Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) Bursary Programme 2027: Applications Open

Who can apply

• According to the official advertisement, applicants must be South African citizens.
• The programme is aimed at qualifying applicants pursuing and/or intending to further their studies in the careers identified by LDARD for the 2027 academic year.
• The department particularly targets previously disadvantaged and impoverished persons from poverty-stricken and rural communities.
• Women and persons with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must also apply for one of the three fields listed in the advertisement. Applications relating to other study fields will not be considered.
• It is important to separate the department’s actual bursary requirements from additional advice provided by Edupstairs.
• Official LDARD requirements include: being a South African citizen, applying for one of the listed study fields, completing the relevant bursary application form and submitting the required documentation. The advertised Mathematics and Physical Science requirements for the listed programmes are Level 6 (70–79%).
• Edupstairs guidance: research your career before committing to a qualification, verify the current qualification and university admission requirements, apply for university separately, investigate several legitimate bursaries rather than relying on one application, and explore SETA and vocational alternatives where appropriate.
• These recommendations are intended to help applicants plan their education; they are not additional LDARD selection criteria.
• Not under this particular advertisement unless LDARD officially changes its requirements. The notice explicitly states that applicants applying for fields not listed will not be considered.
• Can I apply while waiting for my university acceptance letter?

Documents you will need

• Certified copy of the applicant’s ID.
• Certified copies of relevant certificates.
• Academic or performance results.
• Completed LDARD External Bursary application form.
• Applicants should ensure that all information provided on the application form is complete and accurate.

How to apply

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

Full details

The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) is inviting qualifying South African students and prospective students to apply for its External Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.

The programme is for applicants who are studying, or plan to study, in selected fields linked to agriculture and rural development. The official LDARD bursary circular says comprehensive bursaries are available for BSc Agricultural Engineering, National Diploma: Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine.

Check if you qualify before you apply

The department says the bursary is aimed at previously disadvantaged and poor people from poverty-stricken and rural communities. Women and persons with disabilities are also encouraged to apply.

If you are still deciding where to study or what career to follow, you can use the Career & Qualification Explorer to look at jobs and recognised qualifications. The University Explorer helps you research university courses, the TVET College Explorer covers vocational routes, and the SETA Platform shows agriculture-related training.

Quick overview: LDARD Bursary Programme 2027

The details above come from the official two-page LDARD External Bursaries advertisement for the 2027 academic year, which was supplied to us.

What does the LDARD bursary cover?

LDARD describes this opportunity as a comprehensive bursary.

According to the official advertisement, funding may cover:

• tuition;
• accommodation;
• books;
• meals; and
• a monthly allowance.

The department says this support depends on available funds. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that you will get a bursary.

This support can make a big difference for students from low-income and rural homes, because the cost of higher education goes well beyond tuition fees.

Fields of study funded by the LDARD bursary 2027

The official advertisement lists three fields of study.

Read this carefully. LDARD says applications for fields that are not listed in the advertisement will not be considered.

1. BSc Agricultural Engineering

The first field is BSc Agricultural Engineering.

The minimum school subject requirements in the advertisement are:

Mathematics at Level 6 (70 - 79%) and Physical Science at Level 6 (70 - 79%).

Agricultural Engineering combines engineering principles with farm production and infrastructure. Depending on the role and specialisation, it can involve agricultural machinery, irrigation, water systems, soil and water engineering, agricultural structures, energy systems, mechanisation and technology used in food and farm production.

Before you choose a study route, use the Career & Qualification Explorer to research engineering and agriculture-related jobs and qualifications. The Explorer currently includes more than 22,000 SAQA qualification records and more than 1,500 OFO careers.

Then use the University Explorer to look at universities, programmes and admission requirements for 2027.

Remember that the LDARD bursary requirements and university admission requirements are separate. Meeting the bursary requirements does not mean a university will admit you to Agricultural Engineering.

1. National Diploma: Civil Engineering

LDARD also lists National Diploma: Civil Engineering as a funded field.

The advertisement says:

Mathematics at Level 6 (70 - 79%) and Physical Science at Level 6 (70 - 79%).

