The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting unemployed Grade 12 learners and full-time students enrolled at institutions of higher learning to apply for its Full-Time Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.
The programme supports a wide range of qualifications linked to biodiversity, environmental management, climate change, waste management, fisheries, forestry, oceans and coastal management, engineering, law and other fields aligned with the Department’s mandate.
Applications close on 2 October 2026.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Opportunity type: Full-time bursary programme
Academic year funded: 2027
Who it’s for: Unemployed Grade 12 learners and full-time tertiary students studying or intending to study in approved fields
Study levels: Diplomas, degrees and selected postgraduate qualifications, depending on the field
Maximum bursary amount: R80,000
Closing date: 2 October 2026
Application method: Prescribed DFFE bursary application form submitted by post, hand delivery or courier
Email applications: Not accepted
Faxed applications: Not accepted
Last verified: 9 September 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
- The maximum bursary amount for the 2027 programme is R80,000.
- Applicants must either be in Grade 12 or already enrolled full-time at an institution of higher learning.
- Applicants must be unemployed.
- Applications must be made using the prescribed DFFE bursary application form.
- The correct study field and reference number must be clearly indicated on the application.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Email and fax applications are not accepted.
- Students who have previously participated in a Public Service Internship Programme are not eligible.
- Successful bursary recipients will be required to participate in an internship programme after completing their studies as part of the bursary agreement.
- People living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
- If you have not been contacted by the end of January 2027, you should consider your application unsuccessful.
About the sponsor
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is the South African government department responsible for environmental protection, conservation, climate and air-quality matters, forestry, fisheries, oceans and coastal management, waste management and related environmental regulation.
The DFFE bursary programme is intended to develop skills in fields that support the Department’s mandate and future skills requirements.
The Department states that it is an equal opportunity and affirmative-action employer and aims to promote representativity in terms of race, gender and disability.
What it covers
The DFFE states that the maximum bursary amount is R80,000.
The public bursary page does not provide a detailed breakdown showing how this amount is divided between individual expenses such as:
- Tuition fees
- Registration
- Accommodation
- Textbooks
- Meals
- Allowances
Applicants should therefore check the bursary agreement for the exact approved expenses if selected.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be in Grade 12 and intending to study further, or already be enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher learning
- Be unemployed
- Intend to study or already be studying one of the approved qualifications
- Submit the official prescribed DFFE bursary application form
- Provide all required supporting documents
- Clearly indicate the relevant study field and reference number
Applicants who have previously participated in a Public Service Internship Programme are not eligible.
Important internship obligation
Successful bursary recipients should understand that the programme carries an important post-study requirement.
After completing their studies, participation in the Public Service Internship Programme is mandatory as part of the bursary contract.
Government regulations prevent a person from participating in the Public Service Internship Programme more than once. This is why students who have previously completed such an internship are excluded from the bursary programme.
Fields of study supported
The DFFE has divided the 2027 bursary fields into several categories.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Reference: B&C/01/2027
Supported studies include:
- National Diploma / BA Environmental Management
- BSc Environmental Science
- BSc Natural Sciences Management
- Ecotourism and Game Range Management
- Nature Conservation
- BSc Zoology
- BSc Botany
Chemicals and Waste Management
Reference: CWM/01/2027
Supported areas include:
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Education
- Waste Management
- Recycling Economy
- Waste as a Resource
- Geography and Society, with relevant waste/resource-efficiency research
- Circular Economy
- Extended Producer Responsibility
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Natural Sciences with relevant resource-efficiency research
- Geography
- Development Studies
- LLB / LLM / PhD research linked to Environmental Law and waste-resource policy
Study levels range from diploma and degree level to Honours, Master’s and selected Doctoral studies.
Climate Change and Air Quality Management
Reference: CCAQ/01/2027
Supported studies include:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Management
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Natural Science
- Chemistry
- Geography / Archaeology and Environmental studies
- Sustainable Development
Environmental Programmes
Reference: EP/01/2027
Supported studies include:
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Biology
- Marine Biology
- Engineering Management
- Civil Engineering
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Ecological Economics
Relevant Honours and Master’s studies are included for some fields.
