The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has opened their 2026 DFFE Bursary and is inviting all interested applicants to apply .

The Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries is one of the departments of the South African government. It is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources

ENDING DATE: This bursary will end on 26 November 2026.

LOCATION: South Africa

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be currently in Matric or you must have completed Matric
• You must be studying or intend on studying full time, in one of the fields listed above, for 2026
• You must be registered to study at a recognised tertiary institution in South Africa
• You must NOT be an employee of the DFFE
• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged candidates and those living with disabilities

BURSARY COVERAGE:

This bursary will be awarded for the maximum value of R40 000 in the following fields:

Biodiversity and Conservation:

• Biological Sciences (Degree/ Hons BSc)
• Environmental Management (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Environmental Science (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Environmental Strategy Development and Implementation or Environmental Law including Advanced Legislative Drafting (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Global change dynamics (Climate Change, drought, biodiversity loss) (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Heritage Studies (Diploma/ Degree)
• Nature Conservation (Diploma/ Degree / Hons)
• Natural Science / Environmental Science/Management majoring in Ecology, Resources Management and Geographical Information System (BSc/ Hons/ MSc)
• Risk management or Policy Development (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)
• Wetlands Management and/or Ecosystem Approach (Diploma/ Degree/ Hons)

Chemicals and Waste Management:

• Biochemistry/ Microbiology (MSc/ M Tech)
• Chemical Engineering/ Chemistry (MSc/ M Tech)
• Eco-toxicology of environmental pollutants (Masters/ PhD)
• Ecoxicology (B Hons/ M Sc)
• Environmental Risk Assessment and Management (Masters/ PhD)
• Environmental Science (B Degree/ M Tech/ Hons/ MSc)
• Epidemiology of environmental pollutants (Masters/ PhD)
• Impacts and synergistic effects of environmental pollutants on the environment (Masters/ PhD)
• Toxicology (Masters/ PhD)
• Waste Management (B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)

Climate Change, Air Quality and Sustainable Development:

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

Environmental Programmes:

• Environmental Science (National Diploma)
• Environmental Science: Biological Resources (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Environmental Economics (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Environmental Law/ Biological Sciences (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: People and the Environment (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Environmental Science: Water Resources (BSc Degree/ Hons/ Masters)
• Horticulture (National Diploma/ Adv Diploma)
• Landscape Technology (National Diploma/ Adv Diploma)

Forestry Management:

• Environmental Science or Management (National Diploma/ B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Forestry (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ B Degree/ Hons/ Master’s Degree)
• Forestry (B Degree / Hons / Master’s Degree)
• Forestry, Wood Science (BTech/ M Sc)
• Game Ranch management (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
• Nature Conservation (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)
• Nature Conservation, Botany, Marine Science (National Diploma/ BTech/ BDegree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Veld Fire Management (Higher Certificate)
• Wood Technology (National Diploma/ AdvDip/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD)

Fisheries Management:

• Environmental Science (B Degree/ Hons/ MSc)
• Ichthyology specialising in Aquaculture (BSc)
• Marine Biology (BSc)
• Oceanography (National Diploma)
• Oceanography and Marine Biology (BSc)

Oceans and Coast:

• Applied Aquaculture
• Aquatic Veterinary Science
• Biochemistry (Genetics) (Hons/ MSc)
• Botany (Coastal-related) (Hons/ MSc)
• Chemistry (Heavy metals pollution in the Marine Environment) (MSc)
• Chemistry (Hydro-Carbons) (MSc)
• Data Analyst and statistical modelling
• Ecological modelling (MSc)
• Ecophysiology (Hons/ MSc)
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental/ Maritime Law
• Environmental Science (BSc/ Honours/ Masters/ PhD)
• GIS emphasis on Spatial analysis (Hons/ MSc)
• Information Technology and GIS (Marine)
• Marine Science/ Environmental Science (BTech)
• Marine Spatial Planning
• Marine Protected Areas Management
• Maritime Law (BSc)
• Maritime Security
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nature Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management (BSc)
• Ocean Governance
• Ocean Noise (Physics & Biology Oceanography) (PhD)
• Operations Management (BTech)
• Resource/ Environmental Economics
• Taxonomy (Systematics) and Biodiversity (MSc)

Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring:

• Botany (BSc)
• Chemistry (BSc)
• Environmental Management majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment (Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Sciences (majoring in Animal and wildlife) (Bachelors Degree)
• Geography (BSc Honours)
• Geography, Geoinformatics (BSc)
• Law (B.A)
• LLB (Major courses: Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Legislative Drafting)
• LLM
• Paralegal (National Diploma/ Degree)

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Download this form below to apply:

Candidates are required to indicate the reference number and qualification they are applying for, on the application form:

• Biodiversity and Conservation (Reference: B&C/01/2026)
• Chemicals and Waste Management (Reference: CWM/01/2026)
• Climate Change, Air Quality and Sustainable Development (Reference: CCAS/01/2026)
• Environmental Programmes (Reference: EP/01/2026)
• Forestry Management (Reference: FO /01/2026)
• Fisheries Management (Reference: FI/01/2026)
• Oceans and Coast (Reference: OC/01/2026)
• Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring (Reference: RCSM/01/2026)