Eskom

About Eskom

Eskom is South Africa's national electricity utility. The company began in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission and today operates as a state-owned entity headquartered at Megawatt Park in Sandton. It generates most of the electricity the country uses, and it also runs the high-voltage transmission network and a large share of the distribution grid. Its fleet includes coal-fired stations, the Koeberg nuclear plant, hydroelectric and pumped-storage schemes and a growing number of renewable projects.

Running a system of this size takes thousands of technical people. Engineers, technicians and artisans design, build, operate and maintain every part of it. As a result, Eskom treats education funding as a core business need and not only as charity.

How Eskom supports students

The Eskom bursary is aimed mainly at engineering students at public universities and universities of technology. The disciplines usually listed include electrical (heavy and light current), mechanical, civil, chemical, industrial, computer and electromechanical engineering, as well as metallurgy at university level. The exact list can change between intakes, so applicants should read the current advert carefully.

The full undergraduate award normally covers tuition, accommodation, meals and books. It also includes vacation work, which lets students see real plants and sites before they graduate. In addition, the experience gives them a head start when they later join the company as employees.

The programme also reflects Eskom's wider duty as a public company. The country has long faced a shortage of qualified engineers. By funding talented students from across South Africa, Eskom builds its own pipeline while adding to the skills available to the whole energy sector.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens with a matric certificate. Eskom has generally asked for English at level 4, and for university applicants, strong results in pure Mathematics and Physical Science. Students at universities of technology face a slightly lower subject threshold. You also need conditional acceptance into an approved engineering course at a recognised institution.

Bursaries come with a service contract. In most cases, a bursar must work for Eskom for one year for every year of funding received. Eskom may place you at any site where it has a need, so expect that your first job could be far from a major city. Failing to finish your studies within the agreed time can also lead to a request to repay the money.

Application windows, closing dates and minimum marks change from year to year. Check the careers section of the Eskom website for the current requirements, and prepare certified copies of your documents early. Starting well before the closing date gives you time to fix any gaps in your application.