In 2019, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) was established as part of the South African government through the merger of the Department of Environmental Affairs and the forestry and Fisheries section of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
Originally, the department was known as the Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries (DEFF) up until April 2021 when it was changed to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE).
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) is responsible for overseeing the protection, enhancement, and preservation of South Africa’s environment and natural resources. To support and motivate students pursuing courses in the field of environmental and natural resources, the department has introduced the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Bursary.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bursary- Fields Covered
The bursary will be granted to students pursuing a study in any of the following fields:
|
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION |
||
| Biological Sciences (Degree/ Hons BSc.) | Environmental Management/ Science/ Nature Conservation | Environmental Resource Management/ Hydrology & Water Resources Management |
| Environmental Sciences (BSc/ ND/ Degree/ Hons) | Heritage Studies (Degree/ Diploma) | Natural Resources Management/ Geography & Hydrology |
| Natural Conservation (Degree/ Diploma/ Hons ) | ||
|
CHEMICAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT |
||
| Environmental Management (B Degree/ B Tech/ Hons/ Masters/ National Diploma) | Environmental Science (B Degree/ B Tech/ Hons/ Masters/ National Diploma) | Information Science (B Degree/ Hons/ Masters) |
| Monitoring and Evaluation (B Degree/ B Tech/ Hons/ Masters/ National Diploma) | Natural Science (Geography, Chemistry, Hydrology, Water etc.) (B Degree/ Hons/ Masters) | Sustainable Developmental Studies |
| Waste Management (B Degree/ Hons/ Masters) | Water Resource Efficiency/ Circular Economy (B Degree/ B Tech/ Hons/ Masters/ National Diploma) | |
|
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AIR QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY |
||
| Chemistry (BSc.) | Conservation (ND/ B Degree) | Earth and Environmental Sciences (ND/ B Degree) |
| Environmental Management (BSc. / ND) | Environmental Sciences (BSc. / ND) | Geography/ Archaeology and Environmental (BSc.) |
| Natural Science (ND/ B Degree) | Sustainable Development (ND/ B Degree) | |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES |
||
| Architectural Studies (B Degree/ ND) | Building Management & Quantity Surveying (B Degree/ ND) | Conservation/ Resources Economics/ Developmental Studies and Social Innovation (and related study fields) |
| Environmental Engineering (B Degree/ ND) | Environmental Management (BSc. Degree) | Geographical Information System (BSc. Hons) |
| Civil Engineering (B Degree/ ND) | Project Management (ND) | |
|
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT |
||
| Agriculture Economics specialising in Aquaculture (Post-Graduate Studies) | Fisheries Modelling/ Stock Assessment/ Fisheries Management (BTech/ BSc. Hons/ MSc./ PhD) | Maritime Studies related to harbour/ ports |
| Oceanography (National Diploma/ BTech) | Oceanography/ Maritime Biology/ Environmental Science/ Aquaculture and Fisheries (BSc/ MSc/ PhD) | Social/ Economic Studies specializing in Fisheries (Post-Graduate Studies) |
|
OCEANS AND COST |
||
| Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (BSc) | Chemistry-Heavy Metals/ Hydrocarbons (Hons/ Masters) | Ecophysiology/ Taxonomy (Systematics) and Biodiversity (Hons/ Masters) |
| Engineering (Electrical/ Mechanical/ Communication) (BTech) | Marine Biology (BSc) | Marine Natural Resource Economics (Masters/ PhD) |
| Maritime Studies/ Maritime Economics (Hons/ Masters) | Physical/ Chemical/ Biological Oceanography (PhD) | |
|
FORESTRY MANAGEMENT |
||
| Environmental Law (Diploma/ Degree) | Forestry (Diploma/ MSc) | Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences (BSc/ MSc) |
| Forestry Management (Advance Diploma) | Natural Resource Management (Honours) | Wood Science (BSc) |
|
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND SECTOR MONITORING |
||
| BA Law | Bachelor of Environmental Management ,majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment | Bachelor of Environmental Sciences (Majoring in Animal and Wildlife) |
| Chemistry (BSc.) | Geography, Geoinformatics (BSc) | GIS professional |
| LLB (Major courses Administrative Law, Legislative Drafting, Environmental Law)/ LLM | Paralegal (Diploma/ Degree) | |
Eligibility Requirements for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bursary
Before applying, applicants must meet the specified minimum entry criteria. It’s important to note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will result in your application not being considered.
- Applicant must be a South African citizen
- Applicant must currently be in Matric or 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 Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary
Below are the steps students can follow to apply for Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bursary:
1.First step is to download a copy of the (DFFE) application form and complete all the required details.
2. On the application form, applicants must specify their reference number and the qualification for which they are applying. Below are the list of qualifications and their reference numbers:
- Biodiversity and Conservation (B&C/01/24)
- Chemicals and Waste Management (CWM/0124)
- Climate Change and Air Quality and Sustainability Development (CCAQ/01/24)
- Environmental Programmes (EP/01/24)
- Forestry Management (FOR/01/24)
- Fisheries Management (FISH/01/24)
- Oceans and Coasts (OC/01/24)
- Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring (RCSM/01/24)
3. Applicants are advised to attached clear copies of all supporting documents together with the completed application form before submission. The required documents include:
- 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)
- Write a motivational letter to support your application, detailing the reasons why you should be granted the bursary.
4. Completed applications should be hand delivered or using couriers to:
Pretoria-
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Street
Arcadia
Cape Town-
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
63 Strand Street
13th Floor Nedbank Building
NOTE: Completed applications that are submitted via Email or faxed will NOT be accepted.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary Closing Date
The deadline for the bursary applications is 27th October,2023. Any submissions made after this date will not be considered. Candidates are strongly advised to finalise and submit their application forms before the specified deadline.
Applicants who have qualified for the initial stage of the application will be contacted by the end of January 2024. Individuals who are contacted have not qualified for the application.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary Contact Details
For any inquiries regarding this bursary program, contact the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary on the following contacts:
Pretoria Contacts:
- Joshua Moepya (Tel: 012 399 8682 / Cell: 067 417 3739)
- Busisiwe Stemele (Tel: 012 399 8685 / Cell: 066 156 0042)
- Mokhobo Putu (Tel: 012 399 9018 / Cell: 066 081 2662)
Cape Town Contacts:
- Kgomotso Moela (Tel: 021 402 3329 / Cell: 081 492 5570)
- Mooketsa Mabe (Tel: 021 402 3412 / Cell: 071 540 2685)
- Neliswa Magwala (Tel: 021 814 8089 / Cell: 066 081 9858)