Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursaries 2027

Opportunity Overview

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) invites South African students to apply for its comprehensive bursary programme for the 2027 academic year. This initiative supports aspiring professionals in various critical fields related to environmental sustainability, resource management, and conservation.

The bursaries are designed to foster skills and expertise across numerous disciplines, from biodiversity and waste management to climate change, marine biology, and forestry. This is an opportunity for students passionate about contributing to the protection and sustainable use of South Africa's natural resources.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must be pursuing or intending to pursue studies in one of the following fields and qualification levels:

• Biodiversity and Conservation:
• National Diploma (ND)/BA in Environmental Management / B Sc Environmental Science
• B Sc Natural Sciences Management
• ND/Degree in Eco tourism and game range management
• National Diploma (N Dip)/BTech/Postgraduate Diploma: Nature Conservation
• BSc in Zoology and Botany
• Chemicals and Waste Management:
• ND/B Tech/B Degree/Hons/M Sc in Chemistry
• ND/B Tech/M Tech/D Tech in Environmental Science/Environmental Management/Environmental law/Environmental education
• ND/B Tech/M Tech/D Tech in Waste Management/Recycling Economy/Waste as resource
• BA Degree/Hons/M Sc in Geography and Society (with research in Waste Management/Resource Efficiency/Circular Economy/Extended Producer Responsibility)
• B Degree/Hons/MA in Chemical Engineering/Civil Engineering
• B Degree/Hons/M Sc/PhD in Natural Sciences (with research in resource efficiency/Geography/Development Studies)
• LLB Degree/LLM/PhD in Environmental Law (with research or thesis in transforming environmental law to keep up with the latest international trends on waste as a resource)
• Climate Change and Air Quality Management:
• ND/B Sc Environmental Science
• ND/B Sc Environmental Management
• B Degree Earth and Environmental Sciences
• B Degree Natural Science
• B Sc Chemistry
• B Sc Geography/Archaeology and Environmental
• ND/B Degree in Sustainable Development
• Environmental Programmes:
• BSc Degree/Hons/MSc in Environmental Management/Science
• BSc in Conservation Ecology/Biodiversity/Biology
• BSc in Marine Biology
• B Degree/Hons/MSc in Engineering Management/Civil Engineering
• B Sc/Hons in Geographical Information System
• MSc in Ecological Economics
• Fisheries Management:
• Maritime Studies (related to harbour/ports – fishing harbours)/Maritime law
• BSc/Hons/MSc/PhD in Oceanography, Marine Biology, Ichthyology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• B Sc in Marine/Fisheries Biology
• Hons/MSc/PhD in Zoology (freshwater ecology or specialising in the field of freshwater fisheries)
• Bachelor’s degree, Postgraduate studies, B Tech, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD (Marine biology, Aquaculture, Environmental Science/management, Fisheries Science, Aquatic Science, or a related field)
• Actuarial Science
• MSc in Applied Mathematics/Statistics (with population dynamics modelling)
• BTech, BEng Tech or BSc Eng in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
• BSc/MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing/Environmental Informatics
• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Hons/Masters in Economics, Agriculture Economics, Fisheries Economics
• Forestry Management:
• Diploma in Forestry
• Advanced Diploma in Forestry
• Bachelor of Science Honours in Natural Resource Management
• BSc in Forestry and Wood Sciences
• Oceans and Coasts:
• B Sc/Hons/M Sc/PhD in Biodiversity/Conservation Biology/Marine Biology/Environmental Science
• BTech Engineering: Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical/Communication
• Hons/Masters in Physical/Chemical/Biological Oceanography
• BA/BCom/Hons/Masters/PhD in Natural Resource Economics/Environmental Economics/Maritime Studies/Maritime Economics
• Hons/Masters in Ecophysiology/Taxonomy/Systematics
• B Sc/BTech/Hons/M Sc in Marine Biology and Ecology/Environmental Management/Nature Conservation or equivalent
• B Eng/B Sc Eng in Coastal Engineering, coastal dynamics and adaptation, restoration and rehabilitation
• BA/BCom in Marine and Coastal policy, Community engagement and stakeholder management
• B Tech/Hons in Coastal and Marine climate change
• B Tech/Hons in Coastal Spatial Planning/Town and Regional Planning
• Hons/M Sc in Chemistry-Heavy Metals/Hydrocarbons
• Hons/M Sc in Ecophysiology/Taxonomy (Systematics and Biodiversity)
• Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring:
• LLB (Major courses: administrative law, legislative drafting, Environmental Law)
• LLM