Company Summary
The Imfundo Trust is the corporate education investment vehicle of Old Mutual Investment Group — the asset management division of Old Mutual Limited, one of Africa’s oldest, largest, and most respected financial services groups. Old Mutual was founded in Cape Town in 1845 and today operates across 14 African countries, managing investments, insurance, banking, and savings products for millions of customers across the continent. Old Mutual Investment Group specifically manages institutional and retail investment portfolios worth hundreds of billions of rands, making it one of the most significant asset managers on the African continent.
The Imfundo Trust — whose name means “education” in isiZulu and isiXhosa — was established by Old Mutual Investment Group as a deliberate, long-term commitment to transforming access to higher education for black South African students, with a specific focus on young women who remain significantly underrepresented in high-earning professional and technical fields. The Trust recognises that funding alone does not create transformation — sustained, structured investment in talented individuals does. For a qualifying student, an Imfundo Trust scholarship is not just financial support. It is an endorsement from one of Africa’s most credible investment institutions, and a connection to a professional network that spans the continent.
Opportunity Overview
The Imfundo Trust, funded by Old Mutual Investment Group, is accepting applications for its 2027 Scholarship Programme, open to black South African students pursuing studies in business, technology, finance, engineering, and related fields.
Scholarship: Imfundo Trust Scholarship 2027 Funded by: Old Mutual Investment Group Administered by: Imfundo Trust Target Beneficiaries: Black South African students — with particular focus on women Study Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Climate Studies at postgraduate level) Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Eligible Fields of Study
The Imfundo Trust Scholarship supports students in the following disciplines:
Business, Finance & Management
- Business Science
- Commerce
- Finance
- Management Sciences
Technology & Data
- Computer Science
- Computational Thinking
- Data Science
Engineering
- Engineering — specific disciplines to be confirmed with the Imfundo Trust directly
Postgraduate Specialisation
- Climate Studies — available at postgraduate level, reflecting Old Mutual Investment Group’s commitment to sustainable investing and environmental impact
Applicants should confirm the full and current list of eligible programmes and institutions directly with the Imfundo Trust at the time of application, as programme availability may vary by intake year.
Who Should Apply
- Black South African citizens — the scholarship is specifically targeted at transformation and racial equity in higher education
- Women are particularly encouraged to apply — the Imfundo Trust has a deliberate focus on increasing female representation in finance, technology, and engineering
- Students currently enrolled in or accepted to study one of the listed fields at a recognised South African university
- Both undergraduate and postgraduate students may apply depending on the field — confirm your eligibility level directly with the Trust
- Students who demonstrate financial need, academic merit, and personal drive
- Candidates who show potential to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s economy and communities after graduating
What the Scholarship May Cover
While the full scope of coverage should be confirmed directly with the Imfundo Trust for the 2027 intake, scholarships of this nature administered by Old Mutual Investment Group typically include support for:
- Tuition and registration fees
- Prescribed textbooks and learning materials
- Accommodation and living expenses
- A monthly personal stipend
- Mentorship and professional development support
- Potential exposure to Old Mutual Investment Group through vacation work or networking opportunities
Confirm the exact benefit structure with the Imfundo Trust directly when you access the application portal.
What You Will Gain Beyond the Funding
Being an Imfundo Trust scholar connects you to far more than a paid tuition invoice:
- The Old Mutual brand on your profile — Old Mutual Investment Group is one of the most recognised and respected institutional names in African finance. Being selected as an Imfundo scholar signals to future employers that you were identified as exceptional talent by a credible, selective institution
- Mentorship from investment professionals — Old Mutual Investment Group manages portfolios across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies. Scholars often gain access to mentors who operate at the highest levels of African asset management
- A pipeline into Old Mutual’s graduate and professional programmes — scholars who perform well academically and engage actively with the Trust frequently receive consideration for vacation work, internships, and graduate positions within Old Mutual’s various business divisions
- A peer network of exceptional students — Imfundo scholars are drawn from across South Africa’s top universities and represent some of the most talented and driven young people in the country. The relationships you build with fellow scholars will shape your professional life for decades
- Postgraduate funding pathway — for students interested in Climate Studies at postgraduate level, the scholarship opens the door to specialised academic work in one of the fastest-growing and most impactful fields in global finance and investment — ESG investing, climate risk, and sustainable finance
Possible Scholarship Interview or Selection Questions
If shortlisted, prepare thoroughly for questions such as:
- Why did you choose your field of study, and how does it connect to your long-term vision for your career and your contribution to South Africa?
