The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has opened their DFFE Bursary 2025/2026 and is inviting all interested applicants to apply.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is one of the departments of the South African government. It is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources.

ENDING DATE: This DFFE Bursary 2025/2026 will end on 26 November 2025/2026.

LOCATION: South Africa

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify for this bursary application,

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be currently in Matric or you must have completed Matric
• You must be studying or intend on studying full time, in one of the fields listed above, for 2025/2026
• You must be registered to study at a recognised tertiary institution in South Africa
• You must NOT be an employee of the DFFE
• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged candidates and those living with disabilities

BURSARY COVERAGE:

This bursary will be awarded for the maximum value of R40 000 if you are within these fields:

Biodiversity and Conservation:

• Biological Sciences (Degree/ Hons BSc)
• Environmental Management (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Environmental Science (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Environmental Strategy Development and Implementation or Environmental Law including Advanced Legislative Drafting (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Global change dynamics (Climate Change, drought, biodiversity loss) (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Heritage Studies (Diploma/ Degree)
• Nature Conservation (Diploma/ Degree / Hons)
• Natural Science / Environmental Science/Management majoring in Ecology, Resources Management and Geographical Information System (BSc/ Hons/ MSc)
• Risk management or Policy Development (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Wetlands Management and/or Ecosystem Approach (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)

Chemicals and Waste Management:

• Biochemistry/ Microbiology (MSc/ M Tech)
• Chemical Engineering/ Chemistry (MSc/ M Tech)
• Eco-toxicology of environmental pollutants (Masters/ PhD)
• Ecoxicology (B Hons/ M Sc)
• Environmental Risk Assessment and Management (Masters/ PhD)
• Environmental Science (B Degree/ M Tech/ Hons/ MSc)
• Epidemiology of environmental pollutants (Masters/ PhD)
• Impacts and synergistic effects of environmental pollutants on the environment (Masters/ PhD)
• Toxicology (Masters/ PhD)
• Waste Management (B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)

Climate Change, Air Quality and Sustainable Development:

• Chemistry (BSc)
• Conservation (National Diploma/ B Degree)
• Earth and Environmental Sciences (National Diploma/ B Degree)
• Environmental Management (BSc/ National Diploma)
• Environmental Science (BSc/ National Diploma)
• Geography, Archaeology and Environmental (BSc)
• Natural Science (National Diploma/ B Degree)
• Sustainable Development (National Diploma/ B Degree)

Environmental Programmes:

• Environmental Science (National Diploma)
• Environmental Science: Biological Resources (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Environmental Economics (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Environmental Law/ Biological Sciences (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: People and the Environment (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Water Resources (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Horticulture (National Diploma/ Adv Diploma)
• Landscape Technology (National Diploma/ Adv Diploma)

Forestry Management:

• Environmental Science or Management (National Diploma/ B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Forestry (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ B Degree/ Hons/ Master’s Degree)
• Forestry (B Degree / Hons / Master’s Degree)
• Forestry, Wood Science (BTech/ M Sc)
• Game Ranch management (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
• Nature Conservation (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
• Nature Conservation, Botany, Marine Science (National Diploma/ BTech/ BDegree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Veld Fire Management (Higher Certificate)
• Wood Technology (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)

Fisheries Management:

• Environmental Science (B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Ichthyology specialising in Aquaculture (BSc)
• Marine Biology (BSc)
• Oceanography (National Diploma)
• Oceanography and Marine Biology (BSc)

Oceans and Coast:

• Applied Aquaculture
• Aquatic Veterinary Science
• Biochemistry (Genetics) (Hons/ MSc)
• Botany (Coastal-related) (Hons/ MSc)
• Chemistry (Heavy metals pollution in the Marine Environment) (MSc)
• Chemistry (Hydro-Carbons) (MSc)
• Data Analyst and statistical modelling
• Ecological modelling (MSc)
• Ecophysiology (Hons/ MSc)
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental/ Maritime Law
• Environmental Science (BSc/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
• GIS emphasis on Spatial analysis (Hons/ MSc)
• Information Technology and GIS (Marine)
• Marine Science/ Environmental Science (BTech)
• Marine Spatial Planning
• Marine Protected Areas Management
• Maritime Law (BSc)
• Maritime Security
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nature Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management (BSc)
• Ocean Governance
• Ocean Noise (Physics & Biology Oceanography) (PhD)
• Operations Management (BTech)
• Resource/ Environmental Economics
• Taxonomy (Systematics) and Biodiversity (MSc)

Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring:

• Botany (BSc)
• Chemistry (BSc)
• Environmental Management majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment (Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Sciences (majoring in Animal and wildlife) (Bachelors Degree)
• Geography (BSc Honours)
• Geography, Geoinformatics (BSc)
• Law (B.A)
• LLB (Major courses: Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Legislative Drafting)
• LLM
• Paralegal (National Diploma/ Degree)

METHOD OF APPLICATION

To apply, download the application below:

Candidates are required to indicate the reference number and qualification they are applying for, on the application form:

• Biodiversity and Conservation (Reference: B&C/01/2025/2026)
• Chemicals and Waste Management (Reference: CWM/01/2025/2026)
• Climate Change, Air Quality and Sustainable Development (Reference: CCAS/01/2025/2026)
• Environmental Programmes (Reference: EP/01/2025/2026)
• Forestry Management (Reference: FO /01/2025/2026)
• Fisheries Management (Reference: FI/01/2025/2026)
• Oceans and Coast (Reference: OC/01/2025/2026)
• Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring (Reference: RCSM/01/2025/2026)

NB: Remember to attach the following documents ehrn applying:

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric latest results, if currently in Matric (certified copy)
• Matric certificate, if completed Matric (certified copy)
• Qualifications or certificates completed (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 grant or pension if applicable/ affidavit or death certificates if deceased)
• Research proposal, if an Honours or Masters student
• Motivational letter to support your application and explain why you should be awarded the bursary