Fisheries Management
Reference: FISH/01/2027
Supported areas include:
- Maritime Studies
- Maritime Law
- Oceanography
- Marine Biology
- Ichthyology
- Environmental Science
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries
- Marine / Fisheries Biology
- Zoology specialising in freshwater ecology or fisheries
- Aquatic Science
- Actuarial Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Statistics with population-dynamics modelling
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Environmental Informatics
- Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Economics
- Agricultural Economics
- Fisheries Economics
Undergraduate and selected postgraduate programmes up to PhD level are supported depending on the qualification.
Forestry Management
Reference: FOR/01/2027
Supported studies include:
- Diploma in Forestry
- Advanced Diploma in Forestry
- Bachelor of Science
- Honours in Natural Resource Management
- BSc Forestry and Wood Sciences
Oceans and Coasts
The live DFFE 2027 page currently displays the reference as OC/01/2026.
Supported areas include:
- 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
- Marine Ecology
- Environmental Management
- Nature Conservation
- Coastal Engineering
- Coastal dynamics, adaptation, restoration and rehabilitation
- Marine and Coastal Policy
- Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management
- Coastal and Marine Climate Change
- Coastal Spatial Planning
- Town and Regional Planning
- Chemistry specialising in heavy metals or hydrocarbons
Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring
The live DFFE 2027 page currently displays the reference as RCSM/01/2026.
Supported studies include:
- LLB, particularly Administrative Law, Legislative Drafting and Environmental Law
- LLM
- BA Law
- Diploma or Degree in Paralegal Studies
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Management
- Geography
- Geoinformatics
- Environmental Impact Assessment
Important reference-number note
The DFFE’s live 2027 bursary page currently lists the Oceans and Coasts and Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring references with 2026 in the reference numbers.
Do not change these reference numbers yourself.
Before submitting, applicants should check the current official application form and downloadable advert and use the reference number exactly as instructed by DFFE.
Documents to prepare
Applications must be accompanied by the applicable supporting documents, including:
- 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’ IDs or the guardian’s ID
- Proof of registration if already enrolled at an institution of higher learning
- Latest Grade 12 results if currently in Matric
- Proof of parents’ or guardian’s income
- Proof if either or both parents are deceased
- Affidavit if parents or guardians are unemployed
Applicants should check the official application form to confirm whether particular documents need to be certified and whether any additional documents are required.
Closing date
2 October 2026.
No late applications will be accepted.
Because applications cannot be emailed and may need to be posted, couriered or hand delivered, applicants should not wait until the final day.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an old DFFE bursary application form
- Applying for a field not included in the 2027 programme
- Failing to write the correct field and reference number on the application
- Guessing or correcting a reference number instead of using the one supplied by DFFE
- Forgetting the motivation
- Leaving out academic results
- Forgetting parents’ or guardian’s identification and income documents
- Submitting an incomplete application
- Sending the application by email
- Sending the application by fax
- Applying after 2 October 2026
- Applying if you have already participated in a Public Service Internship Programme
How this opportunity was verified
This opportunity was verified directly from the official Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment bursary page.
The live DFFE page confirms that applications are open for the 2027 Full-Time Bursary Programme, with a closing date of 2 October 2026 and a maximum bursary amount of R80,000.
It also confirms the eligibility requirements, required documents, internship obligation, submission restrictions, fields of study and application delivery options.
How to apply
- Open the official DFFE bursary page.
- Download the current prescribed bursary application form.
- Check the 2027 fields of study carefully.
- Identify the correct field and reference number for your qualification.
- Complete the application form in full.
- Write a motivation explaining why you should receive the bursary.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Check that your application is complete.
- Submit by post, hand delivery or courier.
- Ensure the application reaches DFFE before 2 October 2026.
- Keep proof of posting, courier delivery or hand delivery.