- Old Mutual runs a range of graduate‑entry / internship / learnership / accelerated programmes for recent graduates or young professionals. Graduate Employers of Choice+2Flex Jobs Space+2
- Programmes include (among others): a general Graduate Programme, a Graduate Accelerated Programme (GAP) — including a stream for Internal Audit / Data Analytics, and possibly more technical/IT‑ or finance‑oriented tracks depending on your qualification. work in mzansi+2yourbestcv.com+2
- Through these programmes you get structured training, mentorship, exposure to different parts of the business (rotations or department assignments), and a chance to gain real-world experience in a large financial services company. yourbestcv.com+2Graduate Employers of Choice+2
Essentially — Old Mutual uses these programmes to onboard new graduates and help them transition from study to full-time work, across various functions (finance, audit, data, risk, IT, etc.).
✅ Who Can Apply — Eligibility & Typical Requirements
Eligibility and requirements vary depending on the stream / programme, but commonly include:
- Must be a South African citizen (or have eligibility to work in SA). Shoshanews Careers+2sajobsphere.co.za+2
- Must hold (or be about to complete) a relevant tertiary qualification (degree, diploma, or in some cases postgraduate qualification) — relevant fields include Finance, Accounting, Risk, IT / Computer Science / Information Systems / Data Science, Actuarial / Quantitative backgrounds (depending on stream). GILE JoBs | South Africa+2MyJobMag+2
- Often a strong academic record is required; for many streams, applicants should have achieved a minimum academic average (e.g. 65% or above) during their studies. sajobsphere.co.za+2work in mzansi+2
- For specific streams (e.g. audit/data analytics) — good analytical skills, possibly data‑science / statistics / math background. work in mzansi+1
- Recent graduates or those with minimal work experience — many of the programmes are intended to help fresh grads or young people entering the workforce. upconnect.co.za+2yourbestcv.com+2
Note: There are also other programmes under Old Mutual (e.g. insurance‑sector learnerships, entry‑level wealth‑management “learnerships / Amathuba / CGIC Learnerships”) that require Matric or lower-level qualification. Edupstairs+2SETA SA+2
🎓 What You Get — What the Programme Offers
If selected to join Old Mutual’s Graduate/Early‑Career Programme, you can expect:
- Structured on‑the‑job training and rotations — exposure to different departments/functions, giving you broad understanding of how a large financial‑services company works. sajobsphere.co.za+2Graduate Employers of Choice+2
- Mentorship and professional development — access to senior colleagues, training, coaching and support as you transition from student to employee. upconnect.co.za+2Graduate Employers of Choice+2
- Real‑world projects and responsibilities — you may be involved in audit/data analytics (for audit‑streams), finance, risk, IT/tech (for IT‑streams), or other business‑critical work — not just “intern tasks.” work in mzansi+2GILE JoBs | South Africa+2
- Potential path to permanent employment — top performers on programmes like the Graduate Accelerated Programme often get considered for permanent roles after the programme ends. School Drillers+2Graduate Employers of Choice+2
- If you’re not degree‑level qualified: Other Old Mutual learnerships (e.g. under their insurance arm) may provide a recognized qualification and exposure to insurance / financial‑services operations. SETA SA+2GILE JoBs | South Africa+2
📝 What to Watch Out For — Realistic Considerations & Limitations
- For many of the “graduate” streams, good academic performance is essential — if your average is low, you may not qualify.
- Some streams are competitive and accept limited numbers — so application quality (CV, transcripts, motivation) matters a lot.
- Not all streams suit all qualifications — you need to pick the stream matching your degree background (e.g. audit/data‑analytics, IT, finance, etc.). Applying for mismatched streams reduces your chances.
- Acceptance doesn’t always guarantee conversion to a permanent job — final employment depends on performance and business need.
- If you consider their other “learnerships” (non‑graduate), those may involve lower-level entry and possibly more basic roles (e.g. insurance admin, entry-level insurance sales), which might not immediately align with long-term career ambitions unless you plan ahead.
🎯 Who This Programme Is Best For — Ideal Candidate Profile
Old Mutual’s Graduate/Accelerated Programme is most suitable if you:
- Have recently completed (or will soon complete) a relevant tertiary qualification (Finance, Accounting, Data Science, IT, Risk, etc.).
- Have a strong academic record (good average), and are motivated to begin a long‑term career in financial services, audit, risk, data/tech or related fields.
- Are open to learning, working across departments/rotations, and building diverse skills rather than specializing immediately.
- Want structured mentorship and workplace exposure — a bridge between studies and a professional career.
- Are prepared to commit to the terms of the programme (which may include initial lower pay/trainee-level remuneration), with the potential for permanent role afterwards.
If instead you have only Matric or lower-level qualification — some of Old Mutual’s other learnerships may be relevant (insurance, wealth‑management, basic banking services) — but with different expectations and career trajectories.
✅ My Opinion: Is Old Mutual Graduate Programme 2026 a Good Option — Yes, Definitely Among the Top for Finance/IT Grads in SA
If you meet the eligibility (degree + good marks + relevant discipline), I think Old Mutual’s graduate/early‑career programmes are among the strongest and most promising entry routes in South Africa’s financial‑services sector.
Why I recommend it:
- Broad exposure: finance, risk, audit, data/tech — gives flexibility in future career direction.
- Structured support: mentorship, training, rotations — helps bridge gap between university and “real world.”
- Reputation & stability: Old Mutual is a major, established institution — good CV value, and relatively stable environment for a starting career.
- Potential for growth: good chance of permanent job offer if you perform well — better than many short or unstructured internships.
