Department of Environmental Affairs Bursary South Africa

Department of Environmental Affairs Bursary South Africa

ABOUT THE COMPANY – DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), previously known as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism until 2009, is responsible for protecting the environment and natural resources for present and future generations, as well as maintaining and conserving an environment that is not harmful to the wellbeing or health of its citizens.

As one of the departments of the South African government, the DEA are also responsible for providing leadership in conservation, protection, environmental management and sustainability, to benefit not only South African citizens, but also the international community.

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

Bursaries will be awarded within the following fields of study:
Environmental Programmes (Ref: EP/01/2025)

  • Biological Resources (BSc: Environmental Science)
  • Biological Sciences (BSc)
  • Botany (BSc)
  • Biochemistry (BSc)
  • Conservation Ecology (BSc)
  • Crop and Horticulture Science (Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Environmental Economics (BSc: Environmental Science)
  • Environmental Law (BSc: Environmental Science)
  • Environmental Science (BSc)
  • Forestry (BTech/ National Diploma)
  • Forensic Science (BTech/ National Diploma)
  • Genetics (BSc)
  • Industrial and Applied Biotechnology (Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Microbiology (BSc)
  • Molecular Biology (BSc)
  • Nature Conservation (BTech/ National Diploma)
  • People and the Environment (BSc: Environmental Science)
  • Procedural Law/ Law of contracts (LLM)
  • Water Resources (BSc: Environmental Science)
  • Zoology (BSc)

Biodiversity and Conservation (Ref: B&C/01/2025)

  • Aquatic health (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • BHCS Heritage and Cultural Studies (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Biodiversity Conservation (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Biological Sciences (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Botany (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Climatology (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Cultural and Natural Resource Management (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Development Studies (MTech/ BTech/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Ecology (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Environmental Conservation (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Environmental Management (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Environmental Planning (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Environmental Science (MTech/ BTech/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Genetics (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Geography (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Microbiology (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Molecular Biology (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Natural Sciences (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Nature Conservation (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Plant Pathology (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Resource Economics (Business Management & Administration/ Ecology/ CBNRM) (BTech/ National Diploma/ Bcom/ Honours/ Masters/ MBA)
  • Social Sciences (community) (Diploma/ BA social sciences/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Soil Sciences (MTech/ BTech/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Town and Regional Planning (MTech/ BTech/ National Diploma/ Bachelor’s degree/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Zoology (BSc/ Degree/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Zoology Conservation Management (MTech/ BTech/ BSc/ Postgraduate/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)

Oceans and Coast (Ref: OC/01/2025)

  • Coastal Management (Bachelor’s degree)
  • Environmental Economics (BSc)
  • Environmental Management (BSc)
  • Environmental Science (BSc)
  • Marine Remote Sensing (BSc/ BSc Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
  • Marine Science (B Tech/ National Diploma/ BSc Hons/ M Sc/ PhD)
  • Oceanography (BTech/ MTech)
  • Social Development Studies (Bachelor’s degree)
  • Taxonomy (Zooplankton/ Phytoplankton) (PhD)
  • Town and Regional Planning (Bachelor’s degree)
  • Zoology (BSc)

Climate Change, Air Quality Management and Sustainability Development (Ref: CCAQ/01/2025)

  • Chemistry (BSc)
  • Conservation (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Earth Science (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Environmental Management (BSc/ National Diploma)
  • Environmental Science (BSc/ National Diploma)
  • Hydrology (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Natural Science (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma)

Chemicals and Waste Management (Ref: CWM/01/2025)

  • Applied Chemistry (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Biochemistry (MSc Natural Sciences/ Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Biology (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Botany (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Chemical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Chemistry (Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Ecology (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Endocrinology (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Entomology (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Environmental Economics (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Environmental Health (Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Environmental Management (Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Environmental Science (Bachelor’s Degree/ National Diploma/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Geography (Bachelor’s Degree/ M Sc/ MA/ Hons)
  • Microbiology (MSc Natural Sciences/ Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Physiology (MSc Natural Sciences)
  • Waste Management (Bachelor’s Degree/ MTech/ MSc/ Hons)
  • Zoology (MSc Natural Sciences)

