Department of Public Works

About the Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, often shortened to DPWI, is the national department that looks after the state's property. Its head office is in the CGO Building in Pretoria Central. The department manages government buildings and leases. It also coordinates large public infrastructure projects across the country.

Because the state needs engineers, architects and property professionals, the department has long pushed for more qualified people in the built environment. However, the sector has not always reflected South Africa's population. The department's bursary programme was designed to change this by opening doors for talented students who lack the money to study.

How the Public Works bursary supports students

The programme began in 2014. By 2022, about 401 students had received funding worth around R52 million. The department awarded bursaries to 53 students in 2022, and media reports in January 2025 said that 63 top-performing matriculants received awards.

The programme has supported degrees in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Marine Engineering. It has also covered Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Construction Project Management, Landscape Architecture, Property Studies and Real Estate, Actuarial Science, and Town and Regional Planning. Recipients study at universities across the country.

The package is generous. It has included tuition, accommodation, meals, textbooks, project and compulsory study resources, and a monthly allowance. In 2023 the total value was estimated at about R165,000 per student per year. As a result, a recipient can focus on studying rather than worrying about fees.

Public Works looks after a large property portfolio, so it needs people who understand design, costing, maintenance and project management. Graduates in the listed fields fit these needs directly. Applicants should explain clearly why they want to work in the public sector, since building a pool of state professionals is the programme's long-term goal.

What to know before applying

The bursary is aimed at matriculants with excellent results who have been accepted to study a built environment degree. The department also wants to increase the number of professionals from previously disadvantaged groups. Consequently, financial need and academic strength both matter.

The bursary forms part of a wider Skills Pipeline Project, which introduces learners to built environment careers while they are still at school. Graduates can then move into the department's internship and young professionals programmes. The aim is to build a pool of qualified people who serve the state.

Public announcements do not spell out any work-back or service condition, so read the contract carefully if you are selected. Intake sizes, closing dates and qualifying degrees can change each year. Check the department's official website for the current announcement before you apply.