Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary South Africa 2026

 

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROVIDER – DFFE

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), was previously known as the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) before the name was changed in April 2021. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is a department of the South African government, formed in 2019 as the result of a merger between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the forestry and fisheries part of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

The DFFE is responsible for the protection, improvement and conservation of the environment and natural resources in South Africa.
 

ABOUT THE DFFE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2026 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies in the following fields:
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION:

  • ND/Degree Environmental Management / B Environmental Science Degree/ Biological Science
  • B Sc Natural Sciences Management, Geography and Hydrology
  • ND/ Degree Eco tourism and game range management
  • ND/ BA Degree Environmental economics
  • ND / BTech / Post Graduate Diploma, Nature Conservation
  • B Degree in Ecological Engineering Sciences
  • B Degree in Resource Economics
  • N Dip/ BTech Nature conservation
  • BSc Zoology and Botany
  • Environmental legislation/ Law – BSc Environmental Management/ legislation/ Law
  • Geology – BSc Geology
  • ND/ BSC Environmental Resource Management, Hydrology and Water Resources Management

CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT:

  • ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech (Environmental Science/ Environmental Management/ Environmental Health/ Environmental law/ Environmental education)
  • ND/ B Tech/ M Tech/ D Tech Waste Management
  • BA Degree/Hons/MA Geography
  • MSc in Environmental Pollution / Ecotoxicology/ Remediation studies
  • ND/ BA Degree/ Hons/ MA Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry and Biotechnology
  • MSc in Exposure Science (specialising in environmental science)
  • ND/ Degree/ Hons/ MA Civil Engineering
  • ND/ Degree/ BSc Hons/Masters in Geohydrology
  • MSc/ MTech Biochemistry / Microbiology
  • BCom/ Postgraduate Diploma/ Data science
  • ND/ B Degree Risk Management

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 PROGRAMMES:

  • BSc Degree/ Hons/ MSc/ PhD 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
  • Postgraduate Diploma/ Masters in Sustainability Learning
  • ND/ Degree/ Hons/ MA/ PhD Project Management
  • ND/ Degree/ Hons Resource Economics/ Social Innovation

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT:

  • Maritime Studies (related to harbour/ports – fishing harbours) / Maritime law
  • MSc Aquaculture
  • 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
  • Master’s in international marine and environmental law/ policy/ governance/ Multilateral negotiations
  • BSc/ MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing / Environmental Informatics
  • Postgraduate Diploma/ MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development
  • Post graduate Diploma in Accounting Science/MPhil Development Finance
  • Hons/Masters Economics, Agriculture Economics, Fisheries Economics

FORESTRY MANAGEMENT:

  • B Sc Hon Natural Resource Management
  • ND/Degree/Hons/MSc/PHD in Forest Science / Forestry
  • ND/Degree/Hons/MSc/PHD in Forest Management
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry / Forest Science
  • B Agric Hons
  • B Agric Hons in Rural Development Planning
  • BSc Forestry
  • BSc Hons in Wildlife Management
  • MSc in Conservation Ecology

OCEANS AND COASTS:

  • BSc in Coastal and marine engineering – coastal erosion, rehabilitation and restoration
  • Master’s/ PhD degree in town and regional planning, Architecture, Urban Design and surveying
  • Masters/ PhD degree in climate change, adaptation, mitigation, policy and sustainability
  • Advanced diploma/ B Tech mechanical/ B Tech/BSc/ MTech/ Meng Engineering
  • BSc Hons / MSc / PhD Physical Oceanography
  • BSc Hons / MSc/ PhD in Marine Spatial Planning
  • B Degree/ Hons/ master’s in economics / environmental economics / Maritime Economics
  • BSc Hons/ MSC/ PhD Marine Biodiversity & Taxonomy (systematics)
  • BSc Hons /MSc/ PhD Marine Biology
  • BSc Hons/ MSc Biochemistry or Genetics

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

 

** RELATED BURSARIES **

 

ABOUT THE DFFE BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE & SELECTION

The bursary will be awarded for the maximum value of R50 000.

After graduation, bursary recipients will be required to participate in the internship program.

www.zabursaries.co.za is committed to keeping you up to date with the latest bursary opportunities, and this article covers all details about the DFFE Bursary.

Successful candidates will be contacted by no later than 31 January 2026 – if you do not receive any feedback by this date, please regard your application as unsuccessful.

Successful bursary recipients will be required to sign a bursary contract with the department.
 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

  • You must be a South African citizen
  • You must be currently in Matric or you have completed Matric
  • You must be studying or intend on studying full time, towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above
  • You must be studying or intend on studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa
  • You must NOT be employed
  • You must NOT be an employee of the DFFE
  • You must NOT have previously participated in the public service internship program
  • Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged candidates and those living with disabilities

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

Download and complete the: DFFE Bursary Application Form 2026 (.docx)

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the DFFE bursary.
 

Indicate the relevant reference number and qualification you are applying for, on the application form:

  • BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION (Ref: B&C/01/2026)
  • CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT (Ref: CWM/01/2026)
  • CLIMATE AND CHANGE AND AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (Ref: CCAQ/01/2026)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES (Ref: EP/01/2026)
  • FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (Ref: FISH/01/2026)
  • FORESTRY MANAGEMENT (Ref: FOR/01/2026)
  • OCEANS AND COASTS (Ref: OC/01/2026)
  • REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SECTOR MONITORING (Ref: RCSM/01/2026)

 

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

  • ID document (certified copy)
  • Matric latest results, if currently in Matric (certified copy)
  • Matric certificate, if completed Matric (certified copy)
  • Qualifications or certificates completed, if applicable (certified copies)
  • Most recent academic records, if currently studying (certified copies)
  • Proof of registration, if enrolled (on institutes letterhead)
  • Parents or guardians ID documents (certified copies)
  • Parents or guardians proof of income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ proof of sassa grant or pension if applicable/ affidavit or death certificates if deceased)
  • Motivational letter to support your application and explain why you should be awarded the bursary (read our tips on how to write a motivational letter for your bursary application)

 

Applications must be submitted via courier or hand delivery, to the following addresses:
– Pretoria:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road
Arcadia
PRETORIA
0001

– Cape Town:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Foretrust Building
3 Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore
CAPE TOWN
8000

– Post:
The Director General
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001
Attention: Learning and Development (Bursary Section)

Note: applications submitted via fax or email will NOT be accepted.
 

CLOSING DATE FOR THE DFFE BURSARY

3 October 2025.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
 

CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) directly:
Pretoria contacts:

  • Joshua Moepya (Tel: 012 399 8682)
  • Busisiwe Stemele (Tel: 012 399 8685)
  • Mokhobo Putu (Tel: 012 399 9018)

Cape Town contacts:

  • Kgomotso Moela (Tel: 021 402 3329)
  • Neliswa Magwala (Tel: 021 814 8089)
  • Tumeka Madolo (Tel: 021 402 3072)

 

Please do NOT contact the DFFE if this bursary has already closed. View our other bursaries open for application here: https://www.zabursaries.co.za/bursary-news/

This bursary listing was last updated in September 2025.

SA Bursaries wishes you the best of luck with your application! Please remember to SHARE this page with anyone you know who may be in need of bursary funding.