Council for Geoscience Opens Applications for Full-Time Bursaries in Earth Sciences
The Council for Geoscience (CGS) has announced its bursary programme for the 2026 academic year, offering comprehensive financial support to South African university students pursuing careers in geoscience and related technical fields.
About the Programme
The CGS, headquartered in Silverton, Pretoria, is a statutory organization tasked with collecting and curating geoscience data across South Africa, both onshore and offshore. The council's mission centers on leveraging this data to develop meaningful geoscience solutions that address real-world challenges facing the nation.
The bursary initiative aims to create, enhance, and support expertise in geosciences and related technical fields by building a new generation of skilled scientists to strengthen South Africa's geoscience capabilities.
What the Bursary Covers
Recipients of the CGS bursary receive comprehensive financial support that includes registration and tuition fees, accommodation and transport allowances, prescribed books, meals, field excursions and analysis costs, and a one-time laptop allowance for first-time bursars. This holistic approach ensures that students can focus on their studies without financial burden.
Eligibility:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Not employed and available for vocational work during studies and work back upon completion of studies, when required.
- Has enrolled full-time at a South African institution of higher learning for the 2026 academic year.
- For students currently at an institution of higher learning, must have passed all the modules of the previous year/semester.
The CGS awards full-time bursaries in the following fields of study:
- Geology
- Engineering Geology
- Geophysics
- Hydrogeology (focus on groundwater modelling)
- Geochemistry
- Economic Geology
- Environmental Science
- Data Science and Innovation Studies
- Geo-informatics
- Remote Sensing
- Computational Geosciences
- Mineral Economics
- Mining Seismology
The bursary covers:
- Registration and tuition fees
- Accommodation/Transport allowance
- Prescribed Books
- Meals
- Field excursions and analysis
- Once off laptop allowance for first-time bursars
Application Requirements:
YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
- Motivation letter
- An updated CV
- A copy of your certified identity document (ID)
- A copy of your latest academic record
- A copy of your certified matric results
- Acceptance/admission letter from the University
Application Process
Prospective applicants must submit a complete application package including a motivation letter, updated CV, certified identity document, latest academic record, certified matric results, and an acceptance or admission letter from their university.
Applications must be completed on the form available at www.geoscience.org.za and submitted with all required documentation to [email protected] with the subject line "BursaryFT-2026."
The closing date for applications is January 23, 2026. Late submissions or incomplete documentation will result in automatic disqualification.
How to apply:
Complete the CGS full-time bursary 2026 application form and attach the required documents.
Closing date: 23rd January 2026 at 23:59
Submit Your Application:
Please forward your application and documents to [email protected] with the reference BursaryFT-2026 on subject.
Important Notes
Enquiries should be directed to [email protected] or by phone at 012 841 1106/1118. The council emphasizes that correspondence will only be provided to successful applicants, and preference will be given to previously disadvantaged applicants, though this is not an exclusive criterion.
Applicants are warned not to send their bursary applications to the enquiries email address, as it is designated solely for questions about the programme.
This bursary represents a significant opportunity for students passionate about earth sciences to pursue their academic goals while contributing to South Africa's geoscience sector development.
