Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary South Africa 2025

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROVIDER – DFFE

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), was previously known as the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) before the name was changed in April 2021. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is a department of the South African government, formed in 2019 as the result of a merger between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the forestry and fisheries part of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

The DFFE is responsible for the protection, improvement and conservation of the environment and natural resources in South Africa.

ABOUT THE DFFE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2025 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies in the following fields:
Biodiversity and Conservation:

Archaeology (B degree/ Hons/ MSc)
Cultural, Heritage and Natural Resource Management
Ecotourism and game range management (National Diploma)
Environmental Management/ Environmental Science/ Environmental Economics (B degree/ Hons/ MSc)
Forestry (National Diploma/ Advanced Diploma/ B degree/ Hons/ MSc)
Geology (BSc)
Geography (B degree/ Hons/ MSc)
LLB/ Environmental Law
Nature Conservation (National Diploma)
Zoology and Botany (BSc)

Chemicals and Waste Management:

Chemical Engineering (B degree/ Hons/ MA)
Development Studies (B degree/ Hons/ MA)
Environmental and Development with research in waste management or resource efficiency or extended producer responsibility (B Degree/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
Environmental Science/ Environmental Management/ Environmental Health (National Diploma/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech)
Environmental Science/ Environmental Management with research in waste management (B degree/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
Environmental Resource Management (B degree/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
Environmental Law (LLB/ LLM/ PhD)
Natural Sciences (B degree/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
Sustainable Development (B degree/ Hons/ MA)
Waste Management/ Recycling Economy (National Diploma/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech)

Climate Change and Air Quality Management:

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

Environmental Programmes:

Chemicals Management (MSc)
Environmental Science/ Management (BSc/ Hons/ Postgraduate Diploma/ MSc)
Forestry (National Diploma/ BTech/ MSc)
Geographical Information System (BSc/ Hons)
Pesticide Risk Management (Postgraduate Diploma)
Project Management (National Diploma/ BTech/ Postgraduate Diploma)
Wetland Science (Bachelor degree/ Hons)

Forestry Management:

Forestry (National Diploma)
Forestry (Advanced Diploma)
Forestry (MSc)
Forestry (PhD)
Natural Resource Management (BSc Honours)

Fisheries Management:

Ichtyology specialising in Aquaculture
Marine Biology/ Aquaculture/ Environmental Science/ Fisheries Science/ Aquatic Science (BSc)
Marine/ Fisheries Biology (BSc)
Maritime studies
Oceanography (National Diploma/ B Tech)

Oceans and Coast:

Biodiversity/ Conservation Biology/ Marine Biology/ Marine Biology and Ecology (BSc/ MSc/ PhD)
Electrical Engineering/ Electronic Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering (BTech)
Environmental Management/ Nature Conservation (BSc/ BTech/ Hons/ MSc)
Environmental Economics (BA/ BCom)
Coastal Engineering/ Coastal Dynamics and Adaptation/ Restoration and Rehabilitation (BEng/ BSc Eng)
Ecophysiology/Taxonomy/ Systematics (Hons/ Masters)
Marine Natural Resource Economics (Masters/ PhD)
Maritime Economics (Hons/ Masters)
Physical/ Chemical/ Biological Oceanography (Hons/ Masters)

Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring:

BA Law
Environmental Management (majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment) (BA)
Chemistry (BSc)
Environmental Science (BSc)
Geography/ Geoinformatics (BSc)
LLB (majoring in Administrative Law, Legislative Drafting, Environmental Law)
LLM
Paralegal (Diploma/ Degree)

ABOUT THE DFFE BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE & SELECTION

The bursary will be awarded for the maximum value of R50 000.

After graduation, bursary recipients will be required to participate in the internship program.

Successful candidates will be contacted by no later than 31 January 2025 – if you do not receive any feedback by this date, please regard your application as unsuccessful.

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

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

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):

You must be a South African citizen
You must be currently in Matric or you have completed Matric
You must be studying or intend on studying full time, towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above
You must be studying or intend on studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa
You must NOT be employed
You must NOT be an employee of the DFFE
You must NOT have previously participated in the public service internship program
Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged candidates and those living with disabilities

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

Download and complete the: DFFE Bursary Application Form 2025 (.pdf)

Indicate the relevant reference number and qualification you are applying for, on the application form:

Biodiversity and Conservation (B&C/01/2025)
Chemicals and Waste Management (CWM/01/2025)
Climate Change and Air Quality Management (CCAQ/01/2025)
Environmental Programmes (EP/01/2025)
Forestry Management (FOR/01/2025)
Fisheries Management (FISH/01/2025)
Oceans and Coasts (OC/01/2025)
Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring (RCSM/01/2025)

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

ID document (certified copy)
Matric latest results, if currently in Matric (certified copy)
Matric certificate, if completed Matric (certified copy)
Qualifications or certificates completed, if applicable (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 sassa grant or pension if applicable/ affidavit or death certificates if deceased)
Motivational letter to support your application and explain why you should be awarded the bursary (read our tips on how to write a motivational letter for your bursary application)

Applications must be submitted via courier or hand delivery, to the following addresses:
– Pretoria:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road
Arcadia
PRETORIA
0001

– Cape Town:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Foretrust Building
3 Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore
CAPE TOWN
8000

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

Note: applications submitted via fax or email will NOT be accepted.

CLOSING DATE FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

18 October 2024.
(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 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) directly:
Pretoria contacts:

Joshua Moepya (Tel: 012 399 8682)
Busisiwe Stemele (Tel: 012 399 8685)
Mokhobo Putu (Tel: 012 399 9018)

Cape Town contacts:

Kgomotso Moela (Tel: 021 402 3329)
Neliswa Magwala (Tel: 021 814 8089)
Tumeka Madolo (Tel: 021 402 3072)

Please do NOT contact the DFFE if this bursary has already closed.