Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) Bursary

About The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, SA

Environmental conservation is a crucial aspect in the world, and that is why DEFF fosters it in South Africa. It aims at ensuring the maintenance of natural resources by making sure forests, fish, and every aspect of the environment is in order. The Department of Agriculture merged with the Department of Environmental Affairs to come up with the predominant DEFF.

Ever since its formation in 2019, it lived to achieve a series of improvements in fish farming and sea fishing. It is alongside the protection of forests from fires to ensure South Africa maintains top-notch environmental standards. In the years to come, you are going to appreciate its contribution.

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) Bursary 2021

DEFF’s bursary program is open to all disadvantaged people and those living with disabilities who are South African citizens. These individuals should study in the following fields to be eligible. But eligible applicants are those that completed their first year of undergraduate study and those registered for postgraduate studies.

Biodiversity and Conservation (Reference Number: B&C/01/2021):

• Eco-tourism/ Game range management (National Diploma)
• Environmental Economics (BA Degree)
• Environmental Management / Science (BA Degree)
• Environmental Management majoring Environmental Law (BSc Degree)
• Geology (BSc Degree)
• Nature Conservation (National Diploma)
• Zoology and Botany (BSc Degree)

Chemicals and Waste Management (Reference Number: CWM/01/2021):

• Environmental Management (National Diploma/ B Tech Degree/ Bachelors Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
• Environmental Science (National Diploma/ B Tech Degree/ Bachelors Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
• Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology (BSc Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
• Natural Science (Chemistry/ Geography/ Hydrology/ Water) (Bachelors Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
• Waste Management (National Diploma/ B Tech Degree/ Bachelors Degree/ Honours/ Masters)

Climate Change, Air Quality, and Sustainable Development (Reference Number: CCAS/01/2021):

• Chemistry (BSc Degree)
• Conservation (National Diploma/ Bachelors Degree)
• Earth Science (National Diploma/ Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Management (National Diploma/ BSc Degree)
• Environmental Science (National Diploma/ BSc Degree)
• Hydrology (National Diploma/ Bachelors Degree)
• Natural Science (National Diploma/ Bachelors Degree)

Environmental Programs (Reference Number: EP/01/2021):

• Biological Science (BSc Degree)
• Economics (Honours)
• Environmental Economics, Environmental Law, Environmental Science, Water Resource (BSc Degree/ Honours/ Masters)
• Environmental Science majoring Biological Resources (BSc Degree)
• Social Science (Bachelors Degree/ Honours/ Masters)

Fisheries (Reference Number: FI/01/2021):

• Ichthyology specialising in Aquaculture (BSc Degree/ Honours/ MTech Degree/ MSc Degree/ DTech Degree/ PhD)
• Marine Biology (BSc Degree/ Honours/ MTech Degree/ MSc Degree/ DTech Degree/ PhD)
• Marine Science (National Diploma/BSc Degree/ Honours/ MTech Degree/ MSc Degree/ DTech Degree/ PhD)
• Oceanography and Marine Biology (BSc Degree/ Honours/ MTech Degree/ MSc Degree/ DTech Degree/ PhD)
• Veterinary Science (BVSc Degree)

Forestry (Reference Number: FO/01/2021):

• Forestry (National Diploma/ BTech Degree/ MTech Degree)
• Forestry (BSc Degree)/ Bachelor of Forestry Management
• Forestry (BHons Degree)
• Forestry (MSc Degree)
• Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring (Reference Number: RCSM/01/2021):

BA Law:

• Chemistry, Botany (BSc Degree)
• Environmental Management (Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Sciences (majoring in Animal and wildlife management) (Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Sciences (majoring in Environmental Impact Assessment) (Bachelors Degree)
• Geography, Geoinformatics (BSc Degree/ Honours Degree)
• LLM
• LLB (Major courses Administrative law, legislative drafting, Environmental Law)
• Paralegal (Diploma or Degree)
• Oceans and Coast (Reference Number: OC/01/2021):

Coastal Management (Bachelors Degree):

• Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electro-mechanical Engineering (National Diploma/ BTech Degree/ BEng Degree/ Honours Degree)
• Environmental Economics (BSc Degree/ Honours Degree/ Masters Degree)
• Environmental Economics (BTech Degree/ M Tech Degree/ Honours Degree/ MA Degree)
• Environmental Law (Bachelors Degree)
• Environmental Science/ Environmental Management (BSc Degree)
• Marine Science (National Diploma/ BTech Degree/ BSc Honours Degree/ MSc Degree/ PhD)
• Mathematical Modelling, Computer Science, Information Systems Engineering (BSc Degree/ Honours / MSc Degree)
• Oceanography (B Tech Degree/ M Tech Degree/ Honours Degree/ MSc Degree)

Successful applicants are contacted within the period of registration until 31 January 2021. Failure to receive any feedback means your application was unsuccessful. They are to receive a total bursary value worth R40 000.

Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries Bursary 2021 Application and Requirements

You must ensure to meet the following minimum criteria for the consideration of your application. Failure to meet any of the stated requirements leads to the disregard of your application.

• You must be a citizen of South Africa.
• You must be a full-time student in an accredited South African learning institution.
• You must have completed through with your first year of undergraduate study or a registered postgraduate.
• If you are in your first year, the bursary allows you to apply if you provide a strong motivation letter.
• You must be unemployed.
• You must not be an employee of DEFF.
• You must come from a previously disadvantaged background or,
• You must be living with disabilities.

How to Apply and Application Details

Qualified applicants need to download the application form below and fill up with accurate pieces of information.

Attach the following accompanying documents while submitting the application form. Failure to include any of them leads to the disregard of your application.

• Provide a certified copy of your ID document.
• You should provide certified copies of certificates of qualification.
• Ensure to include certified copies of your recent academic records.
• Provide a document of proof showing your registration on the institute’s letterhead.
• You must include certified copies of your parents’ or guardians’ ID documents.
• You must include your parents’ or guardians’ proof of income document.
• First-year students should provide their admission letter or letter of acceptance.
• Postgraduate students taking their Masters or Honors should provide their research proposal.
• Ensure you include a motivational letter that provides detailed information on why you should receive the bursary.

Once you fulfilled all the above, you must deliver the application form by courier or hand delivery to:

• The Director-General, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X 447, Pretoria, 0001
  with the attention: Learning and Development – Bursary Section.
• Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, 473 Steve Biko Street, Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, Pretoria.
• Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries in 63 Strand Street, 13th Floor Nedbank Building, Cape Town.

Ensure you check for your reference number in the field of study and indicate it in the application form before submission. Submission of faxed or emailed applications renders your application useless.

DEFF Bursary Closing Date

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries bursary closing deadline on 20 November

Contact Details

Address: The Director-General, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001, Attention: Learning and Development

Telephone Number: Those based in Pretoria, Joshua Moepya +27 21 814 8084, Busisiwe Stemele +27 12 399 8685, or Mokhobo Putu +27 21 814 8089.

Those in Cape Town, Sarah Mathunyane +27 21 814 8084, Mpho Beta +27 21 402 3368, or Neliswa Magwala +27 21 814 8089.