BHP Billiton is one of South Africa’s largest mineral resource companies. Their global operations include the mining of coal, aluminium, copper, iron ore, uranium, nickel, silver, titanium and diamonds to name a few. More excitingly is their oil and natural gas operations which are extremely critical at the moment. The global and varied nature of the projects at BHP offers matriculants numerous exciting opportunities to further their careers.

The areas of study that the bursary cover are primarily to fulfil the companies own shortages.

• Geology
• Chemical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Extractive Metallurgy
• Mine Surveying
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

The bursary caters for University degree courses as well as University of Technology (Technikon) diplomas.

Admission Criteria

Matric students hoping to obtain a bursary must at least obtain a C – symbol for both Mathematics and Physical Science. Matriculants should keep in mind that qualifying for entrance into a learning institution has its own minimum requirements.

Hence the responsibility is on the student to gain entrance at the University or Technikon.

Only South African Citizens will be considered

How the BHP Billiton Bursary Works

Bursary applications close the 31 May each year. If you have been shortlisted, BHP will call you in for an interview.

If you get selected then BHP will sponsor you for a maximum of four years which is the required time to complete a degree or Btech degree. During your studies you will be required to do vacation work at a BHP operation in your specific field of study.

Upon completion of your studies you will then be required to work in or pay back the money that BHP has provided. The work in period will be for the same length as your bursary period, so if you completed your degree in four years with BHP you will then have to work back four years as an employee.

Matric students who fail to complete their degree will be contractually obligated to pay back all the money spent by BHP, which is standard practice for all bursars.

What the bursary covers

The BHP bursary will cover the following

• Registration and Tuition Fees
• Residence Fees
• Annual Cash allowance to purchase textbooks etc
• Second year students qualify for a personal computer

For more information and to download the application form please visit the Bhp Billiton website.