South African students and Grade 12 learners interested in environmental, forestry, fisheries and other green-economy careers have an opportunity to apply for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary Programme for 2027.
The DFFE has opened applications for its 2027 full-time bursary programme, which is aimed at eligible full-time students at higher-education institutions as well as qualifying unemployed Grade 12 learners intending to pursue studies aligned with the department’s mandate.
According to the department’s official bursary information, the closing date is 2 October 2026, and late applications will not be accepted. The maximum bursary amount is R80,000 per student per year.
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to students preparing for the 2027 academic year who are considering careers in environmental science, conservation, forestry, marine and fisheries sciences, waste management, climate change, environmental law and related fields.
DFFE Bursary 2027 at a Glance
Bursary: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bursary Programme 2027
Country: South Africa
Study year: 2027
Target group: Full-time higher-education students and eligible Grade 12 learners
Maximum bursary value: R80,000 per year
Closing date: 2 October 2026
Application method: Prescribed DFFE bursary application form
Late applications: Not accepted
Email/fax applications: Not accepted
The information above is based primarily on the DFFE’s current official bursary page.
What Is the DFFE Bursary?
The DFFE Bursary Programme is a government-funded education opportunity intended to support the development of skills needed in South Africa’s forestry, fisheries, environmental management and natural-resource sectors.
The programme is administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the national department responsible for areas including environmental protection, biodiversity, forestry, fisheries and marine resources.
The department says its bursary programme supports full-time students and Grade 12 learners pursuing studies in fields connected to its mandate.
Useful Links:
For students, the opportunity is about more than simply receiving financial assistance. The fields listed by DFFE are connected to sectors where South Africa requires specialised skills, including conservation, environmental management, climate-related work, forestry, fisheries and regulatory compliance.
How Much Does the DFFE Bursary Pay?
The official DFFE bursary page currently states that the maximum amount of the 2027 bursary is R80,000 per year.
Applicants should not automatically assume that receiving a bursary means every education-related expense will be paid. Students should carefully review the official bursary documentation and contract to understand what costs are covered and what responsibilities apply.
A useful financial-planning tip for students
Even when a bursary provides substantial support, students should prepare a simple budget before accepting funding.
Consider expenses such as:
- Tuition and registration
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Food
- Study materials
- Data and communication
- Personal expenses
- University or college-related charges
Understanding the difference between funding available and your total cost of studying can help students avoid unexpected financial pressure.
This is also an important financial-literacy lesson for young South Africans entering tertiary education: a bursary should be treated as education funding with specific conditions, rather than as disposable income.
Who Can Apply for the DFFE Bursary 2027?
The current DFFE requirements state that the programme is open to:
- Full-time students enrolled at an institution of higher learning; and
- Grade 12 learners who are not employed and intend to pursue qualifying studies.
The department also states that people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should make sure that their intended qualification corresponds with one of the study fields and reference numbers listed by DFFE.
Important Internship Requirement
One of the most important details applicants should understand before applying is the relationship between the bursary and public-service internship opportunities.
DFFE states that students who have previously participated in the public service internship programme are not eligible for consideration.
The department further states that, upon completion of studies, participation in its internship programme is mandatory as part of the bursary contract agreement, subject to the applicable rules and guidelines. It also notes that regulations prohibit participation in a public-service internship more than once.
This means applicants should read the bursary conditions carefully rather than considering the opportunity solely as financial assistance.
DFFE Bursary 2027 Fields of Study
One of the strongest features of the DFFE opportunity is the range of qualifications covered.
The department’s current list includes programmes connected to several major environmental and natural-resource sectors.
1. Biodiversity and Conservation
Eligible areas listed by DFFE include:
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Natural Sciences Management
- Ecotourism
- Game Range Management
- Nature Conservation
- Zoology
- Botany
These qualifications can support career pathways related to biodiversity protection, conservation management, ecological research and natural-resource management.
2. Chemicals and Waste Management
The DFFE list includes areas such as:
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Education
- Waste Management
- Recycling Economy
- Circular Economy
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Geography
- Development Studies
Certain postgraduate research areas are also included where they relate to resource efficiency, waste and environmental priorities.