Civil Engineering is linked to infrastructure, including roads, water infrastructure, structures, construction and other built-environment projects.

Check the exact qualification you plan to study. Do not rely only on the general or older qualification title shown in an advertisement.

The Career & Qualification Explorer can help you check current SAQA qualification records, NQF levels and career links.

If you are interested in engineering and vocational routes, you can also look at South Africa's public colleges through the TVET College Explorer.

Important: including the TVET College Explorer here is extra career guidance. It does not mean every TVET Civil Engineering programme qualifies for this LDARD bursary. Confirm that your exact qualification meets LDARD's requirements.

1. Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

The third advertised field is Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine.

LDARD lists the minimum requirements as:

Mathematics at Level 6 (70 - 79%) and Physical Science at Level 6 (70 - 79%).

Veterinary medicine is closely linked to agriculture, because vets help with animal health, disease prevention and control, livestock production, food security and public health.

Admission to veterinary studies often depends on the specific programme, so check the requirements of the university that offers it.

Use the University Explorer to start looking at university options, and the Career & Qualification Explorer to research veterinary and animal-health careers.

Who can apply for the LDARD bursary?

According to the official advertisement, applicants must be South African citizens.

The programme is for qualifying applicants who are studying, or plan to study, in the careers LDARD has identified for the 2027 academic year.

The department especially targets previously disadvantaged and poor people from poverty-stricken and rural communities.

Women and persons with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply.

You must apply for one of the three fields in the advertisement. Applications for other fields will not be considered.

Can you apply without a university acceptance letter yet?

The official advertisement has an important rule for prospective 2027 students.

LDARD says applicants who do not yet have their university acceptance letter or results can submit a bursary application while they wait for those documents.

This means you should not necessarily delay your bursary application just because your final results or university acceptance letter have not arrived yet.

You should still follow up on your university applications and send any outstanding documents as LDARD instructs.

If you are still deciding where to apply, use the University Explorer to look at university programmes and 2027 application information.

Official requirements vs extra guidance

It is important to separate LDARD's actual bursary requirements from the extra advice given here.

Official LDARD requirements include being a South African citizen, applying for one of the listed fields of study, completing the relevant bursary application form and submitting the required documents. The advertised Mathematics and Physical Science requirements for the listed programmes are Level 6 (70 - 79%).

Extra guidance: research your career before you commit to a qualification, check the current qualification and university admission requirements, apply to university separately, look at several legitimate bursaries rather than relying on one application, and explore SETA and vocational options where they fit.

This advice is meant to help you plan your education. It is not an extra LDARD selection rule.

Agriculture students should also explore AgriSETA

University bursaries are only one part of South Africa's skills development system.

The SETA Platform covers all 21 South African SETAs. It gives information on bursaries, learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, WIL, skills programmes and other workplace development routes. The SETA guide explains how the 21 SETAs cover sectors across the economy.

Agriculture falls closely within the skills development work of AgriSETA.

For example, the SETA database includes AgriSETA routes that support small farmers, land reform beneficiaries and rural agricultural structures.

You can therefore follow a wider route:

career, qualification, university or college, bursary funding, SETA opportunities, workplace experience.

This is especially useful if you want a long-term career in agriculture, rather than只 searching for funding on its own.

How to apply for the LDARD bursary programme 2027

Complete the relevant LDARD bursary application form.

According to the advertisement, completed bursary application forms must be sent with certified copies of your ID and your certificates or performance results.

Send applications to:

Head of Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 69 Biccard Street, Private Bag X9487, Polokwane 0700

Follow the submission instructions on the official form carefully, and keep proof or copies of everything you send where possible.

Application closing date

The closing date for applications is 30 October 2026 at 16:00.

LDARD says late application forms will not be considered.

Do not wait until the closing date to start collecting documents.

What happens after you apply?

The department says it will only communicate with successful applicants.

According to the official notice, if you have not heard from LDARD within 60 days, you should consider your application unsuccessful.

The department also decides the total number of bursaries awarded for the academic year, and it may choose not to award bursaries depending on budget availability.

Before you apply: build your 2027 study plan

A bursary application should be part of a wider study plan.

