Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust

About the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust

The Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) is one of South Africa's long-standing philanthropic funders. Harry Oppenheimer set it up in 1958 to honour his father, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, who died in 1957. Sir Ernest was the founder of the Anglo American Corporation and a leading figure in the country's mining history. The trust's deed says it serves the public interest and helps people regardless of race, colour or creed.

Its offices are in Illovo, Johannesburg. Over the years the trust has given roughly R100 million to R130 million a year, according to published reports, and about 60% of that has gone to higher education. This makes it a major source of support for universities and researchers.

How the trust supports students

The OMT funds early childhood and youth development, basic education, higher education, social justice and arts and culture. For students, the key programme is its postgraduate scholarship. It supports Master's, doctoral and postdoctoral study, and it also runs sabbatical awards and the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year.

The trust says it welcomes all disciplines. However, it excludes MBAs, DBAs and programmes with a narrow commercial focus. It looks for candidates with a strong academic record who plan careers in academia, research, development or related work in South Africa. Financial need is also considered, and study is mainly expected to take place at South African universities.

Published limits show how long the money can last. Master's funding runs for up to two years, PhD funding for up to three years and postdoctoral funding for up to two years. Each award covers one degree or programme only. Awards may also be made for study abroad, but only for exceptional candidates whose field is not offered at home.

What to know before applying

This is not a bursary for undergraduates. You must already hold the qualification that leads into the postgraduate degree, and you should apply for a place at your university as well. Applications go through the OMT online portal only. The trust states that incomplete or emailed submissions are not considered.

There are two cycles a year. For study starting in January to June 2027, applications opened on 1 June 2026 and closed on 31 August 2026. The earlier cycle, for July to December 2026, closed on 31 March 2026. Dates usually repeat in a similar pattern, but confirm them on the official site.

Prepare your academic transcripts, a clear research proposal and strong referee support. Because places are limited, a focused and honest application matters. The OMT does not charge any fee to apply.