If you’re a matric learner or a full-time student in South Africa looking to fund your studies in an environment-related field, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has reopened its annual Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year. Here’s a complete, easy-to-follow breakdown of what the bursary offers, who qualifies, and exactly how to apply.
What Is the DFFE Bursary Programme?
The DFFE Bursary is a government-funded study support programme aimed at building a skilled talent pipeline for South Africa’s environmental, forestry, fisheries and conservation sectors. The department manages the country’s national parks and protected areas, the fishing industry, state forests, climate change and air quality policy, waste management, and the coastline, and it needs a steady supply of trained professionals to support this work.
The bursary is worth up to R80,000 per student, though this figure represents the maximum award rather than a guaranteed amount for every recipient. Applicants should understand that R80,000 is the stated ceiling and should not be treated as an automatic payout. MyExam Papers SUBMITYOURCV
Who Can Apply?
The bursary is open to full-time students already enrolled at a higher learning institution, as well as individuals currently in Grade 12 who are not employed. Applicants must be South African citizens, and the programme covers a range of qualification levels including diplomas, undergraduate degrees, and select postgraduate studies. Opportunities For Africans StudentRoom
A few important disqualifiers to know before you apply:
- Anyone who has already taken part in the public service internship programme is not eligible to apply again. EduFunds SA
- Accepting the bursary means you’re committing to complete a mandatory internship with the department once your studies are finished, and this internship route can only be used once. DFFE
Fields of Study Covered
The DFFE funds students across eight priority streams tied to its various branches. These are Biodiversity and Conservation, Chemicals and Waste Management, Climate Change and Air Quality, Environmental Programmes, Fisheries Management, Forestry Management, Oceans and Coasts, and Regulatory Compliance. Within these streams, qualifications range from environmental science, marine biology, oceanography, forestry, and aquaculture, through to environmental law, GIS, civil/environmental engineering, and natural resource economics — so the programme suits a genuinely wide mix of academic interests, not just “green science” degrees.
Each stream has its own reference number (for example, a code beginning with something like CCAQ, FISH, FOR, or OC followed by the intake year), and it’s essential to quote the correct one on your form.
Documents You’ll Need
Before you start the process, gather these together so nothing holds up your application:
- A motivation letter explaining why you should be awarded the bursary
- Certified copies of your qualifications and most recent academic transcript
- Certified copies of your ID — and your parents’ or guardians’ IDs too
- Proof of registration, if you’re already enrolled
- Your latest Grade 12 results, if you’re still in school
- Proof of your parents’ or guardian’s income
- A death certificate if a parent has passed away, or an affidavit confirming unemployed status if a parent isn’t working
Incomplete applications are not considered, so it’s worth double-checking this list before you submit anything.
How and Where to Apply
Unlike many private-sector scholarships, the DFFE does not use an online application portal. Applicants are required to download the official DFFE Bursary Application Form for 2027, clearly write the correct reference number and qualification field on it, and submit the full package by hand delivery, courier, or post — faxed or emailed applications are not accepted.
Apply here — official DFFE bursary page (application form, advert, and full requirements):
🔗 https://www.dffe.gov.za/bursaries
Submission addresses:
Pretoria — Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Street, Corner Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, or by post to Attention: Learning and Development – Bursary Section, The Director-General, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001.
Cape Town — Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Foretrust Building, No. 3 Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8000.
For queries, the department’s Pretoria bursary contacts are Joshua Moepya (012 399 8682), Busisiwe Stemele (012 399 8685), and Mokhobo Putu (012 399 9018), while the Cape Town office can be reached through Kgomotso Moela (081 492 5570), Neliswa Magwala (066 081 9858), or Tumeka Madolo (071 607 2014). SETA SA SETA SA
Closing Date
The closing date for the 2027 intake is 2 October 2026. Late applications are firmly not accepted, so it’s smarter to have everything posted or delivered at least two weeks ahead of the deadline rather than cutting it close. MyExam Papers
After You Apply
Don’t expect a quick response either way. Correspondence goes only to shortlisted and successful candidates, and if you haven’t heard anything by the end of January the following year, you can assume your application was unsuccessful. Successful applicants are expected to sign a formal bursary contract, which locks in the post-study internship commitment mentioned earlier. DFFE
Quick Tips Before You Submit
- Match your field exactly. Choosing the wrong reference number for your course is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected outright.
- Certify everything properly. Copies need to be certified within the validity period requested — uncertified documents are treated as incomplete.
- Write a genuine motivation letter. Tie your career goals directly to DFFE’s mandate (conservation, fisheries, forestry, climate, or compliance) rather than submitting something generic.
- Post early. Given postal delays, aim to submit well before 2 October 2026, not on the day itself.
- Keep proof of submission. Whether you courier, hand-deliver, or post your application, hold onto your receipt or tracking number in case of dispute later.
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