Start with the Career & Qualification Explorer and look at the job you really want. The qualification database lets you check SAQA qualifications, NQF levels and links between careers and qualifications.

Next, use the University Explorer to look at suitable university programmes and admission requirements.

If you are considering technical or vocational options, you can look at all 50 public TVET colleges through the TVET College Explorer.

Then look at other funding and workplace development routes through the SETA Platform.

Also check the status of the qualification you plan to study. There is a guide that explains how to find recognised SAQA qualifications for 2027.

Latest bursaries

Do not depend on one bursary application. Several other 2027 funding opportunities have recently been published.

The Samancor Chrome Bursary Programme 2027 covers several engineering, mining, geology, environmental and safety fields, including opportunities advertised in Limpopo and North West.

Students from qualifying beneficiary communities can look at the SIOC-CDT Bursary Programme 2027, which covers a wide range of priority study areas.

If you are interested in environmental and related careers, you should also consider the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bursary Programme 2027.

Agriculture students should look closely at the National Department of Agriculture Bursary Programme 2027 Intake, which covers a much wider group of agriculture, veterinary, animal science and related fields.

If you need broader government financial help, also read the NSFAS Applications for 2027 guide for university and TVET funding.

Tools you may find useful

Other employment opportunities

Need help?

If you are interested in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering or Veterinary Medicine, do not treat the bursary application as a replacement for your university application.

Run both processes at the same time.

First research the career using the Career & Qualification Explorer. Then look at institutions and admission requirements through the University Explorer. Submit your university applications, prepare the LDARD bursary application, and keep applying for other legitimate funding.

LDARD allows applicants who are still waiting for university acceptance letters or results to submit an application. This matters a lot. Do not rule yourself out just because those documents have not arrived yet.

The advertised fields are very specific, so do not apply under an unrelated agricultural course hoping LDARD will make an exception. Follow the official advertisement and application form.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who is offering the 2027 bursary?

The bursary is offered by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD).

1. Which courses does the LDARD Bursary Programme 2027 fund?

The official advertisement lists three fields: BSc Agricultural Engineering, National Diploma: Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine.

1. What marks do I need?

For the three listed fields, the advertisement specifies Mathematics and Physical Science at Level 6 (70 - 79%).

1. What does the bursary cover?

The advertisement says the bursary may cover tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a monthly allowance, subject to available funds.

1. Can I apply for another agricultural qualification?

Not under this advertisement, unless LDARD officially changes its requirements. The notice says applications for fields that are not listed will not be considered.

Yes. The advertisement says applicants who do not yet have their university acceptance letter or results can submit their application while they wait for those documents.

1. Can students with disabilities apply?

Yes. LDARD specifically encourages women and persons with disabilities to apply.

1. Do I need to be a South African citizen?

Yes. The official notes say applicants must be South African citizens.

1. When do applications close?

Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 16:00.

1. Where can I get the application form?

Get the application form from the official LDARD source.

You can also

Disclaimer

This directory is not the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It does not run, receive, shortlist, approve or award LDARD bursaries.

This article is an independent explainer based mainly on the official Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Advertisement of External Bursaries: 2027 Academic Year (Departmental Circular No. 41 of 2026), which was supplied to us.

Use the official LDARD advertisement, bursary application form and departmental website as the final authority on eligibility, documents, submission requirements and selection.

Never pay anyone who claims they can guarantee you an LDARD bursary or influence the selection process.

Editorial integrity

The funded fields, Mathematics and Physical Science requirements, bursary coverage, South African citizenship requirement, target beneficiaries, application instructions, treatment of outstanding university acceptance letters or results, closing date and communication arrangements in this article come from the official LDARD advertisement we were given.

The links to the Career & Qualification Explorer, University Explorer, TVET College Explorer, SETA Platform, SAQA guidance and other bursary opportunities are extra resources added to help applicants make informed education, career and funding decisions.

This publisher is a registered non-profit organisation. NPO No: 232 - 182. Public Benefit Organisation (PBO): 930066984. We never ask for money or CVs for jobs. Be aware of fake job posts and recruitment fraud. Use the Scam Detector tool to spot a scam before you apply.

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Sources

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