DALRRD Bursary 2025-2026

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About The DALRRD Bursary 2025-2026:

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) offers a bursary program aimed at supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate students in South Africa. The bursary covers various fields of study related to agricultural sciences and rural development. The program’s goal is to provide financial assistance to students pursuing degrees that contribute to the agricultural sector and rural development in the country.

Fields of Study Covered by the Bursary (Undergraduates):

Animal Science (B.Sc.)
Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural Engineering) (B.Sc.)
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Entomology (B.Sc.)
Food Science (B.Sc.)
Pasture Science (B.Sc.)
Plant Pathology (B.Sc.)
Viticulture and Oenology (B.Sc.)
Food Technology (National Diploma)
Land Surveying/Geomatics (B.Sc.)
Town/Urban and Regional Planning (B.Sc.)
Geo-Informatics/Geographic Information Science (B.Sc./BA)
Geomatics/Land Surveying/GIS (National Diploma/B Degree)
Town/Urban and Regional Planning (National Diploma/B Degree)

Fields of Study Covered by the Bursary (Postgraduates):

Adv Dip/B.Tech
B.Sc. Hons
M.Sc.
D.Tech.
Ph.D.

The area of study for postgraduate students must be related to agricultural sciences and/or rural development.

Expenses Covered by the Bursary:

The DALRRD bursary covers the following expenses for recipients:

Tuition costs
Books and study materials
Accommodation
Monthly allowance for food and meals

In addition to financial support, the bursary program offers mentorship opportunities to help students with employment prospects.

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify for the DALRRD bursary, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria:

Must be a South African citizen.
Must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric.
Must intend to pursue a degree in one of the specified fields of study.
Must be accepted or plan to enroll in a recognized South African tertiary institution.
Must demonstrate financial disadvantage.
Must come from a poverty-stricken rural area.
Must aspire to pursue a career in agricultural, rural development, or land reform.
Cannot be a staff member of the Department.

Educational performance criteria also apply to different fields of study:

For Bioresource Engineering or Veterinary Science: Applicants must have scored between 70% and 79% (Level 6) in Mathematics and Physics in Matric.
For other programs: A minimum requirement of 60% to 69% (Level 5) in Mathematics and Physics or 50% to 59% (Level 4) in Mathematics and Physics in Matric.

How To Apply:

To apply for the DALRRD bursary, follow these steps:

For Undergraduates:

Download the DALRRD Undergraduate Bursary Application Form.
Complete the application form.
Submit the form and the required documents (certified copies) via email to Externalbursaries@dalrrd.gov.za or by post to the address provided.

For Postgraduates:

Download the DALRRD Postgraduate Bursary Application Form.
Complete the application form.
Submit the form and the required documents (certified copies) via email to Externalbursaries@dalrrd.gov.za or by post to the address provided.

Required Documents:

ID documents
Matric certificate (for undergrad students, or latest results if the certificate is not available yet)
Academic records
Qualification records
Acceptance letter from the university (on tertiary letterhead)
ID documents of parents or guardians
Proof of household income (latest payslips if employed, or unemployment form from the Department of Labor if unemployed)