- What do you know about Old Mutual Investment Group and the role that asset management plays in the South African and African economy?
- Tell us about a time you overcame a significant obstacle — academic, financial, or personal — and what that experience taught you about yourself.
- Why is access to education important for transformation in South Africa, and what responsibility do you feel as a scholarship recipient?
- How do you plan to use your degree to contribute to your community, your industry, or the broader African economic landscape?
- For postgraduate Climate Studies applicants: What do you understand about ESG investing and climate risk, and why does this field interest you?
- What does leadership mean to you, and can you give an example of a situation where you led or influenced others toward a positive outcome?
- Where do you see yourself professionally ten years from now?
Tip: The Imfundo Trust invests in character as much as academic ability. Your application and interview should reflect not just what you have achieved, but who you are, what drives you, and what you intend to do with the privilege of a funded education. Be specific, be honest, and be yourself — a rehearsed, generic answer will not stand out in a field of exceptional candidates.
Career Advice
- Apply early and apply with full intention. The closing date is 30 September 2026, but competitive scholarship applications are rarely last-minute exercises. Start your motivation letter now. Draft it, refine it, put it away for a few days, and come back to it with fresh eyes. The difference between a good motivation letter and a great one is almost always time and reflection.
- For women applicants — lean into the focus on female empowerment, not away from it. The Imfundo Trust’s deliberate prioritisation of women in finance, technology, and engineering is not a token gesture. It reflects a genuine recognition that South Africa’s economy cannot reach its potential while women remain underrepresented in its highest-earning and most impactful sectors. If you are a black woman pursuing Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or Finance — your application addresses exactly the gap this scholarship was designed to close. Apply with confidence.
- For Data Science and Computer Science applicants: Old Mutual Investment Group is actively investing in data-driven investment strategies, algorithmic portfolio management, and technology infrastructure. A scholarship recipient in Data Science or Computer Science is not just a beneficiary — they are a future colleague the organisation is deliberately cultivating. Make that connection explicit in your application.
- For Climate Studies postgraduate applicants: Sustainable finance, ESG investing, and climate risk assessment are among the fastest-growing disciplines in global asset management. Old Mutual Investment Group has made public commitments to responsible investing and ESG integration across its portfolios. A postgraduate scholar in Climate Studies entering this ecosystem is positioning themselves at the absolute frontier of where investment management is heading globally. The career upside is exceptional for those who commit to this field with rigour.
- For Engineering applicants: Infrastructure investment, energy transition, and green economy projects across Africa require engineers who also understand finance, risk, and investment. An Engineering graduate with an Old Mutual Investment Group scholarship and exposure to institutional finance is a uniquely positioned professional — able to speak both the language of engineering and the language of capital. That combination is rare and valuable.
- Understand the difference between a scholarship and a bursary — and use it to your advantage. A scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit and potential, not just financial need. It signals that you were selected from a competitive field as someone exceptional. When you list the Imfundo Trust Scholarship on your CV, describe it as a competitive merit-based award funded by Old Mutual Investment Group — because that is exactly what it is.
- Engage actively with Old Mutual during your studies — do not wait to be invited. Attend their career days. Follow Old Mutual Investment Group on LinkedIn. Read their investment reports and thought leadership. When vacation work or internship opportunities arise, apply immediately and reference your scholarship. Scholars who actively demonstrate interest in the business they are associated with are remembered when hiring decisions are made.
- Zero student debt in a high-earning field is a compounding advantage. Finance, engineering, data science, and technology are among the highest-paying graduate fields in South Africa. Starting your career in one of these fields without student loan repayments means your early income goes directly into building your financial foundation — savings, investments, and assets — rather than servicing debt. The long-term wealth impact of that head start is significant.
Education funded by one of Africa’s most respected investment institutions, in fields that sit at the centre of South Africa’s economic future — the Imfundo Trust Scholarship is a rare and genuinely transformative opportunity. If you qualify, do not let this closing date pass without submitting your best possible application.