Chief Operating Officer (Ref: COO/01/2025)

  • Climate change and Sustainability Management (Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Environmental Engineering (Degree/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Environmental Health (Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Environmental Management (BSc/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Environmental Monitoring, Compliance, Enforcement and Control (Bachelor’s degree/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Environmental Research and Development (Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
  • Environmental Science (BSc/ National Diploma/ Honours/ Masters)
  • Governance (Postgraduate)
  • Internal Audit (Degree/ National Diploma)
  • Information Management (Degree)
  • Information Systems (Degree)
  • Public Administration (Postgraduate)
  • Public Management (Postgraduate)
  • Risk Management (Degree)

Legal Authorisations and Enforcement (Ref: LACE/01/2025)

  • Chemistry (BSc)
  • Bachelor of Environmental Management (majoring in Animal and Wildlife Management/ Environmental Impact Assessment)
  • Botany (BSc)
  • Geography (BSc)
  • Law (B.A)
  • LLM
  • LLB (majoring in administrative law/ legislative drafting)
  • Paralegal (Diploma/ Degree)

MORE ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE & CONTRACT

Bursaries will be awarded to the maximum value of R40 000 per annum.

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

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted – should you not receive any feedback by 31 January 2025, please regard your application as unsuccessful.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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):

  • South African citizen
  • Completed Matric
  • Studying full-time within one of the aforementioned fields of study
  • Studying at a recognised South African tertiary institution
  • NOT an employee of The Department of Environmental Affairs
  • Not currently employed
  • *Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged students and those with disabilities

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARY

Download and complete the Department of Environmental Affairs Bursary Application Form (.pdf)
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 be disregarded):

  • ID document (certified copy)
  • Recent academic record/ transcript (certified copy)
  • All academic certificates/ qualifications (certified copies)
  • Proof of tertiary acceptance (first year students)
  • Proof of tertiary registration (if currently at tertiary level)
  • Research proposal (Honours and Masters students)
  • Motivational letter (explaining why you deserve to be awarded the bursary)
  • Parents/ guardians ID documents (certified copies)
  • Parents/ guardians proof of income (certified payslips/ affidavit if unemployed/ death certificate if deceased)

Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
1) Post:
The Director General
Department of Environmental Affairs
Private Bag X 447
Pretoria
0001
(Attn: Learning and Development – Bursary Section)

2) Hand delivery:
Cape Town
Department of Environmental Affairs
63 Strand Street
Nedbank Building
Cape Town
(Attn: Learning and Development – Bursary Section)

Pretoria
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road
Arcadia
Pretoria
(Attn: Learning and Development – Bursary Section)

*PS: please state the qualification and reference number you are applying for on the application form

CLOSING DATE

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

CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Department of Environmental Affairs directly:
Cape Town
Contact People: Sarah Mathunyane / Nozuko Grootboom
Tel: 021 814 8084 / 021 814 8088

Pretoria
Contact People: Busisiwe Stemele / Nita Makgohlo / Mokhobo Putu
Tel: 012 399 8685 / 012 399 8684 / 012 399 9018

Overview of Public Universities in South Africa

Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.

University of Pretoria

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
  • Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.

University of Cape Town

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
  • Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.

Stellenbosch University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.

University of the Witwatersrand

  • Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
  • Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.

University of Johannesburg

  • Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
  • Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.

University of the Free State

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.

University of Venda

  • Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
  • Application Period: Usually from May to September.

University of Fort Hare

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
  • Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.

University of the Western Cape

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Generally from May to September.

North-West University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.

Rhodes University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
  • Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.

Nelson Mandela University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
  • Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.

University of Limpopo

  • Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

University of Zululand

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
  • Application Period: Usually between April and November.

Central University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.

Vaal University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
  • Application Period: Typically from May to September.

Walter Sisulu University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.