Total

About Total

Total in South Africa now trades as TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa. It is the local marketing arm of TotalEnergies, a French energy company that works worldwide. The company supplies fuel, lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas. It sells these through service stations and to business and industrial customers. Its head office is in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

As a large employer in the fuel industry, the company works under national rules on transformation and B-BBEE. Skills development forms part of that work. The industry needs engineers, technicians, finance staff and other professionals, and it must keep growing its own talent pool.

How Total supports students

The company describes its bursary as youth development. It awards up to ten bursaries a year to young people who need money for full-time study. Winners can study at a Further Education and Training college or at a university. The bursary goes to previously disadvantaged students on merit. Past information has asked for an average above 65%.

The funding covers full tuition and textbooks. Some descriptions also mention stationery and accommodation. Fields of study have included engineering, finance, law and social sciences, but the current list may differ.

Total also works with universities. Since 2010 it has partnered with the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Namibia. Selected students receive full tuition and textbook funding. The agreement also covers a Master's programme in petroleum engineering at both universities.

What to know before applying

Total uses its bursaries to feed its other youth programmes. These include a 12-month internship for unemployed graduates in scarce and critical skills. They also include a Young Talent Graduate Programme. For example, the internship has sent some South African graduates to work in Africa and in Paris for a year.

Public information does not set out a binding work-back or minimum service period. The company says it wants to equip young people for development and employability. A job is therefore not promised. However, the graduate and internship routes clearly lead toward work inside the company. Ask Total to confirm any conditions before you accept an award.

Application dates, subjects and amounts vary from year to year. Check the TotalEnergies South Africa careers page for the current call. Always apply through official channels, and never pay anyone to help you get a bursary. Keep certified copies of your identity document, results and proof of registration ready.

Fuel and energy companies are changing as the world moves toward cleaner power. TotalEnergies describes itself as a broad energy company, not only a fuel seller. For that reason, graduates with engineering and finance skills may find varied roles in this sector. Keep your marks high, because the company's bursary rules reward merit.