South African Reserve Bank (SARB): Graduate Internships 2025
South African Reserve Bank (SARB): Graduate Internship Programme 2025/2026
Listing Reference: SARB-GRAD-2025
Listing Status: Active
Position Summary
Company: South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
Industry: Central Banking / Financial Services
Job Category: Graduate Internship / Finance / Data Science
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Contract Type: 12-Month Fixed-Term Internship
Remuneration: Market-Related Stipend
EE position: Open to all qualifying South African citizens
Closing date: 30 April 2025
Introduction
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), the central bank of South Africa, plays a pivotal role in ensuring monetary stability and fostering financial system integrity. As part of its commitment to developing the country’s top emerging talent, SARB is inviting applications from exceptional South African postgraduates for its Graduate Development Programme (GDP) starting in February 2026. This is a premier opportunity for ambitious, driven individuals to acquire industry-relevant experience and be mentored by leaders in central banking and financial regulation.
This comprehensive 12-month internship is designed to offer graduates hands-on work experience across various departments at the SARB Head Office, along with classroom-based learning through the SARB Academy. It aims to prepare the next generation of professionals for impactful roles in the South African economy and financial markets.
Job Description
Selected graduates will be placed in functional departments within the SARB, working from February 2026 to January 2027. Each intern will contribute to specific tasks and ongoing projects while receiving mentoring and structured training.
As a GDP participant, you will:
- Rotate across different business units to gain broad exposure
- Receive training in central banking and financial regulation through the SARB Academy
- Participate in soft skill development including:
- Assertive communication
- Public speaking and effective presentations
- Writing impactful reports
- Creating powerful PowerPoint presentations
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Personal branding and business etiquette
Graduates are prepared to be “well-rounded central bankers” — knowledgeable in theory and experienced in practice.
Ideal Candidate
SARB is looking for highly motivated, intellectually curious individuals who demonstrate leadership potential and are eager to contribute to the country’s financial stability. The ideal applicant will be a recent or soon-to-be postgraduate with a strong academic record and an interest in public policy, financial services, or digital innovation.
Eligibility criteria:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must have completed a postgraduate qualification (or be in final year)
- Must be available for full-time participation from February 2026
Role Responsibility
Interns will be placed in one of the SARB’s departments, with responsibilities varying depending on placement. General responsibilities may include:
- Conducting research and analysis to support policy and operational decisions
- Assisting in developing models, tools, and systems to monitor financial risks
- Supporting reporting processes and drafting presentations for stakeholders
- Participating in policy reviews and proposal writing
- Contributing to innovation and digital transformation initiatives
- Engaging in internal knowledge-sharing platforms and workshops
The internship culminates in a final presentation or report evaluating the intern’s contributions and learning outcomes.
Skills & Attributes
To succeed in this programme, candidates should exhibit:
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Keen interest in economics, public finance, financial technology or data science
- A proactive attitude with a commitment to continuous learning
- Professionalism, reliability and adaptability in a high-performance environment
Available Graduate Internship Streams
The SARB GDP 2025/2026 is offered in two main streams:
1. Graduate Development Programme (GDP)
Postgraduate Qualifications Required in:
- Economics
- Econometrics
- Statistics
- Research and Policy Analysis
- Public Finance
- Accounting and Auditing
- Law
- Financial Mathematics
- Financial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Digital Technology
- Portfolio or Investment Management
- Mathematics
- Quantitative Analysis
- Business Analysis
- Risk Management (operational and financial risk)
- Actuarial Science
- Fintech
2. Data Science Graduate Development Programme
Postgraduate Qualifications Required in:
- Data Science
- Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence
- Predictive Analytics / Modelling
- Statistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Digital Technology / IT
- Fintech
- Economics with Econometrics
- Business Mathematics and Informatics
This stream is specifically geared toward candidates interested in data-driven roles supporting the bank’s digital strategy and analytics capabilities.
Why Join SARB?
Joining the South African Reserve Bank means contributing to the development and stability of South Africa’s financial system. Interns are not only equipped with technical expertise, but also developed into professionals with leadership, communication and critical thinking capabilities.
Additional benefits include:
- Mentorship by experts in central banking
- Exposure to national policy development
- Opportunity to contribute to real-time economic challenges
- Access to SARB’s world-class Academy
- Career networking within South Africa’s financial sector
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted online via the South African Reserve Bank’s official careers portal. Be sure to include:
- A detailed CV
- Certified copies of academic transcripts
- A motivation letter
- South African ID copy
Early applications are highly encouraged due to high demand. Ensure that your application reflects both your academic achievements and personal values aligned with SARB’s mission.
The SARB Graduate Internship Programme 2025/2026 is more than just a work experience — it’s a transformative year designed to build future leaders in finance, policy, data science, and technology. If you are driven by purpose, passionate about contributing to economic transformation, and ready to work in a dynamic professional setting, this opportunity is for you.
Don’t miss your chance to work with South Africa’s most prestigious financial institution — apply to the SARB Graduate Development Programme today!
