Foskor

About Foskor

Foskor was founded in 1951 by the Industrial Development Corporation. It was created to produce phosphates for South African farmers. Today, it is the country's only producer of phosphoric acid, phosphate rock and granular fertiliser. Mining takes place in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, and processing takes place in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. The corporate office is in Midrand, Gauteng.

Phosphate is a key ingredient in fertiliser, so the company plays a role in food production. Its operations also need skilled people in mining, processing, maintenance and finance. Consequently, funding students is a practical way for Foskor to build its future workforce. The mining and processing sites are in two different provinces, which is worth thinking about when you plan a career with the group.

How Foskor supports students

Foskor offers an undergraduate bursary programme each year. The fields change with the company's needs. Earlier years have included chemical, industrial and instrumentation engineering, geology, chemistry, environmental science, auditing and accounting. For the 2025 academic year, the bursary was open for Bachelor's degrees in electrical, electronic, mechanical and mining engineering. It also covered metallurgy, mine survey and law. Because the list can change, a student in one field may be eligible one year and not the next. For example, accounting appeared in some years but not in 2025. Always check the current advert for the exact fields before you prepare an application. In general, mining-related fields link to the Phalaborwa mine, while processing fields link to acid and fertiliser production.

What to know before applying

The 2025 call asked for a Matric certificate and at least 60% in Mathematics and Science. Applicants had to be studying full time for a Bachelor's degree at an accredited South African university. In addition, they could not already receive another bursary.

The process was simple. There was no formal application form. Instead, students emailed a certified ID copy, a certified Matric certificate, a one-page CV and proof of registration on university letterhead. The subject line had to follow the format given in the advert. The 2025 deadline was 22 January 2025, and shortlisted candidates were told by 28 February. This shows that the call opens early in the academic year.

Service obligations and bursary amounts were not confirmed in the sources we checked. Therefore, read the full bursary conditions before accepting any offer. Applicants should also send complete, well-organised documents, since incomplete emails may be rejected. Engineering and metallurgy places attract many applicants, so a strong Mathematics and Science mark improves your chances. Keep your email professional and name each attachment clearly.