3. Climate Change and Air Quality
The department’s listed fields include:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Management
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Archaeology and Environmental Studies
- Sustainable Development
This area is particularly relevant for students interested in environmental policy, climate adaptation, air-quality management and sustainability.
4. Environmental Programmes
DFFE lists qualifications including:
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Biology
- Marine Biology
- Engineering Management
- Civil Engineering
- Geographical Information Systems
- Ecological Economics
5. Fisheries Management
The fisheries-related fields are broad and include areas such as:
- Oceanography
- Marine Biology
- Ichthyology
- Environmental Science
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries Science
- Aquatic Science
- Marine and Fisheries Biology
- Zoology
- Statistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Actuarial Science
- Engineering
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Economics
- Agricultural Economics
- Fisheries Economics
6. Forestry Management
DFFE lists qualifications including:
- Forestry
- Forestry and Wood Sciences
- Natural Resource Management
- Related forestry diploma and advanced diploma programmes
7. Oceans and Coastal Studies
The department’s list includes a wide selection of marine, environmental, engineering, economics and planning-related qualifications.
Examples include:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Biology
- Oceanography
- Coastal Engineering
- Marine and Coastal Policy
- Environmental Economics
- Maritime Studies
- Marine Ecology
- Town and Regional Planning
- Coastal and Marine Climate Change
- Spatial Planning
- Chemistry related to marine pollution
8. Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring
DFFE also supports certain legal and compliance-related qualifications, including:
- LLB
- LLM
- Environmental Law
- Paralegal studies
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Management
- Geography
- Geoinformatics
- Environmental Impact Assessment
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants should prepare their supporting documentation before submitting their application.
According to DFFE, applications should be accompanied by:
- A motivation explaining why the bursary should be awarded
- Copies of qualifications and recent academic records
- Copies of the applicant’s ID
- Copies of the IDs of both parents or the guardian
- Proof of registration if already enrolled at a higher-education institution
- Latest Grade 12 results if currently in Grade 12
- Proof of parents’ or guardian’s income
- Proof if parents are deceased
- An affidavit if parents are unemployed
Applicants should make sure that their documents are complete and legible before submitting them.
How to Apply for the DFFE Bursary 2027
The application process is important because DFFE specifically states that applications must be submitted using the prescribed bursary application form.
Step 1: Check your study field
Before completing the form, confirm that your qualification appears in the official DFFE list.
Pay attention to the relevant reference number and study field.
Step 2: Complete the prescribed application form
Applicants must use the official DFFE bursary application form.
Make sure that all required sections are completed accurately.
Step 3: Prepare supporting documents
Gather your:
- ID documents
- Academic results
- Registration proof, where applicable
- Income documentation
- Motivation
- Other required supporting documents
Step 4: Check the application
Before submitting, check that:
- Your name is correct.
- Your study field is correctly indicated.
- The correct reference number is included.
- Required documents are attached.
- Your application is complete.
DFFE warns that incomplete applications will not be considered.
Step 5: Submit the application correctly
DFFE states that no faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.
The department provides hand-delivery and courier submission details on its official bursary page, including addresses in Pretoria and Cape Town.
Applicants should therefore avoid relying on social-media posts or third-party websites for alternative submission methods.
DFFE Bursary Closing Date 2027
The official closing date is:
2 October 2026
DFFE states clearly that no late applications will be accepted.
Students should therefore avoid waiting until the final day, particularly where courier delivery is required.
If you are preparing an application for Edupage readers, one practical recommendation is to have all documents ready several days before the deadline.
What Happens After Applying?
DFFE states that correspondence is limited to shortlisted and successful candidates.
The department also states that applicants who have not been contacted by the end of January 2027 should accept that their application was unsuccessful. Successful applicants will be expected to sign a bursary contract.
Applicants should therefore keep copies of everything submitted and monitor their contact details after applying.
Why This Bursary Matters for South African Students
The DFFE opportunity is particularly relevant because environmental and natural-resource careers cover a much wider area than many school learners realise.
