Momentum

About Momentum

Momentum Group, formerly Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, is one of the largest financial services groups in South Africa. It was formed through the 2010 merger of Metropolitan Holdings and Momentum Group. Its head office is in Centurion. The group offers life and non-life insurance, asset management, investments and healthcare administration under brands such as Momentum, Metropolitan and Guardrisk. It also has operations in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Ghana and Mozambique.

How Momentum supports students

Momentum funds the Phambili bursary programme through its investment business. The programme builds a pipeline of graduates in the technical fields its insurance and asset management teams rely on. Qualifying fields include Accounting, Financial Management, Information Technology, Investments Management, Mathematics and Statistics, or a related field.

Phambili is aimed at undergraduate BCom students at accredited public universities in South Africa. The funding covers tuition fees, textbooks and accommodation. In the recent round, students could apply when entering their first, second or third year of study.

The programme does not end at graduation. After finishing their degrees, bursars take part in the Phambili internship programme. This gives them a direct route from funded study into a first workplace role at the group.

Momentum has other education-linked opportunities as well. Examples include an actuarial science youth bursary and facilities intern posts. These are listed separately, and their requirements differ from Phambili.

What to know before applying

Phambili targets previously disadvantaged students. Applicants needed a strong academic record, with a minimum average of 75% for the previous year of study. The recent round also set a combined household income limit of below R600,000 a year. Shortlisted candidates were asked for an ID copy, recent academic results, proof of university acceptance and parental income documents.

The group's wide footprint matters for your career. Graduates who join Momentum can work in life insurance, investment management, short-term insurance or healthcare administration. Some roles also reach into other African markets. As a result, the bursary can open doors well beyond a single desk. Gather your parents' or guardians' income documents early, because the household income test is one of the main screening steps.

Applications were submitted through an online form. The most recent published round closed on 31 October 2025, so intakes tend to open in the second half of the year. However, requirements such as the income cap and the average mark can change between years.

Check the official Momentum website for the current intake before you apply. Make sure your documents are complete and certified where required, because late or incomplete applications are unlikely to be considered.