Old Mutual Education Trust
Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) Scholarship
Closes
31 August 2026
Value
Up to R77 000 per year
Level
Undergraduate (Degree or Diploma)
For
Union members, staff, spouses & dependants
Sector
General / All Fields
Type
Partial bursary
About this bursary
The Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) offers partial scholarships for undergraduate studies across all academic fields. Funded through a partnership between Old Mutual and ten trade unions, the programme assists eligible students with up to R77 000 per academic year.
The scholarship is open to active paid-up union members, full-time union employees, and their spouses or child dependants under 25 years old. Funding applies to first-time undergraduate degrees, diplomas, or certificates at accredited public universities in South Africa.
Up to 60 students are selected annually across participating union partners. Recipients also receive academic support, counselling, a laptop, and access to a 12-month internship programme for unemployed graduates, subject to placement availability.
Courses of study covered
What the bursary covers
Who can apply
You qualify if
- Applicants must be South African citizens who have completed matric or are currently in matric.
- You must be enrolled or intending to register for a first undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate at an accredited South African public university.
- You must be a paid-up member of a participating trade union, or a full-time permanent employee of one of these unions.
- Spouses and child dependants under 25 years of age of qualifying union members or employees are also eligible.
- Participating unions include DENOSA, NATU, NEHAWU, NUM, PEU, POPCRU, SACCAWU, SACWU, SADTU, and SASBO.
You do not qualify if
- Students pursuing postgraduate studies, second qualifications, or short courses do not qualify.
- Applicants studying or planning to study at private higher education institutions are not eligible.
- Non-South African citizens and dependants aged 25 or older cannot apply.
Documents you need to submit
- Certified copy of applicant ID document or passport (not older than 6 months)
- Certified copy of main union member or employee ID document or passport
- Union membership number or union employee number
- Grade 11 final results and mid-year matric results for current matriculants
- Matric certificate for post-matric applicants
- Latest tertiary academic results and 2025 year-end results for current university students
Certified copies must be clear and stamped within the last 6 months.
How to apply
- 1Go to the online OMET portal.
- 2New applicants must register a new account on the application platform.
- 3Existing scholarship holders must reset their password using the email link provided before logging in.
- 4Complete all required fields on the application form.
- 5Upload clear, certified copies of all mandatory supporting documents.
- 6Submit your completed online application before 31 August 2026.
Late or incomplete applications will not be processed by the selection committee.