DFFE Bursary 2027: Grade 12 Learners and Students Can Apply for Up to R80,000

South African Grade 12 learners and full-time students can apply for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Full-Time Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.

The bursary supports full-time studies in fields aligned with the department’s environmental, forestry, fisheries and natural-resource responsibilities.

The maximum bursary amount is R80,000, while applications close on 2 October 2026. DFFE states that no late applications will be accepted.

The opportunity is available to eligible South African citizens who are either currently in Grade 12 or already enrolled as full-time students at an institution of higher learning and who are not employed.

DFFE Bursary 2027 at a glance

Detail	Information
Bursary	DFFE Full-Time Bursary Programme 2027
Department	Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Academic year	2027
Location	South Africa
Applicants	Grade 12 learners and full-time higher-education students
Citizenship	South African citizens
Employment status	Applicants must not be employed
Maximum bursary	R80,000
Application method	Prescribed DFFE bursary application form
Closing date	2 October 2026
Late applications	Not accepted

DFFE’s official bursary page confirms that the programme is intended for full-time students at institutions of higher learning and individuals currently in Grade 12 who are not employed.

What does the DFFE Bursary cover?

The DFFE programme supports a range of studies connected to the department’s mandate.

The official 2027 bursary information lists opportunities under areas including:

• Biodiversity and Conservation
• Chemicals and Waste Management
• Climate Change and Air Quality Management
• Environmental Programmes
• Fisheries Management
• Forestry Management
• Oceans and Coasts
• Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring

The maximum bursary value is R80,000.

This is the maximum amount stated by DFFE and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every successful applicant will receive R80,000 in the same funding structure. Applicants should consult the official bursary documentation and contract for the applicable funding conditions.

Who can apply for the DFFE Bursary 2027?

The official DFFE requirements state that applicants must be:

• South African citizens.
• Currently in Grade 12 or full-time students enrolled at an institution of higher learning.
• Not employed.

DFFE also states that it is an equal-opportunity and affirmative-action employer and that persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The department says its intention is to promote representativity in terms of race, gender and disability.

Which fields of study are supported?

The programme covers a broad range of environmental, forestry, fisheries, marine, legal, engineering and related disciplines.

Applicants must identify the appropriate reference number and field of study on the prescribed application form.

1. Environmental Programmes — EP/01/2027

Supported studies include:

• Environmental Management
• Environmental Science
• Conservation Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Biology
• Marine Biology
• Engineering Management
• Civil Engineering
• Geographical Information Systems
• Ecological Economics

The official DFFE listing includes BSc, Honours and MSc-level studies in Environmental Management and Environmental Science among the supported qualifications.

2. Forestry Management — FOR/01/2027

The Forestry Management category includes:

• Diploma in Forestry
• Advanced Diploma in Forestry
• Bachelor of Science
• Honours in Natural Resource Management
• BSc in Forestry and Wood Sciences

3. Regulatory Compliance Sector Monitoring — RCSM/01/2026

The official DFFE page currently displays this reference as RCSM/01/2026, despite the bursary programme being for the 2027 academic year.

Fields listed include:

• LLB
• LLM
• BA Law
• Paralegal studies
• Environmental Sciences
• Environmental Management
• Geography
• Geoinformatics
• Environmental Impact Assessment

Applicants should copy the reference number exactly as it appears on the current official DFFE application documentation.

4. Biodiversity and Conservation — B&C/01/2027

Supported areas include:

• Environmental Management
• Environmental Science
• Natural Sciences Management
• Ecotourism
• Game Range Management
• Nature Conservation
• Zoology
• Botany

5. Oceans and Coasts — OC/01/2026

The current DFFE bursary page displays the reference as OC/01/2026.

The listed fields include:

• Biodiversity
• Conservation Biology
• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Communication Engineering
• Physical Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography
• Biological Oceanography
• Maritime Studies
• Maritime Economics
• Coastal Engineering
• Coastal Planning
• Climate Change
• Coastal and Marine Climate Change
• Coastal Spatial Planning
• Chemistry-related studies

6. Fisheries Management — FISH/01/2027

The Fisheries Management category covers fields including:

• Maritime Studies
• Maritime Law
• Oceanography
• Marine Biology
• Ichthyology
• Environmental Science
• Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Fisheries Science
• Aquatic Science
• Zoology
• Actuarial Science
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• GIS and Remote Sensing
• Environmental Informatics
• Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Economics
• Agricultural Economics
• Fisheries Economics

7. Climate Change and Air Quality Management — CCAQ/01/2027

The listed areas include:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Natural Science
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Sustainable Development

8. Chemicals and Waste Management — CWM/01/2027

Supported areas include:

• Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Law
• Environmental Education
• Waste Management
• Recycling Economy
• Waste as a Resource
• Circular Economy
• Extended Producer Responsibility
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• Geography
• Development Studies

What documents are required?

DFFE states that applications must be accompanied by supporting documents.

The official list includes:

• A motivation explaining why the bursary should be awarded to you.
• Copies of qualifications and recent academic records.
• A copy of the applicant’s identity document.
• Copies of the identity documents of both parents or the guardian.
• Proof of registration if already enrolled at an institution of higher learning.
• Latest Grade 12 results if currently in high school.
• Proof of parents’ or guardian’s income.
• Proof if parents are deceased.
• An affidavit if parents are not working.

What should Grade 12 learners submit?

