If you are a financially challenged student who is passionate about protecting the country’s natural heritage, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary was made for you.
Sponsored by the DFFE, this impressive program grooms our future environmental leaders by providing financial support for studies in the career fields related to our planet’s well-being.
I will be your guide to prep you for the application process by providing you with all the important information you will need.
DFFE Bursary
The DFFE Bursary cultivates the academic careers of students dedicated to environmental protection and preservation.
Open to both high school graduates and current undergraduates, the program supports studies in various fields essential for protecting our ecosystems, managing our natural resources, and promoting sustainable development.
These fields include:
- Biodiversity and Conservation: Wildlife management, conservation ecology, protected area management.
- Chemicals and Waste Management: Waste management science, pollution control, environmental chemistry.
- Climate Change and Air Quality: Meteorology, climate science, air pollution control.
- Environmental Programmes: Environmental education, environmental law, environmental planning.
- Forestry Management: Forestry science, forest engineering, wood science.
- Fisheries Management: Marine biology, fisheries science, aquaculture.
- Oceans and Coasts: Oceanography, coastal management, marine pollution control.
- Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring: Environmental law, environmental auditing, compliance monitoring.
By investing in your education, the DFFE Bursary ensures both individual success and also collective environmental progress.
How to apply for the DFFE Bursary
Before we begin the application process, take a minute to read these important points to make sure you’re ready to apply.
Eligibility
Here are the requirements every applicant must meet to be considered eligible for this bursary:
- South African citizenship: You must be a South African citizen.
- Matric qualification: You must be currently in Matric (Grade 12) or have completed Matric.
- Chosen field of study: You must be studying or intending to study in one of the listed environmental fields at a recognized South African tertiary institution.
- Financial need: You must demonstrate financial need to qualify for the bursary.
- Unemployed and not an employee of DFFE: You must not be employed or enrolled as an employee of the DFFE.
Required Documents
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, gather the following documents to complete your application:
- Certified copy of your South African ID document.
- Recent passport-size photograph.
- Certified copies of your academic records (Grade 12 results or progress reports).
- Proof of registration if already enrolled at a tertiary institution.
- Certified copies of your parents/guardians’ ID documents.
- Proof of parents’/guardians’ income (salary slips or affidavits if unemployed).
- Proof of address and an affidavit confirming residency in South Africa.
- Affidavit if your parents/guardians are pensioners (including their pensioner card).
- Completed and signed Bursary Award Agreement.
- Motivation letter outlining your career aspirations and the significance of the DFFE Bursary in achieving them.
Application Closing Date
The DFFE Bursary application period opens late in the year.
It closes towards the end of October or December so stay vigilant and mark your calendars to avoid missing the window.
DFFE Bursary Application Process
To apply for the DFFE Bursary, follow these simple steps:
- Download the application form. It is available on the department’s official website or Bursaries Africa.
- Cross-check to make sure all information is accurate and complete, including contact details, academic history, and financial information.
- Attach the required documents. Scan and attach all the required documents mentioned above in the specified format.
- Submit your complete application form and supporting documents online or by mail (the physical address is provided on the application form or website).