This is really great news for the South African students who are eager to study further. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is pleased to announce that full-time students enrolled in higher education institutions, or unemployed Grade 12 (MATRIC) students, may apply for the 2027 Full-Time Scholarship Program.
It is open to all, regardless of race, gender, or disability; applicants from any background are welcome. The DFFE is a fully funded scholarship program expected to provide R80,000.00. It encourages students to pursue their degree and also empowers lower-income background students who can’t afford that much money to study.
Amount of the DFFE Bursary Program
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary Program offers a maximum bursary amount of R80,000.00.
Availability Status of the DFFE Bursary Programme
The DFFE is looking for full-time students to apply for full-time bursaries. Apart from that, the program is to be awarded in the 2027 academic year. Likewise, interested students must apply by 02 October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Fields of Study
Biodiversity and Conservation
- ND/BA Environmental Management / B Sc Environmental Science
- B Sc Natural Sciences Management
- ND/ Degree Eco tourism and game range management
- N Dip/BTech/ Postgraduate Diploma: Nature conservation
- BSc Zoology and Botany
Chemical and Waste Management
- ND/ B Tech/ B Degree/ Hons/ M Sc: Chemistry
- ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech: Environmental Science/ Environmental Management / Environmental law/ Environmental education
- ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech Waste Management/ Recycling Economy/ Waste as resource
- BA Degree/Hons/M Sc Geography and Society with research in Waste Management/Resource Efficiency/ Circular economy/ Extended producer responsibility
- B Degree/Hons/MA: Chemical Engineering / Civil Engineering
- B Degree/ Hons/ M Sc/ PhD Natural Sciences with research in resource efficiency/ Geography/ Development Studies
- LLB Degree/ LLM/ PhD: Environmental Law with research or thesis in transforming environmental law to keep up with the latest international trends on waste as a resource
Climate and 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 Programs
- BSc Degree/ Hons/ MSc in Environmental Management/Science
- BSc Conservation Ecology/Biodiversity/ Biology
- BSc Marine Biology
- B Degree/Hons/ MSc Engineering Management / Civil Engineering
- B Sc/ Hons Geographical information System
- MSc Ecological Economics
Fisheries Management
- Maritime Studies (related to harbour/ports – fishing harbours) /Maritime law
- BSc/Hons/MSc/PhD Oceanography, Marine Biology, Ichthyology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries
- B Sc Marine / Fisheries Biology
- Hons/MSc/PhD Zoology (freshwater ecology or specialising in the field of freshwater fisheries)
- Bachelor’s degree, Post graduate studies, B Tech, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD, (Marine biology, Aquaculture, Environmental Science/management, Fisheries Science, Aquatic Science, or a related field)
- Actuarial Science
- MSc 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, Agricultural Economics, Fisheries Economics
Forest 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: Biodiversity/ Conservation Biology/ Marine Biology/ Environmental Science
- BTech Engineering: Electrical/ Electronic/ Mechanical/ Communication
- Hons/ Masters: Physical/ Chemical/ Biological Oceanography
- BA/ BCom/ Hons/ Masters/ PhD: Natural Resource Economics/ Environmental Economics/ Maritime Studies/ Maritime Economics
- Hons/ Masters: Ecophysiology/ Taxonomy/ Systematics
- B Sc/ BTech/ Hons/ M Sc/: Marine Biology and Ecology/ Environmental Management/ Nature Conservation or equivalent
- B Eng/ B Sc Eng: Coastal Engineering, coastal dynamics and adaptation, restoration and rehabilitation
- BA/ BCom: Marine and Coastal policy, Community engagement and stakeholder management
- B Tech/ Hons: Coastal and Marine climate change
- B Tech/ Hons: Coastal Spatial Planning/ Town and Regional Planning
- Hons/ M Sc: Chemistry-Heavy Metals/ Hydrocarbons
- Hons/ M Sc: Ecophysiology/ Taxonomy (Systematics and Biodiversity)
Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring
- LLB (Major courses: administrative law, legislative drafting, Environmental Law)
- LLM
- B.A. Law, A Diploma, or a Degree in Paralegal
- Bachelor of Environmental Sciences/Management
- BSC majoring in Geography, Geoinformatics
- Bachelor of Environmental Management majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment
DFFE Bursary Programme Requirements
The applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the programme:
- It is only open to full-time students enrolled in a higher education institution or those who are in Grade 12 (Matriculation) and unemployed;
- Students who have previously taken part in a public service internship program are ineligible for consideration;
- Upon completion of your studies, it is mandatory to participate in an internship program as part of the scholarship agreement;
- It is important to note that the rules prohibit participating in an internship program more than once;
- Please clearly indicate the reference number and field of study on the application form;
- Incomplete applications will not be considered;
- Applications must be submitted on the specific scholarship application form;
- Any applications sent by fax or email will not be accepted.
Remember Things
- Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted and successful candidates only.
- If you have not been contacted by the end of January 2027, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.
- Successful applicants will be expected to sign a scholarship agreement.
Application Procedure of the DFFE Bursary Programme 2027
Your applications must be accompanied by the following documents:
- Motivation for why you should be awarded the scholarship;
- Copies of qualifications and recent academic records;
- Copies of identity documents (both applicant and parent or guardian);
- Proof of registration (if already enrolled in a higher education institution);
- Latest Grade 12 results (if currently in high school);
- Proof of income of parents or guardians;
- Proof of death of parents;
- Affidavit if parents are not working.
Click here to access the official webpage
DFFE Bursary Application 2027 Deadline
The last date to apply for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) Bursary Program 2026 for Young South Africans is 2nd October 2026.
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