The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting eligible full-time students and unemployed Grade 12 learners to apply for its 2027 Full-Time Bursary Programme.

The programme supports studies in fields aligned with environmental management, forestry, fisheries, oceans and coastal management, biodiversity, conservation, climate change, environmental programmes and regulatory compliance.

Bursary Provider

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)

Bursary Programme

DFFE Full-Time Bursary Programme 2027

Study Year

2027

Closing Date

2 October 2026

No late applications will be accepted.

Who Can Apply?

The DFFE bursary is open to:

• Full-time students currently enrolled at an institution of higher learning.
• Grade 12 (Matric) learners who are not employed.
• Applicants who meet the requirements for one of the advertised fields of study.
• Persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

DFFE states that it is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action employer and seeks to promote representativity in terms of race, gender and disability.

Important

This is specifically a full-time bursary programme. The current DFFE advertisement does not state that part-time studies qualify.

Fields of Study

DFFE has listed a wide range of qualifications for the 2027 intake.

1. Biodiversity and Conservation

Reference: B&C/01/2027

• ND / BA Environmental Management
• BSc Environmental Science
• BSc Natural Sciences Management
• ND / Degree in Ecotourism and Game Range Management
• N Dip / BTech / Postgraduate Diploma in Nature Conservation
• BSc Zoology
• BSc Botany

2. Chemicals and Waste Management

Reference: CWM/01/2027

Fields include:

• Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Law
• Environmental Education
• Waste Management
• Recycling Economy
• Waste as a Resource
• Geography
• Resource Efficiency
• Circular Economy
• Extended Producer Responsibility
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• Development Studies
• Environmental Law

The department lists qualifications ranging from diplomas and bachelor’s degrees through to honours, master’s and PhD-level studies for certain specialised fields.

3. Climate Change and Air Quality Management

Reference: CCAQ/01/2027

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Archaeology and Environmental Studies
• Sustainable Development

4. Environmental Programmes

Reference: EP/01/2027

• Environmental Management
• Environmental Science
• Conservation Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Biology
• Marine Biology
• Engineering Management
• Civil Engineering
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• Ecological Economics

5. Fisheries Management

Reference: FISH/01/2027

Fields include:

• Maritime Studies
• Maritime Law
• Oceanography
• Marine Biology
• Ichthyology
• Environmental Science
• Aquaculture
• Fisheries
• Fisheries Biology
• Freshwater Ecology
• Zoology
• Aquatic Science
• Fisheries Science
• Actuarial Science
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• GIS and Remote Sensing
• Environmental Informatics
• Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Economics
• Agricultural Economics
• Fisheries Economics

6. Forestry Management

Reference: FOR/01/2027

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

7. Oceans and Coasts

The DFFE listing includes fields such as:

• Biodiversity
• Conservation Biology
• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Communication Engineering
• Physical Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography
• Biological Oceanography
• Natural Resource Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Maritime Studies
• Maritime Economics
• Ecophysiology
• Taxonomy
• Systematics
• Coastal Engineering
• Coastal Dynamics and Adaptation
• Marine and Coastal Policy
• Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management
• Coastal and Marine Climate Change
• Coastal Spatial Planning
• Town and Regional Planning
• Chemistry

Reference shown on the current DFFE page: OC/01/2026. This appears to be a reference carried over on the webpage despite the programme being advertised for the 2027 academic year, so applicants should use the reference exactly as instructed on the official advert/application form.

8. Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring

Reference: RCSM/01/2026

• LLB with relevant majors such as:
  • Administrative Law
  • Legislative Drafting
  • Environmental Law
• LLM
• BA Law
• Diploma or Degree in Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Environmental Sciences / Environmental Management
• BSc majoring in Geography
• Geoinformatics
• Bachelor of Environmental Management majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment

Again, the current webpage displays RCSM/01/2026 even though the bursary is for the 2027 academic year.

Bursary Value

The maximum bursary amount is R80,000.

The official DFFE page does not break the R80,000 maximum down into individual allowances, so I would avoid advertising it as a guaranteed R80,000 cash payment.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the prescribed bursary application form together with the required supporting documents.

The DFFE lists the following:

• Motivation explaining why the bursary should be awarded to you
• Copies of qualifications
• Recent academic records
• Copy of the applicant’s ID
• Copies of both parents’ or guardian’s ID
• Proof of registration, if already enrolled at an institution of higher learning
• Latest Grade 12 results, if currently in high school
• Proof of parent(s)’ or guardian’s income
• Proof if parents are deceased
• Affidavit if parents are unemployed

Important

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Additional Conditions

Applicants should take note of the following DFFE requirements:

• The application must be submitted on the prescribed DFFE bursary application form.
• Applicants must clearly indicate the reference number and study field on the application.
• Students who have previously participated in the Public Service Internship Programme are not eligible for consideration.
• Successful bursary recipients will be required to participate in the DFFE internship programme after completing their studies, as part of the bursary contract.
• Public Service regulations prohibit participation in the internship programme more than once.
• Late applications will not be accepted.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• No faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.

Internship Obligation

This is an important part that I would definitely include in the NextStepZA listing.

The DFFE bursary comes with an obligation that, after completing their studies, successful bursary recipients must participate in the DFFE internship programme as part of their bursary contract.

So applicants should understand that this is not simply a bursary with no further contractual obligation.

How to Apply

Applicants must use the official DFFE Full-Time Bursary Application Form and submit the completed application with the required supporting documents.

The department states that faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

Hand Delivery / Courier

Pretoria

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road
Arcadia
Pretoria

Cape Town

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Foretrust Building
No. 3 Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore
Cape Town
8000

Postal Address

Attention: Learning and Development (Bursary Section)
The Director-General
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001

Bursary Enquiries

Pretoria

• Mr Joshua Moepya — 012 399 8682
• Ms Busisiwe Stemele — 012 399 8685
• Mr Mokhobo Putu — 012 399 9018
• Mr Kgomotso Moela — 081 492 5570

Cape Town

• Ms Neliswa Magwala — 066 081 9858
• Ms Tumeka Madolo — 071 607 2014

Important Notice

DFFE states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted and successful candidates.

If an applicant has not been contacted by the end of January 2027, they should regard their application as unsuccessful.

Successful applicants will be required to sign a bursary contract.

Quick Summary

All of the above core requirements are from the current DFFE 2027 bursary page.