If you are currently in Grade 12, DFFE says you should provide your latest Grade 12 results as part of the application.

Applicants should also prepare the other required supporting documentation rather than waiting until the closing date.

What should current university or college students submit?

Students who are already enrolled at an institution of higher learning must provide proof of registration.

They must also submit the other documents required by DFFE, including recent academic records and the required identity and household-income documentation.

What happens if the application is incomplete?

DFFE clearly states that incomplete applications will not be considered.

This makes it important to check every required document before submitting the application.

Applicants should also make sure that the correct reference number and field of study are clearly indicated on the prescribed form.

Is there an important internship condition?

Yes.

DFFE states that students who have previously participated in the Public Service Internship Programme are ineligible for consideration.

The department also states that, upon completion of studies, participation in its internship programme is mandatory as part of the bursary contract agreement.

DFFE notes that regulations prohibit participation in the internship programme more than once.

Applicants should therefore read the full bursary conditions carefully before applying.

Does the bursary guarantee an internship?

The bursary information states that participation in the internship programme is mandatory upon completion of studies as part of the bursary contract agreement.

This should be understood as a contractual condition of the bursary, rather than a claim that the bursary guarantees permanent employment with DFFE afterwards.

How do you apply for the DFFE Bursary 2027?

Applicants must use the prescribed DFFE bursary application form.

The department states that applications must clearly indicate the relevant reference number and study field.

Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should therefore prepare the completed form and supporting documents for physical delivery or courier submission.

Click here to apply for Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary Programme 2027

Where can you submit the application?

Pretoria

Applications can be hand-delivered or couriered to:

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Corner Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road
Arcadia
Pretoria

Cape Town

Applications can also be hand-delivered or couriered to:

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Foretrust Building
No. 3 Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore
Cape Town
8000

Postal applications

Postal applications should be addressed to:

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

DFFE Bursary 2027 contact numbers

For Pretoria enquiries, the official DFFE page lists:

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

For Cape Town enquiries:

• Kgomotso Moela: 081 492 5570
• Neliswa Magwala: 066 081 9858
• Tumeka Madolo: 071 607 2014

The DFFE Call Centre is 086 111 2468.

When does the DFFE Bursary close?

The closing date is:

2 October 2026

DFFE states that no late applications will be accepted.

Applicants should therefore allow enough time for printing, completing, checking and delivering the application.

What happens after applying?

DFFE states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted and successful candidates.

The department also says that if an applicant has not been contacted by the end of January 2027, they should accept that their application was unsuccessful.

Successful applicants will be expected to sign a bursary contract.

DFFE Bursary 2027 application checklist

Before sending your application, check that you have:

• South African citizenship.
• Grade 12 status or full-time higher-education enrolment.
• No employment.
• The correct study field.
• The correct DFFE reference number.
• A completed prescribed bursary application form.
• A motivation.
• Copies of qualifications and recent academic records.
• Applicant ID copy.
• Parent or guardian ID copies.
• Proof of registration if already studying.
• Latest Grade 12 results if currently in Grade 12.
• Parent or guardian income documentation.
• Required proof or affidavit where applicable.
• All required supporting documents.
• A complete application with no missing sections.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the DFFE Bursary 2027 worth?

The maximum bursary amount stated by DFFE is R80,000.

Who can apply?

South African citizens who are currently in Grade 12 or are full-time students at an institution of higher learning and who are not employed can apply, subject to the other requirements.

Can employed students apply?

No. DFFE states that the bursary call applies to Grade 12 learners or full-time higher-education students who are not employed.

What fields are funded?

The bursary covers a broad range of environmental, forestry, biodiversity, fisheries, marine, climate, waste, engineering, legal and related fields.

Can Grade 12 learners apply?

Yes. Grade 12 learners are specifically included in the current DFFE bursary call.

Is proof of registration required?

Yes, if you are already enrolled at an institution of higher learning.

Can I email my application?

No. DFFE states that faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

When is the closing date?

Applications close on 2 October 2026, and DFFE says late applications will not be accepted.

What happens after I finish my studies?

Participation in the DFFE internship programme is mandatory upon completion of studies as part of the bursary contract agreement.

Final reminder

The DFFE Full-Time Bursary Programme 2027 is aimed at South African Grade 12 learners and full-time higher-education students who are not employed and who are pursuing studies aligned with the department’s mandate.

With a maximum bursary value of R80,000 and a closing date of 2 October 2026, eligible applicants should prepare their documents carefully and submit the prescribed application form through the permitted delivery channels.

Do not leave the application until the final day, particularly because DFFE does not accept late, faxed or emailed applications.

Verified internal-link suggestions

I would keep the internal linking tightly relevant rather than adding unrelated jobs.

Recommended Youthscope links, where these pages remain live on publication day, include:

• Bursaries
• Learnerships or study opportunities for Grade 12 learners.
• Internship opportunities for students/graduates.

Author/Updated Information

Written by: Mbalizuke Nkosi
Published: 17 September 2026
Updated: 17 September 2026
Information checked: 17 September 2026

Official source

Primary official source: DFFE Bursaries — Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

The official DFFE page contains the current 2027 bursary closing date, maximum amount, eligibility requirements, supporting documents, fields of study, application procedure, delivery addresses and enquiry contacts.

DFFE’s recent Green Careers material also confirms that the department offers bursaries to full-time higher-education students and Grade 12 learners pursuing fields aligned with its mandate.