Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Application Closes
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Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen
- First year of study completed, and now in second, third or fourth year
- Full-time study in a listed field
- Strong academic record
- Financial need
- Willing to sign a bursary contract
- Preference for permanent KwaZulu-Natal residents
Documents Needed
The 2025 call asked for certified copies of your ID, Matric certificate, proof of registration and recent academic record dated within three months. It also asked for a motivational letter and proof of address from a traditional authority or municipal office. It did not accept a water bill or similar utility statement.
About uMngeni-uThukela Water Bursary
The uMngeni-uThukela Water Bursary funds engineering and science students who have completed their first year of study. uMngeni-uThukela Water, the state-owned bulk water provider in KwaZulu-Natal, runs the scheme. Many people still search for it as the Umgeni Water Bursary, because the organisation took its new name on 1 July 2023 after it incorporated Mhlathuze Water.
The last call we could trace closed on 13 June 2025 after an extension. We could not find a newer bursary advert, so this water bursary is closed for now. The organisation has advertised graduate and learnership programmes since then, but those are separate from this funding. The terms below come from a published copy of the 2025 advert.
Funding Details
The bursary covered registration fees, tuition, accommodation, meals, prescribed books and stationery. It did not publish a total value, but the list covers most of the main costs of university life.
Successful students had to sign a bursary contract. The copy we read did not state a work-back period, although state-owned water providers often expect one. So ask how long you might have to work for the organisation after you graduate, and what you must repay if you fail or leave your course.
Where You Can Study
The advert did not name specific universities. You needed to be enrolled at a recognised and accredited South African tertiary institution. It listed a degree type for each field, such as a BEng for Civil Engineering and a BSc for Hydrology, so check that your qualification matches the list.
About Umgeni Water
About Umgeni Water Umgeni Water is a state-owned water board based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. It began operating in 1974 and reports to the national Department of Water and Sanitation. On 1 July 2023 it took ove…
View full provider profile →- Address
- 310 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
- Phone
- +27 33 341 1111
- info@umgeni.co.za
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
The 2025 call was open to South African citizens in their second, third or fourth year of full-time study. First-year students could not apply, because applicants had to have completed their first year.
Students also needed a strong academic record and proof of financial need. The organisation preferred students who live permanently in KwaZulu-Natal, so this bursary suits local applicants best.
The fields were Chemical, Civil, Industrial, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, plus Hydrology and Microbiology. Each one connects to water supply. Civil engineers build and maintain pipelines and dams, hydrologists study water resources, and microbiologists help to keep drinking water safe. If you can explain this link in your motivational letter, your application will show a real interest in the sector.
Application Procedure
In 2025, applicants emailed a completed form and their documents to graduaterecruitment@uuw.co.za. These details may change, so check the careers page first. You can also call the Talent and Organisational Development Office on 033 341 1093, the number listed with the 2025 call.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Umgeni Water the same as uMngeni-uThukela Water?
Yes. Umgeni Water took the new name on 1 July 2023.
Can first-year students apply?
Not under the 2025 terms. Applicants had to be in their second, third or fourth year.
Is the bursary open now?
We could not find an open call. The last one we traced closed on 13 June 2025.
