Rio Tinto/ Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) Bursary 2025-2026
About the Bursary Provider – Rio Tinto & Richards Bay Minerals:
Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) was founded in 1976 and is a subsidiary company of the Rio Tinto Group in South Africa. The ownership structure of RBM includes a 74% stake held by the Rio Tinto Group, a 24% stake held by Blue Horizon Investments, and a 2% stake owned by RBM permanent employees. RBM is situated in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, near Richards Bay, where it specializes in producing titanium dioxide from mineral sand deposits found in mineral-rich sand dunes.
The Rio Tinto Group, as the main shareholder, is globally recognized for its production of zircon, high-purity pig iron, and titanium minerals. They are renowned for their sand mining and mineral processing operations as well.
About the Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary Program:
Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals is inviting students to apply for their bursary program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The bursaries offered cover a wide range of core-mining and non-core-mining disciplines. Specifically, the fields of study eligible for this bursary are:
- Actuarial Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Ecology
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental
- Finance & Business (Accounting)
- Geology
- Geomatics
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Law
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Metallurgy
- Pharmacy
The Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary aims to support high-achieving students who are passionate about their studies and the future of South Africa. The program is designed to develop and expand the skills base in the country through bursary funding.
Eligibility Requirements for the Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary:
To be eligible for the Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary, applicants must meet the following minimum entry criteria:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be currently in Matric or have completed Matric
- Be studying or intend to study full-time toward a qualification in one of the eligible fields listed above
- Be studying or intend to study at a recognized and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa
- Have passed Mathematics and Science in Matric if studying toward an Engineering qualification
- Have achieved a minimum of level 5 for each subject in Matric if studying toward any other qualification
- Be in financial need
- Be passionate about their chosen field of study
- Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply
- Preference will be given to Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA), female students, and students with disabilities
How to Apply for the Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary:
Applications must be submitted online using the following link: Rio Tinto/ Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) Bursary Application 2025-2026
Make sure to enter “Uni24.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the bursary.
Submit clear copies of the required supporting documentation along with your online application. Ensure that you have all the necessary documents, as missing items may lead to disqualification.
Closing Date for the Rio Tinto / Richards Bay Minerals Bursary:
The closing date for bursary applications is September 23. Please submit your application before this date to be considered.
Contact Information for the Bursary Provider (Rio Tinto):
For any queries related to this bursary program, please contact Rio Tinto directly using the following email addresses:
