ERM Southern Africa is looking for bright South African graduates to join its Bursary Programme 2026.
If you have finished university, don’t have a job yet, and want to study for a master’s or other full‑time postgraduate course, ERM can help you. They will pay for part of your tuition and give you a contract that gets checked every three months to see how you’re doing in school. The program is based in Cape Town and you will be working part‑time while you study.
What is the ERM Bursary Programme?
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) is a big name in sustainability consulting. They want to bring smart people from all backgrounds into the field, especially in South Africa. The bursary is a scholarship that supports students who want to study subjects that help the planet, such as:
- Environmental or earth science
- Engineering (any type)
- Economics
- Social sciences
When you win the bursary, you sign a formal contract with ERM Southern Africa. The contract is checked every quarter and you keep it as long as you stay on track with your studies.
Who can apply?
You can apply if:
- You are a South African graduate who is currently without a job.
- You plan to start a full‑time postgraduate degree in 2026.
- You hold a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas:
- Environmental Sciences
- Earth or Natural Sciences
- Engineering
- Economics
- Social Sciences
You will need to send all the required papers and a short essay (up to 3,000 words) for your application to be considered.
How will they pick winners?
ERM will look at three main things:
- How well you did in your past studies.
- How good your essay writing is.
- How well your chosen study matches the themes of the bursary.
If your application passes the first round, you will hear from ERM to let you know you’re on the short list.
What do you need to send?
All documents must be in PDF format and include:
- A complete CV.
- A certified copy of your ID.
- Your most recent academic transcript.
- A finished essay (max 3,000 words) that has a plagiarism declaration on the first page.
The plagiarism declaration looks like this:
I know that copying someone else’s work without credit is wrong.
All quotes and ideas that I took from other people are properly cited.
I have used a citation style such as Harvard, APA, or Author‑date.
This essay is my own work. I have not allowed anyone else to copy it for their own benefit.
Pick a topic
Choose one of these topics to write your essay on (max 3,000 words):
- The importance of stakeholder engagement in mine closure.
- The dark side of green critical mineral exploitation.
- How the carotid rete works in desert animals.
- How to do sustainable remediation.
- How to investigate contaminated groundwater from a petrol spill.
- Future problems from emerging contaminants in Africa.
- Improving water management in open‑pit mines.
- Adding water and nature risk into corporate sustainability plans.
- Dealing with high salt seepage when funds are low.
- Circular waste use in soil and groundwater cleanup.
- Why companies in Africa set “Net Zero” goals.
- The role of ESG performance in modern businesses.
- How climate change affects business operations and risks.
Pick the one that excites you most and write a clear, honest essay.
How to apply
- Go to the ERM careers page and find the Bursary Programme job (ID R00028021).
- Click Apply Now and fill in the online form.
- Upload all required PDFs to the Resume/CV section.
- Make sure your application is complete; otherwise, it will be rejected automatically.
- ERM’s experts will read your application and essay.
- Only the people who make the short list will get a call.
Apply Now – https://erm.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ERM_Careers/job/Bursary-Programme_R00028021
A few more things to keep in mind
- Bursaries are limited, so you’ll need to act quickly.
- Your contract with ERM will be reviewed every three months.
- By applying you agree that ERM can use your information as described in their data privacy notice.
The deadline for applications is Friday, 28 November 2025. If you meet the conditions and are ready to take the next step, send in your application before that date. Good luck!