SANParks, the South African National Parks, is seeking aspiring young people entering their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2027 academic year to join their external bursary programme.

SANParks, established under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No 57 of 2003), has a primary mission to conserve South Africa’s biodiversity landscapes and heritage assets through its national parks.  It also aims to engage South Africans in biodiversity initiatives and ensure that its operations benefit neighbouring communities for educational and economic gain.

One of SANParks’ strategic directions is to foster community support by providing access, sharing benefits, and benefiting local communities.  This is why they’re calling for applications for their bursary programme, which aims to support children living in communities near or adjacent to national parks.

To apply for the bursary, you must be studying a degree or national diploma in a relevant field, including:

- Environmental Sciences, with specialisations in nature conservation, environmental management, environmental science, green energy, environmental engineering, sustainable development, and game ranch management.

This comprehensive bursary covers a wide range of fields including tourism and hospitality management, tourism management, resort management, tour guiding, events and conference management.  Social sciences encompass community development, economic development, socio-economic development and related development studies. Infrastructure and the built environment include civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, architecture and project management.  Technical and artisan trades encompass electricians, plumbers, welders, millwrights, mechanics, technicians, solar technicians, refrigerator technicians and water and wastewater technicians.  Emerging scarce skills include GIS, analytics, cybersecurity, renewable energy, climate change adaptation, biodiversity economists and entrepreneurship. Academic merit will be considered in the selection process, along with a commitment to increasing participation from women people living with disabilities and designated groups.

Requirements:

- Recipients of the SANParks bursary Scheme must be South African citizens.

- They must be learners from communities living adjacent to National Parks as defined in their management plans.  A link to find these management plans is attached to this document.

- Proof of application and admission to an accredited higher education institution is required to demonstrate eligibility for funding.

- Applicants must be entering post-matric study in 2027.

- The bursary is open to students pursuing a qualification at a TVET college.

- Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35.

- Applicants earning more than R350,000 per year are not eligible.

- For students currently registered at an institution of higher education, a 100% pass rate is required. This means passing all courses for which you’ve registered during the study period already completed.

Important Notes:

- Failure to attach the required documents will result in your application being invalidated.

- Applications must be for full-time studies towards an academic diploma or degree at an accredited public South African college, university of technology or university.

- If you haven’t received a response by 30 January 2025, consider your application unsuccessful.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should forward their applications, along with the required documentation, to the following address:

Documents Required:

- Proof of application and admission to an accredited higher education institution.

- Proof of eligibility for funding.

- Proof of age (18-35).

- Proof of income (no more than R350,000 per year).

- Proof of 100% pass rate (for students currently registered at an institution of higher education).

- Proof of enrolment in a TVET college (for students pursuing a qualification at a TVET college).

- Proof of full-time study.

- Proof of academic diploma or degree.

- Proof of accreditation (for accredited colleges, universities of technology or universities).

- Proof of public status (for accredited colleges, universities of technology or universities).

- Proof of South African citizenship.

- Proof of residence in a community adjacent to a National Park (as defined in the management plans).

- Proof of enrolment in a course at a TVET college (for students pursuing a qualification at a TVET college).

- Proof of enrolment in a course at an institution of higher education (for students currently registered at an institution of higher education).