Sasol

Sasol is a South African energy and chemicals company that mines, refines, and processes coal and gas into fuel, chemicals, and other products used across many industries. Because its business depends on skilled engineers and scientists, Sasol treats bursaries as a core part of how it builds its future workforce, not just a corporate social responsibility exercise.

South Africa faces a well-documented shortage of qualified engineers and scientists, and Sasol competes with other major employers for the same small pool of graduates. By funding students early in their studies, the company secures a pipeline of talent trained with its specific needs in mind, rather than relying only on the open job market once students graduate.

This is why Sasol's bursary comes with a clear expectation: after you graduate, you work for Sasol for a period equal to the years the company funded your studies. If you received four years of funding, you can expect roughly four years of service in return, typically starting in Sasol's Graduate Development Programme as an Engineer-in-Training or Scientist-in-Training.

This arrangement benefits both sides. Students get a fully funded degree and a guaranteed route into employment, while Sasol secures graduates who already understand the company and its industry. If you are not interested in eventually working for Sasol, this bursary may not be the right fit, since turning down the resulting job offer can carry financial consequences under the bursary agreement.