A student interested in mathematics, engineering, law, biology, chemistry, economics, geography or information systems may potentially find a pathway into environmental-sector work.
For example, environmental careers can involve:
- Scientific research
- Conservation
- Environmental compliance
- Forestry
- Fisheries
- Marine science
- Climate-related work
- Waste management
- Environmental economics
- GIS and spatial analysis
- Environmental law
- Engineering
- Natural-resource management
DFFE’s own 2026 Green Careers Guidance Expo material highlights environmental science, forestry, marine biology, fisheries, biodiversity, climate change, waste management, environmental law, environmental economics and spatial planning among the areas supported through its skills-development initiatives.
Edupage Insight: Don’t Choose a Qualification Only Because a Bursary Is Available
One important consideration for students is to avoid selecting a qualification purely because it has bursary funding.
The better approach is to consider three things together:
1. Your academic strengths
Choose a programme that matches subjects and areas in which you can realistically perform well.
2. Career opportunities
Research the types of jobs associated with the qualification and the additional skills employers normally require.
3. Funding conditions
Understand exactly what the bursary covers and what obligations come with accepting it.
This approach can help students make a more informed long-term education decision instead of focusing only on the headline bursary amount.
DFFE Bursary 2027: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should be particularly careful about the following:
Applying after the deadline
The deadline is 2 October 2026, and DFFE says late applications will not be accepted.
Choosing the wrong study field
Do not assume that every environmental-related qualification automatically qualifies. Check the official DFFE field list and reference numbers.
Submitting an incomplete application
DFFE specifically warns that incomplete applications will not be considered.
Sending the application by email
The department states that emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted.
Ignoring the internship condition
Applicants should understand the post-study requirements and bursary contract before accepting funding.
Using unofficial application information
Students should verify application instructions directly against the DFFE website before submitting personal documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DFFE Bursary 2027 open?
Yes. The official DFFE bursary page currently lists the 2027 full-time bursary programme as open.
When does the DFFE Bursary 2027 close?
The closing date is 2 October 2026. DFFE says late applications will not be accepted.
How much is the DFFE Bursary?
The maximum bursary amount stated by DFFE is R80,000 per year.
Can Grade 12 learners apply?
Yes. DFFE states that unemployed Grade 12 learners can apply, provided they meet the programme’s requirements and intend to pursue an eligible field of study.
Can university students apply?
Yes. The programme is also aimed at eligible full-time students enrolled at institutions of higher learning.
Can unemployed applicants apply?
Eligible Grade 12 applicants must be not employed. The programme also has specific eligibility conditions for full-time students. Applicants should read the official criteria carefully.
Can students with disabilities apply?
Yes. DFFE states that persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Can I email my application?
No. DFFE specifically states that emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
DFFE states that no late applications will be accepted. Applicants should therefore submit their applications before 2 October 2026.
Final Word
The DFFE Bursary 2027 provides an opportunity for eligible South African students and qualifying Grade 12 learners to pursue studies linked to environmental management, conservation, forestry, fisheries, climate change, waste management, environmental law, engineering and other related fields.
With the official closing date set for 2 October 2026, prospective applicants have a limited period to prepare their documents and submit their applications correctly.
The most important step is to check the official DFFE bursary information and prescribed application form, confirm that your qualification appears on the approved field list, prepare every required document and follow the department’s stated submission process.
Official Application Information
Applicants should use the official Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment bursary page for the application form, study fields, reference numbers, submission addresses and latest instructions.
DFFE Bursaries — Official Application Page
Sources and References
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment — official 2027 bursary information.
- DFFE Deputy Minister’s Green Careers Guidance Expo information on environmental-sector skills and bursaries.
- Opportunities for Africans — 2027 DFFE bursary listing, used as a secondary cross-check of the published deadline and requirements.
Publishing note: Edupage.co.za has independently organised and explained the official information for South African students. Application requirements, deadlines and funding conditions can change, so readers should verify the latest information on the official DFFE website before submitting an application.
