ERM Southern Africa invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for the ERM Bursary Programme 2026, offering financial support to candidates pursuing full-time postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Bursary Application Closing Date: Friday, 28 November 2025
Bursary Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Company: ERM (Environmental Resources Management)
Job Requisition ID: R00028021
Employment Type: Part-time
About the ERM Bursary Programme
The ERM Bursary Programme is designed to support talented South African graduates interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in environmental, earth or natural sciences, engineering, economics, or social sciences.
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) is a global leader in sustainability consulting and continues to foster transformation and professional development in Southern Africa by nurturing high-calibre professionals from multicultural backgrounds.
Successful bursary recipients will enter into a formal contract with ERM Southern Africa, reviewed quarterly based on academic performance.
Who Can Apply
This bursary is open to:
- Unemployed South African graduates seeking to pursue full-time postgraduate studies in 2026.
- Applicants with an undergraduate qualification in relevant disciplines such as:
- Environmental Sciences
- Earth or Natural Sciences
- Engineering
- Economics
- Social Sciences
Note: Applicants must submit all required documents and a completed essay to be considered.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed based on:
- Academic performance
- Essay writing skills
- Relevance of study field
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by ERM Southern Africa.
Required Application Documents
To be considered, applicants must attach the following (in PDF format):
- Comprehensive CV
- Certified copy of ID
- Latest academic transcript
- Completed essay (maximum 3,000 words) with a Plagiarism Declaration included on the cover page
Plagiarism Declaration (to include on the first page of your essay)
I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend it is one’s own.
Each significant contribution to, and quotation in this essay that I have taken from the work(s) of other people has been attributed and has been cited and referenced.
I have used the Harvard (or Author-date or APA) system for citation and referencing.
This essay is my own work, and I have not copied any other text.
I have not allowed and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
Essay Topics (Choose ONE)
Applicants must write and submit an essay on one of the following topics (max 3,000 words):
- The importance of Stakeholder Engagement in regional Mine Closure
- The Dark Side of Green Critical Mineral Exploitation
- Evaluating the function of the carotid rete in desert-adapted ungulates
- Understanding and implementing Sustainable Remediation
- Investigating contaminated groundwater from a petrol spill – methodologies and risk mitigation
- Emerging contaminants and their future impact in Africa
- Water management improvement strategies for opencast mines
- Addressing water and nature risks in corporate sustainability strategies
- Managing high inorganic salt load seepage impacts under limited funding
- Waste circularity during soil and groundwater remediation
- Why companies are adopting “Net Zero” targets in Africa
- The role of ESG performance in modern business models
- The impact of Climate Change on business operations and risks
How to Apply
👉 Click here to apply for the ERM Bursary Programme 2026
- Upload all required PDF documents under the Resume/CV section.
- Incomplete applications will be automatically disqualified.
- Applications and essays will be reviewed by ERM’s Service Experts.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.
Additional Notes
- ERM bursaries are limited and awarded competitively.
- The bursary contract will be reviewed quarterly based on academic progress.
- By applying, you consent to the use of your data as per the ERM Data Privacy Notice.