Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
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2026
- Application Closes
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Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen who lives in Mpumalanga, within the agency's water management area
- Completed Matric
- At least 65% average in Matric, or at least 60% if already at university
- Studying or planning to study full-time at undergraduate level in a listed field
- Studying at, or accepted by, a recognised South African tertiary institution
- Not receiving any other bursary funding
Documents Needed
- Certified copy of your ID
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate
- Certified full academic record, if you are already studying
- Proof of admission or provisional acceptance on institution letterhead
- Proof of your parents' or guardians' income, or an affidavit if unemployed
- Proof of residence from the local municipality or a headman or chief
- Motivational letter and a short statement of where you see yourself in five years, both on the application form
About Inkomati Usuthu Catchment Management Agency Iucma Bursary
The IUCMA Bursary supports Mpumalanga students who study water-related sciences. It is offered by the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency, the public body that manages water resources in the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area. Recent calls were for full-time undergraduate study.
The 2026 call closed on 6 February 2026 at 16:00. We found no confirmed call for 2027 yet, so check the agency's website for the next round.
Funding Details
The 2024 call said the bursary covers registration fees, tuition, examination fees, prescribed study material, meals, accommodation and a stipend. Recipients sign a bursary contract under the agency's external bursary policy. The notices we reviewed do not describe a work-back period, so ask the agency what your contract requires.
The 2024 call lists a stipend, meals and accommodation alongside fees, so the package reaches beyond fees. However, confirm the current package in the latest call. Remember that you may not receive any other bursary funding while you hold this one.
Where You Can Study
You must study at, or be accepted by, a recognised South African tertiary institution. The call does not name one university, so choose any recognised institution that offers your qualification.
Choose a recognised South African institution that offers one of the listed degrees. Many of these degrees are BSc programmes, so confirm that your institution offers the exact qualification, such as hydrology or environmental science, before you apply.
The agency's offices are in Nelspruit, in the ABSA Square Building at 20 Paul Kruger Street, according to the 2024 call. You can phone 013 753 9000 with questions. Do not send documents by post or by hand unless the current call allows it, because the 2026 call accepted email applications only.
About Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency
About the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management AgencyThe Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) is a public water institution based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. The National Water Act of 1998 allowed South Afric…
View full provider profile →- Address
- 2nd Floor, ABSA Square Building, 20 Paul Kruger Street, Mbombela, 1200
- Phone
- 013 753 9000
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
Recent calls funded these fields: Environmental Science, Hydrology and Water Resource Management, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Geohydrology, Geomorphology and Botany. Female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Matric applicants needed an overall average of at least 65%. Students who were already at university needed at least 60%.
The agency manages water resources in the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area, and its bursary supports local students in fields that help the sector. Therefore, applicants who live in the area, and who show a genuine interest in water and the environment, are the natural fit. The application form asks for a motivational letter and a five-year plan, so give both some thought.
You must prove that you live in the area. The 2024 call accepted proof of residence from your local municipality or from a headman or chief, which helps applicants in rural communities. Applicants who currently study at university need at least a 60% average, while Matric applicants need at least 65%.
Application Procedure
Email the completed application form and your documents to Bursaries@iucma.co.za, and put the bursary name and year in the subject line. The 2026 call accepted email applications only, while the 2024 call also listed hand delivery to the agency's Nelspruit office. Late applications are not accepted. For questions, phone 013 753 9000.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
- Closes
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Questions about this application?
Contact Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency directly:
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the IUCMA Bursary?
South African citizens who live in Mpumalanga within the agency's water management area and who study a listed field.
Which fields are funded?
Environmental Science, Hydrology and Water Resource Management, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Geohydrology, Geomorphology and Botany.
What marks do I need?
At least 65% in Matric, or at least 60% if you already study at university.
How do I apply?
Email your form and documents to the agency's bursary mailbox before the closing time.
When did the last call close?
The 2026 call closed on 6 February 2026 at 16:00.
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