Applications for Open for the 2026 Sasol Mainstream Bursary Programme

Applications for Open for the 2026 Sasol Mainstream Bursary Programme.

About the Programme

• The Sasol Bursary programme comprises of a comprehensive package that includes both financial as well as developmental support throughout the study period.
• Bursaries are awarded for full-time university studies in engineering and science.
• Upon successful completion of the study period, students may be employed within the Sasol Group through our Graduate Development Programmes.
• Sasol Mainstream bursaries have a workback and/or payback obligation. 
• This bursary programme does not accept Technical Maths/Math’s literacy.

The Bursary Programme Comprises:

Applications may be submitted for degrees (no diplomas) in one of the following fields of study:

Undergraduate Studies (B.Eng. / B.Sc.)

1. Chemical Engineering
2. Chemistry (Studies to Hons. level will be required)
3. Civil Engineering
4. Data Science – Computer Science
5. Data Science – Mathematics
6. Data Science – Operations Research
7. Data Science – Statistics
8. Electrical Engineering
9. Electronic Engineering
10. Geology  (Studies to Hons. level will be required)
11. Industrial Engineering
12. Mechanical Engineering
13. Metallurgy (Studies to Hons. level will be required)
14. Mining Engineering

Undergraduate Studies (B. Eng. Tech.) – University of Technology

1. Mine Surveying

Postgraduate (M.Sc. / M.Eng. / PhD.)

In order to meet the economic growth needs in South Africa and fulfill our internal demand for highly skilled postgraduates in science and engineering fields, Sasol grants postgraduate bursaries for M.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. studies in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.  Please note that this bursary program does not accept technical Maths/math’s literacy.

These awards will be made for postgraduate research supporting Sasol and South Africa’s energy and circular economy transition, through application in the following core disciplines: 

1. Chemical Engineering – Fluid Dynamics 
2. Chemical Engineering – Mathematical and Statistical Modelling 
3. Chemical Engineering – Process Modelling 
4. Chemical Engineering – Reactor Technology 
5. Chemical Engineering – Separation Technology 
6. Chemical Engineering – Thermodynamics 
7. Chemistry – Advance analytical Chemistry in the areas of Vibrational Spectroscopy or Gas Chromatography 
8. Chemistry – Catalysis or Polymer Science 
9. Chemistry – Environmental Science in the areas of Water, Waste or Air, or in Air with focus on dispersion modelling
10. Cyber Security 
11. Data Science – Applied Mathematics 
12. Data Science – Statistics  

 Applicants are not required to have a formal project proposal ready but should know in which area of chemistry or chemical engineering they would like to study and must be able to discuss possible topics which will support the current sustainability imperatives. 

Successful candidates will engage with Sasol technical experts and academic supervisors to finalise a project proposal. 

Please Note:

1. Bursaries are awarded for standard degree courses over a minimum period of time (e.g. B.Sc. or B.Eng. for studies over a 4-year period).
2. Students must study full time at a recognized and approved standard South African University. Students may (for example) not register at a so called distance-learning facility/institution – i.e. UNISA.
3. Bursaries will under no circumstances be awarded for studies towards a so called dual/combined/hybrid degree course (e.g. B.Sc. Chemistry with Chemical Engineering, B.Eng. Mechatronics, B.Sc. Environmental & Geology etc.)
4. Only one application per student will be accepted.
5. Should an individual provide incorrect information during the application process and such information comes to the attention of Sasol at any later date, the invitation for the further selection process, the bursary offer or the bursary will be terminated with immediate effect.
6. It is imperative that students understand that should the information provided during the application and/or the possible bursary interview and/or any later date differs – the application/bursary will be regarded as null and void.
7. Mainstream Bursary shortlisting of individual for the next step in the selection process as well as identification of individuals to whom bursaries will be awarded are done carefully, taking into account our needs and strictly following the set selection criteria. We unfortunately have a limited number of bursaries available and this increases the competitiveness of applicants already meeting minimum criteria. We acknowledge the good academic performance and other attributes of applicants, however, candidates invited for our selection interviews or those to whom bursaries will be awarded to were academically more competitive and/or they fit our business requirements better.
8. Taking into account that bursary selections are done well before students have their final results of the current study year, students apply with the results of the previous study year – for example students who applied for 1^st year studies in 2026 (current matriculants) apply with grade 11 results. Should a bursary be awarded to an individual, it is done conditionally and will only be activated in the applicable study year (1^st year – 2026) inter alia should the student’s 2025 results (current study year – Grade 12) be approximately equivalent to the results he/she applied with.
9. If a student does not submit the necessary documentation or enters incorrect academic information, their application will be considered invalid under the “criteria not met” category. 
10. Must be below the age of 30 at the time of the bursary application.

Notice:

1. All applications should be submitted before close of business of the application closing date.
2. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
3. Applications by e-mail and/or not submitted via the Sasol bursaries website will not be considered.
4. Applications from non-South African citizens will not be considered.

How to Apply

Click HERE to apply

Closing Date: 18 May 2025

If you experience problems with your application, please contact:

Berlyne Rasool | [email protected] | 086 010 6235