Sasol

About Sasol

Sasol is a South African energy and chemicals company. It was founded in 1950 and is known for turning coal and gas into fuels and chemicals. Its operations in Sasolburg and Secunda are among the best known in the country. The head office is in Sandton, Johannesburg, and the company has interests in several other parts of the world.

Running such complex plants takes thousands of skilled engineers, scientists and technicians. Sasol competes with other large employers for a small pool of graduates. Consequently, it uses bursaries to find strong students early and to build its future workforce.

How Sasol supports students

The main Sasol Bursary supports full-time university study in engineering and science. Funded fields have included chemical, civil, electrical, electronic, industrial, mechanical and mining engineering. Other fields include metallurgy, chemistry, geology and data science. The package offers financial help as well as development support during your studies, such as vacation work in the company.

Grade 12 learners and first-year students normally need strong matric marks. Recent calls asked for 70% to 79% in Mathematics and Physical Science, and 60% to 69% in English. Students already at university generally need a minimum of 50% in all subjects from the previous year. Each call sets its own rules, so confirm the figures in the current advert.

Sasol also supports learners through related programmes. The Sasol Mining Fence-line Bursary targets young people from communities near its mining operations who wish to study engineering. The Sasol Foundation Bursary works with the CSIR and supports unemployed full-time students in priority fields. Each programme has separate criteria and closing dates.

What to know before applying

Sasol bursaries come with a clear expectation. After you graduate, you work for Sasol for a period equal to the years the company funded. For example, four years of funding means about four years of service. Graduates typically join the Graduate Development Programme as an Engineer-in-Training or Scientist-in-Training. Declining the job offer can have financial consequences under the bursary agreement.

That arrangement suits students who want a career in the energy and chemicals industry. It gives you a funded degree and a clear route into work. However, it may not suit you if you would rather work elsewhere.

It also pays to prepare early. Engineering and science degrees are difficult, and strong matric results in Mathematics and Physical Science give you a head start. Many successful applicants also show leadership at school or in their community. Gather your documents, ask your school or university for certified copies and keep your marks as high as you can well before the application window opens.

Applications are usually online and open once a year, often in the middle of the year for the following intake. Always read the latest advert on the official Sasol website for dates, documents and eligibility before you apply.