Sasol Bursary Scheme for Engineering Students in South Africa
By Muntasir • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • African Scholarships & Student Funding
Sasol pays full tuition and a living allowance for engineering, science and geology students who score at least 70% in Maths and Physical Science, and expects you to start your career at Sasol afterward. Anglo American, Exxaro and De Beers run comparable mining-sector bursaries.
🎓 Sasol funds B.Eng, B.Sc.Eng and Mine Surveying degrees in chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, mining and metallurgical engineering, plus geology and data science.
You need South African citizenship by birth and Level 6 (70-79%) in Maths and Physical Science.
💵 The bursary covers tuition, a living allowance and psychosocial support for the length of your degree.
📩 Apply at sasolbursaries.com. The 2027 intake opened 1 April 2026 and closed 17 May 2026.
Anglo American, Exxaro and De Beers offer similar tuition-plus-allowance bursaries with a work-back service commitment.
What the Sasol bursary covers
Sasol, South Africa's energy and chemicals group, runs one of the country's largest corporate engineering bursary programmes. It pays full tuition fees and a living allowance for the length of your degree, plus psychosocial support to help you manage the workload of a science or engineering course, according to Sasol's official bursary announcement .
The bursary funds B.Eng and B.Sc.Eng degrees in chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, data science, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, geology, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, mining engineering and metallurgical engineering. A separate B.Eng.Tech stream funds mine surveying only.
Who qualifies
South African citizen by birth, permanently resident in South Africa.
Level 6 (70-79%) in Mathematics and Physical Science for the B.Eng and B.Sc.Eng bursaries.
English at Level 5 (60-69%) or Level 4 (50-59%), depending on whether it is your Home Language or First Additional Language.
Level 5 Maths and Physical Science for the mine surveying stream only.
Studying or applying full-time to a public South African university or university of technology.
Work-back obligation and how to apply
Sasol bursars start their careers at the company after graduating, matching the standard model used across South African corporate bursaries: each year of funding buys a year of work-back service. Apply online at sasolbursaries.com. For the 2027 intake, applications opened 1 April 2026 and closed 17 May 2026, with outcomes announced by the end of September 2026, per Sasol . Check sasolbursaries.com each year, since the opening window shifts.
Why mining and energy companies fund engineering degrees
South Africa has a persistent shortage of qualified mining, chemical and electrical engineers relative to industry demand. Sasol, Anglo American, Exxaro and De Beers each run an internal skills pipeline: fund your degree, then place you into an operational or technical role once you graduate. That is why these bursaries target specific engineering disciplines tied to each company's own operations, rather than any degree.
Other mining and energy company bursaries to compare
Sasol is not the only employer funding engineering degrees in South Africa. If you miss the Sasol window, or want to apply to more than one scheme at once, these companies run parallel programmes with a similar structure: tuition and living costs paid upfront, work-back service owed after graduation.
| Funder | Fields funded | Typical structure |
|---|---|---|
| Anglo American | Mining, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, geology | Tuition, living allowance, vacation work, possible job offer |
| Exxaro | Mining engineering, geology, mine surveying, metallurgy | Tuition, accommodation, meals, mentorship, employment pathway |
| De Beers | Mining and geology-related engineering degrees | Tuition and allowance tied to future employment at De Beers |
Each company sets its own academic cutoffs and opens applications on its own annual schedule. Confirm current requirements and closing dates on each company's own careers or bursary page before applying, since covered fields and cutoffs change between intakes.
Document checklist before you apply
Certified copy of your ID document or birth certificate.
Certified copies of your Grade 11 final results and latest Grade 12 or university results.
Proof of household income, since several bursaries add a means test alongside the academic cutoff.
Proof of registration or admission letter if you already study at university.
A short motivation letter explaining your choice of engineering discipline.
How to strengthen your application
Apply to more than one company bursary in parallel. Corporate bursaries are not mutually exclusive until you accept and sign a contract.
Keep your Maths and Physical Science marks well above the stated minimum. These bursaries are oversubscribed, and shortlisting often uses marks above the published cutoff.
Read the work-back contract before you sign it. You owe the company a fixed number of years of service after graduation, and breaking the contract usually means repaying the funding.