E3 Academy - E3 Academy Scholarship

What the E3 Academy Scholarship gives you

You will receive a scholarship of about EUR 2,900 (£2,500) per year, which will be paid for the duration of your electrical engineering degree, i.e. approximately three years. Each year, you will also undertake a 8-week paid summer placement at a rate of approximately 1,450 (£1,250) euros per month, and a partner company will act as your mentor (a personal contact within the company). If you take up an entry-level position with this company after graduating, it will reimburse you for a third of your tuition fees, up to approximately 6,900 (£6,000) euros, in two instalments over your first two years there. You will also take part in the Academy’s events, such as the Summer School, company visits and networking meetings. The E3 Academy is a not-for-profit organisation run by British engineering firms (currently Nidec Drives, Mercedes AMG HPP, Siemens Digital Industries and Turntide) to train and subsequently recruit electrical engineers. Around 80% of the scholarship holders remain with their sponsor after graduation.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are currently studying, or are about to start, a BEng or MEng degree in Electrical Engineering and Electronics, or a degree programme with a substantial electrical engineering component.
• University: You are studying at the University of Nottingham, Newcastle University or the University of Bristol.
• Timing: You are in your first few years of study or are about to start your degree. Students in their final year are not eligible to apply.
• Right to work: You are an EU citizen or, following the completion of your degree, are entitled to permanent residence in the United Kingdom.
• Results: You are academically very strong. Most students complete their degree with a ‘First Class’ or ‘Upper Second’ classification.
• Job condition: Your sponsor may include a clause stipulating that you must repay part of the scholarship if you turn down a suitable written job offer that they make to you before you graduate.

How to apply

You apply to one of the partner companies via the E3 Academy. The selection process takes place in several stages, for example with an online aptitude test, followed by interviews and a group exercise. For the 2026 cycle, the Academy is trialling a new process involving an application day and interviews held exclusively at Newcastle University; there will be no recruitment taking place in Nottingham or Bristol.

How realistic are your chances?

The pool of applicants is limited, as candidates must be studying a specific subject at one of the three universities mentioned and hold a work permit for the UK. However, competition within this group is fierce: one company reported around 70 applicants for roughly 12 interview slots, and companies favour candidates with outstanding academic achievements. If you clearly meet the criteria and apply early in your degree, your prospects are good.