Council for Geoscience (CGS) is inviting university students to apply for a full-time bursary for the 2026 academic year. The bursary is aimed at building skills in the geosciences and related technical fields in South Africa.
At a glance
- Who it’s for: South African citizens enrolled full-time at a South African higher education institution in 2026 (and able to meet CGS eligibility requirements).
- What it covers: CGS states the bursary covers registration and tuition fees, an accommodation/transport allowance, prescribed books, meals, field excursions/analysis, and a once-off laptop allowance for first-time bursars (see official notice).
- Service obligation: CGS notes applicants must be available for vocational work during studies and work-back upon completion, when required. Confirm contract terms in the application process.
- Key date: Closing date: 23 January 2026 (23:59).
- Other notes: Applications must include all required supporting documents; late or incomplete submissions may be disqualified (per CGS notice).
Who’s offering this?
The Council for Geoscience (CGS) is a South African public entity mandated to collect and curate geoscience data and support geoscience solutions nationally.
What’s on offer
CGS awards full-time bursaries in fields such as:
- Geology, Engineering Geology, Geophysics, Hydrogeology (groundwater modelling), Geochemistry
- Economic Geology, Environmental Science, Data Science & Innovation Studies
- Geo-informatics, Remote Sensing, Computational Geosciences
- Mineral Economics, Mining Seismology
What it covers (per CGS): registration and tuition fees; accommodation/transport allowance; prescribed books; meals; field excursions/analysis; and a once-off laptop allowance for first-time bursars.
Eligibility checklist
- South African citizen.
- Enrolled full-time at a South African institution of higher learning for 2026.
- If currently studying, has passed all modules of the previous year/semester.
- Not employed and available for vocational work during studies and work-back on completion, when required (per CGS notice).
Documents to prepare
- Motivation letter
- Updated CV
- Certified copy of SA ID
- Latest academic record
- Certified Matric results
- University acceptance/admission letter
Closing date
Closing date: 23 January 2026 at 23:59 (as stated by CGS).
How selection and placement work
CGS assesses applications against its eligibility requirements and the availability of bursary places. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee selection.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting after the deadline or missing the email subject/reference requested.
- Leaving out required documents (ID, results, acceptance letter, etc.).
- Using the enquiries email address instead of the application submission address.
- Applying for a field not listed as supported.
How to apply (step-by-step)
- Download and complete the CGS full-time bursary 2026 application form.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Email your application to bursaries@geoscience.org.za and use the subject/reference BursaryFT-2026 (as instructed by CGS).
- Submit before 23 January 2026 and keep proof of submission.
Application link
Enquiries (CGS): bursaryenquiries@geoscience.org.za | Tel: 012 841 1106 / 1118 (as listed by CGS).