Department of Mineral Resources and Energy

About the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is the name that appears on its recent bursary notices. It is the national government department responsible for the country's mineral and energy resources. Its bursary office sits at the Trevenna Campus in Sunnyside, Pretoria, and its postal address is Private Bag X59, Arcadia, 0007. Government departments are sometimes restructured or renamed, so confirm the current name on the official notice before you apply.

Mining and energy need engineers, geologists and environmental specialists. The country has a shortage of these professionals. For that reason, the department funds students from disadvantaged backgrounds who study scarce skills.

The DMRE bursary

The department's recent bursary calls were for full-time undergraduate study at a South African university or university of technology. They were aimed at disadvantaged students who were finishing Matric or had already finished it. A call for the 2025 academic year closed on 20 December 2024.

The eligible fields have come from mining and energy. An earlier notice listed these among them:

• BSc in Physics and Chemistry
• Chemical, electrical, electro-mechanical, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, mining, nuclear and rock engineering
• Environmental health and management
• Geology and mining survey

Applicants needed a strong pass in both Mathematics and Physical Science, at least level 6 in recent notices. They also had to show financial need, and most listings required them to be unemployed. The department gave preference to women, to students with disabilities and, in the 2025 call, to first-year students.

How applications worked

Applicants downloaded the official form from the department's website. They sent it with certified copies of their ID, their Matric certificate or latest results, their latest academic transcript, proof of registration or an acceptance letter, and proof of residence dated within three months. Matric learners had to send their final results within a week of release.

Submissions could be emailed to GirlLearnerBursary@dmre.gov.za, delivered by hand to the Trevenna Campus in Pretoria, or posted to Private Bag X59, Arcadia, 0007. The department warned that old or altered forms lead to automatic disqualification. Applicants who heard nothing by 31 January were told to treat their application as unsuccessful.

Who should apply

This bursary suits learners who enjoy science and mathematics and who want to work in mining, energy or the environment. Students from rural areas and from households with little income are the main target group. If you meet the marks but your family can pay your fees, the department is unlikely to consider you, because the fund exists to remove financial barriers.

What to confirm first

The notices we reviewed do not list what the bursary pays for, and sources disagree on small details such as age limits. Therefore, check the current notice carefully. We found no confirmed call for a later academic year, so contact the department before you gather documents.