Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) Scholarship
Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval)
The Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) Scholarship is a partial bursary for paid-up members of ten participating South African trade unions, and the spouses and child-dependants of those members, who are studying towards a first undergraduate qualification at an accredited public university. It provides roughly R70,000-R77,000 per year toward study costs plus wraparound support including a dedicated Student Support Practitioner, a laptop, counselling, tutoring and vacation work. Around 60 scholarships are awarded each year, and the programme has produced more than 550 graduates since 2005.
- Amount
- Partial funding of approximately R70,000-R77,000 per student per academic year (official Old Mutual page states R77,000) toward registration, tuition, books, study materials, accommodation and meals
- Deadline
- To be announced
- Renewable
- Yes
Eligible Fields of Study
Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ South African citizen
- ✓ Must be a paid-up member of one of the ten participating trade unions (DENOSA, NATU, NEHAWU, NUM, PEU, POPCRU, SACCAWU, SACWU, SADTU, SASBO), OR the legal spouse or child-dependant (under age 25 and solely financially supported) of such a member
- ✓ Completed Matric or currently in Grade 12 (matriculants / Grade 12 applicants receive preference)
- ✓ Pursuing a FIRST undergraduate qualification only (certificate, diploma or bachelor's degree) - no postgraduate study
- ✓ Must study, or intend to study, at an accredited South African public university
- ✓ Funding is needs-based, prioritising members and dependants who require financial support to study
What's Included
- ✓ Partial funding (~R70,000-R77,000 per year) toward study-related costs
- ✓ Dedicated Student Support Practitioner (SSP) for academic and personal support
- ✓ Laptop provision
- ✓ Mental health and counselling services
- ✓ Academic support including webinars, tutoring and resources
- ✓ Vacation work opportunities for final-year students
- ✓ 12-month internship for unemployed graduates (subject to availability)
How to Apply
Steps to complete your Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval) bursary application
- 1
Confirm you (or the member you are a dependant of) is a paid-up member of one of the ten participating trade unions: DENOSA, NATU, NEHAWU, NUM, PEU, POPCRU, SACCAWU, SACWU, SADTU or SASBO
- 2
New applicants register for an account on the OMET online application portal (webportalapp.com) once the cycle opens on 1 July
- 3
Complete the online OMET application form in full and upload all supporting documents
- 4
Submit your application before the 31 August closing date
- 5
Selection takes place 7-9 October 2026, with Trust Board approval in November 2026
- 6
Successful applicants are notified shortly after Trust Board approval
Required Documents
- 📄 Certified copy of your South African ID
- 📄 Proof of trade-union membership for the qualifying member (and proof of the dependant relationship - e.g. birth or marriage certificate - if applying as a spouse or child-dependant)
- 📄 Certified Matric certificate or latest Grade 12 results
- 📄 Latest academic record or university transcript (if currently studying)
- 📄 Proof of acceptance, registration or intended study at an accredited South African public university
- 📄 Proof of household income or financial need
- 📄 Motivational letter
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who qualifies for the Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) Scholarship?
- It is open to South African citizens who are paid-up members of one of ten participating trade unions (DENOSA, NATU, NEHAWU, NUM, PEU, POPCRU, SACCAWU, SACWU, SADTU, SASBO), as well as the legal spouse or child-dependant (under 25 and solely financially supported) of such a member. Applicants must be pursuing their first undergraduate qualification at an accredited South African public university.
- Is this the same as the main Old Mutual bursary?
- No. The OMET Scholarship is distinct from Old Mutual's actuarial and chartered accounting bursaries. OMET is a partial, needs-based scholarship reserved exclusively for trade-union members and their dependants, is open to any field of study, has its own application window and portal, and carries no work-back obligation.
- How much does the scholarship pay and what does it cover?
- It is a partial bursary of approximately R70,000-R77,000 per student per academic year (the official Old Mutual page states R77,000), covering study-related expenses such as registration, tuition, books, study materials, accommodation and meals. Recipients also get a laptop, a dedicated Student Support Practitioner, counselling, tutoring and vacation-work opportunities.
- When do applications open and close?
- Applications open annually on 1 July and close on 31 August (1 July - 31 August 2026 for the 2026 cycle). Selection takes place 7-9 October 2026, the Trust Board approves awards in November 2026, and successful applicants are notified shortly afterwards. The online registration link may update to a new variant when the cycle opens, so confirm the live portal at application time.
When do 2027 applications open?
Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval) has not yet announced dates for the 2027 intake.
The last recorded window closed on 31 August 2026. Treat that as a guide to timing only — confirm the 2027 dates with Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval) before you rely on them.
Check Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval)'s official siteNeed help? Contact Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) (Old Mutual; established April 2005 via a B-BBEE transaction with ten participating trade unions; administered in-house by Old Mutual, with the Trust Board granting final approval):
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 067 125 1404 / 073 683 3009
Information verified 2026-06-22. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
Other General bursaries
More funding opportunities in this field
Enel Green Power RSA Bursary
Enel Green Power RSA (ENGPRSA) (administered by StudyTrust)
The Enel Green Power RSA Bursary supports academically strong, financially needy South African students from communities living within roughly 50 km of Enel's wind and solar farms in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Western Cape. Administered by StudyTrust, it is open to all fields of study at accredited public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges, with the value set individually and full-cost support where applicable. It forms part of Enel Green Power RSA's community and socio-economic development commitments near its renewable energy sites.
View details →Investec High School Bursary Programme
Investec (administered by StudyTrust)
The Investec High School Bursary Programme funds high-achieving learners from township and rural schools for the remainder of their high school studies (Grades 10, 11 and 12). It supports learners at their existing schools rather than moving them, with a strong focus on Mathematics and Physical Science. Selection is based on both financial need and academic potential, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an award.
View details →ITHUBA National Lottery Bursary
ITHUBA Holdings (operator of the South African National Lottery)
The ITHUBA National Lottery Bursary funds high-performing South African students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds in commerce (accounting, finance, marketing) and IT disciplines - including a lower household-income threshold than most corporate bursaries.
View details →