Old Mutual Investment Group Imfundo Trust Scholarship 2027 – Applications closing 30th September

Paying for university can be one of the biggest concerns facing South African students after receiving a university offer. NSFAS provides an important source of financial support for eligible students, but relying on one funding route can leave students with difficult decisions if their application is still being processed or their university requires proof of payment before registration.

That is why students should consider applying for other legitimate bursaries and scholarships for which they qualify.

One opportunity currently open for 2027 is the Old Mutual Investment Group Imfundo Trust Scholarship, administered through StudyTrust. The scholarship supports students pursuing selected degrees at South African universities, with a particular focus on developing talent relevant to the investment industry and supporting transformation in that sector.

The application period opened on 1 June and closing on the 30 September 2026, so students who meet the requirements should not wait until the final days to submit their applications.

What is the Imfundo Trust Scholarship?

The Imfundo Trust is an Old Mutual Investment Group scholarship initiative established to support students with an interest in the investments industry.

The name “Imfundo” means education in Nguni. According to StudyTrust, the Trust has assisted black students, particularly women, to pursue tertiary education at selected South African universities since its inception in 2011.

The scholarship is therefore more targeted than a general bursary that accepts students across a wide range of qualifications. Your field of study matters because the programme specifically identifies the degrees and study areas it supports.

For students planning their 2027 studies, this makes it important to check the qualification requirements before spending time completing an application.

Why students should not rely on only one funding application

For many students, NSFAS is an important part of the university funding process. However, applying for NSFAS does not mean that every student will have their funding confirmed immediately.

A student can meet the requirements for financial assistance and still have to wait for their application to move through the relevant assessment and verification stages. This can create uncertainty when registration deadlines are approaching.

The situation can be particularly difficult when a university requires a student to provide proof of payment or another form of financial clearance before registration can be completed.

This does not mean students should assume that NSFAS will reject them. It simply means that students who need financial support should consider more than one legitimate funding option where possible.

StudyTrust itself encourages applicants to apply for bursaries outside its programmes, including NSFAS, rather than depending on a single funding opportunity.

The Imfundo Trust Scholarship can therefore be considered as one possible funding route for students whose academic plans and circumstances match its requirements. It should not, however, be treated as a guaranteed replacement for NSFAS or any other source of funding.

Who can apply for the Imfundo Trust Scholarship?

The scholarship is open to South African citizens who meet the programme’s academic and study-level requirements.

There are different requirements depending on whether you are entering university for the first time or are already studying.

Grade 12 learners entering first year in 2027

If you will be starting your first year in 2027, you must have achieved:

• At least a 70% average in your mid-year Grade 12 examinations.
• At least 70% for Mathematics.
• At least 70% for English First Additional Language, or 60% for English Home Language.

These requirements mean that learners should check their actual subjects and marks carefully before assuming that they qualify.

Students already at university

Applicants who are currently in their first year must have achieved an average of 65% or higher in their latest examinations, such as mid-year or June results.

For the 2027 intake, the scholarship is generally available to students who will be in their first or second year in 2027, except for Climate Studies, which has a postgraduate focus.

Applicants from rural and township backgrounds will be given preference, according to the published selection criteria.

Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not mean that a student automatically receives the scholarship. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, after which the Board of Trustees considers the relevant factors before making final decisions.

Which degrees does the scholarship fund?

The Imfundo Trust Scholarship does not cover every university qualification.

For students entering or continuing undergraduate studies in 2027, the listed fields include:

• Business, Commerce, Finance and Management Sciences/Studies
• Computer Science and related qualifications, including areas such as Computational Thinking
• Data Science
• Engineering

The programme also lists Climate Studies at postgraduate level.

This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to students considering careers connected to finance, investments, technology, data, engineering and related fields.

Before applying, students should confirm that the exact qualification they intend to study falls within the programme’s accepted study areas. Do not assume that a course qualifies simply because its name sounds similar to one of the listed fields.

Other Bursaries you can apply for

• Toyota SA Motors Bursary 2027: Funded Qualifications, Requirements and How to Apply
• SIOC-CDT Bursary Programme 2027: Requirements and Application Guide

What does the scholarship cover?

The Imfundo Trust Scholarship provides funding for full-time undergraduate and selected postgraduate degree programmes at selected South African universities.

The exact value and structure of an award can depend on the student’s circumstances and the terms of the scholarship.

Students should also be aware that the Trust reserves the right to adjust or withdraw a scholarship amount if the beneficiary receives other financial assistance, such as another bursary, grant, loan, scholarship or award.

For that reason, if you receive another funding offer after applying or being selected, do not simply assume that you can combine all funding without informing the relevant organisations.

How to apply for the Imfundo Trust Scholarship

Applications are completed online through StudyTrust’s application platform.

The process is important because StudyTrust administers several bursaries and scholarships, and its application platform can assess applicants against opportunities for which they may qualify. StudyTrust says applicants should provide accurate information, complete all required sections and upload the necessary supporting documents before submitting their application.

Before starting your application, prepare your academic information and supporting documentation so that you are not trying to find important documents at the last minute.

StudyTrust also advises applicants to take essay questions seriously and write their responses themselves. The organisation specifically states that applicants may use AI tools for spelling or grammar checks but should not use AI to write their application essays because sponsors want to hear the applicant’s own story and reasons.

This is particularly important: do not copy an impressive-looking motivation from the internet and submit it as your own. Your application should accurately explain your circumstances, academic journey, ambitions and reasons for pursuing your chosen qualification.

You can review the official application instructions on StudyTrust’s Bursary Applications page before beginning.

Imfundo Trust Scholarship closing date

The application season for the 2027 Imfundo Trust Scholarship runs from:

Opening date: 1 June 2026
Closing date: 30 September 2026

Applications must be completed through StudyTrust before the closing date. StudyTrust warns that its application platform can become busy as deadlines approach, so applying earlier can help you avoid last-minute technical problems.

Do not wait for an NSFAS outcome before deciding whether to apply. If you meet the Imfundo Trust requirements, you can investigate and apply for this opportunity while also following the appropriate NSFAS process.

A funding plan is better than waiting for one answer

University funding can involve several stages, and students should plan around the possibility that different funding applications may not be finalised at the same time.

If you are depending on NSFAS, continue checking your application and following instructions from your university. At the same time, look for other legitimate bursaries that match your qualification and circumstances.

The important point is not to apply randomly to every bursary you see. Instead, check the eligibility criteria, study field, university requirements, academic thresholds and closing date before applying.

The Imfundo Trust Scholarship is one opportunity worth investigating if you are a South African citizen planning to study one of its funded fields and you meet the academic requirements.

Before you submit your application, check that:

• You are a South African citizen.
• Your intended qualification is one of the funded fields.
• You meet the relevant academic requirements.
• You have checked whether your year of study falls within the 2027 eligibility requirements.
• Your academic information is accurate.
• Your supporting documents are ready.
• Your application responses are written honestly and in your own words.
• You have reviewed the official StudyTrust instructions.
• You submit before 30 September 2026.

The Imfundo Trust Scholarship will not be suitable for every student, but for students who meet its requirements, applying provides another opportunity to seek financial support for tertiary education. Most importantly, do not wait until registration is approaching before thinking about funding. Start checking your options early, keep track of application deadlines and use official bursary information when making decisions about your education.