SANParks

About SANParks

South African National Parks (SANParks) is the state entity that manages the country's national parks. Its protected areas include Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park, along with many others across the country. Together they protect large stretches of South Africa's natural and cultural heritage.

Conservation does not work well when neighbouring communities feel left out. SANParks therefore shares benefits with the people who live next to its parks. Many of these communities are rural and have long been under-resourced. Education funding is one practical way to help.

How SANParks supports students

The SANParks External Bursary Programme is aimed at young people from communities next to national parks, as these are defined in each park's management plan. Recent calls listed fields such as environmental sciences, tourism, social sciences, the infrastructure and built environment, technical and artisan trades, and emerging scarce skills. Both degrees and national diplomas have been included.

Applicants must be South African citizens, and recent calls set an age range of 18 to 35. They also had to give proof that they live in an adjacent community. A household or applicant income cap applied, which was R350 000 a year in a recent call. As a result, funding reaches students from the communities that conservation affects most.

What to know before applying

Selection looks at academic merit. In addition, SANParks wants to increase the participation of women, people living with disabilities and other designated groups.

The programme is not open to every South African student. If your home is not in a community near a national park, you will probably not qualify. Check the park list and management plan, and keep proof of your address ready. You will also need certified copies of your ID, your results and proof of income.

Calls are usually advertised in the middle of the year for the next academic year, and some universities share the advert on their funding pages. However, field lists, the income cap and the closing date can change. Always read the latest call on the SANParks website before you apply, and be wary of anyone who asks for payment to help you.

Think about how your studies could serve the parks later. Rangers, tourism guides, planners, engineers and artisans all keep national parks running, and the approved fields reflect that wide mix. Choose a course that you can finish and that links to a real career. Apply through the official SANParks channel only. Some universities also run their own funding pages that repeat the call, and these can help you find the application dates and the list of documents you should prepare. Finally, apply early, since postal and online queues can be slow close to the deadline.