bachelor of Environmental Management majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment

WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE DFFE BURSARY COVER?

The bursary will be awarded for the maximum value of R80 000.

After graduation, bursary recipients will be required to participate in the internship program.

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE DFFE BURSARY?

Successful candidates will be contacted by no later than 31 January 2027 - if you do not receive any feedback by this date, please regard your application as unsuccessful.

Successful bursary recipients will be required to sign a bursary contract with the department.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE DFFE BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE DFFE BURSARY?

Download and complete the DFFE Bursary Application Form 2027 (.pdf)

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the DFFE bursary.

Indicate the relevant reference number and qualification you are applying for, on the application form:

• BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION (Ref: B&C/01/2027)
• CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT (Ref: CWM/01/2027)
• CLIMATE AND CHANGE AND AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (Ref: CCAQ/01/2027)
• ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES (Ref: EP/01/2027)
• FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (Ref: FISH/01/2027)
• FORESTRY MANAGEMENT (Ref: FOR/01/2027)
• OCEANS AND COASTS (Ref: OC/01/2027)
• REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SECTOR MONITORING (Ref: RCSM/01/2027)

Applications must be submitted in either of the following ways:

• Hand delivery or courier: Pretoria: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentEnvironment House473 Steve Biko StreetCnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg RoadArcadiaPretoria Cape Town: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentForetrust BuildingNo 3 Hammerschlag WayForeshoreCape Town8000
• Post: Attention: Learning and Development (Bursary Section)The Director-General, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentPrivate Bag X447Pretoria0001

Note: applications submitted via fax or email will NOT be accepted.

WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST I SUBMIT FOR THE DFFE BURSARY?

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory - if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric latest results, if currently in Matric (certified copy)
• Matric certificate, if completed Matric (certified copy)
• Qualifications or certificates completed, if applicable (certified copies)
• Most recent academic records, if currently studying (certified copies)
• Proof of registration, if enrolled (on institutes letterhead)
• Parents or guardians ID documents (certified copies)
• Parents or guardians proof of income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ proof of sassa grant or pension if applicable/ affidavit or death certificates if deceased)
• Motivational letter to support your application and explain why you should be awarded the bursary (read our tips on how to write a motivational letter for your bursary application)

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE DFFE BURSARY?

2 October 2026.

(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted - please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) directly:

Pretoria contacts:

• Joshua Moepya (Tel: 012 399 8682)
• Busisiwe Stemele (Tel: 012 399 8685)
• Mokhobo Putu (Tel: 012 399 9018)

Cape Town contacts:

• Kgomotso Moela (Tel: 081 492 5570)
• Neliswa Magwala (Tel: 066 081 9858)
• Tumeka Madolo (Tel: 071 607 2014)

WHAT DOES THE DFFE DO?

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is a South African government department responsible for managing and protecting the country’s natural environment and biodiversity. The department was established in 2019 following the restructuring of government departments, which brought together environmental affairs with forestry and fisheries functions.

Previously known as the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), the department adopted its current name, DFFE, in April 2021.

Its work includes environmental protection and conservation, sustainable management of forests and fisheries, biodiversity preservation, climate change initiatives, and promoting the responsible use of South Africa’s natural resources.

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