The Whitworth Society - Whitworth Scholarship

Whitworth Scholarship (Undergraduate & Masters)

You will receive up to about 11,500 EUR per year (£10,000) for an engineering degree in the UK, for up to four years, totalling up to approximately 46,000 EUR (£40,000). Part-time or work-integrated degree programmes (studying alternated with paid work placements) are funded on a pro rata basis. You may combine this funding with other scholarships, but not with a second Whitworth scholarship. The funding comes from the Whitworth Trust Fund, which was established in 1868 and is now administered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

Who can apply

• Field of study: Any engineering degree at BEng, MEng or MSc level.
• University: You are studying at a college or university in the United Kingdom. You can apply before you start your course or whilst you are already enrolled.
• Your route into engineering: After completing your full-time school education, you must have undertaken a practice-oriented, work-based training programme in engineering (an apprenticeship or a practice-oriented training programme) for at least approximately two years before commencing your degree programme. To be eligible for an MSc programme, you must be a recent graduate who has followed the same practical training pathway.
• Nationality: You are a British national, a national of a Commonwealth country or an EU citizen.
• Residence: You have lived in the UK for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to the start of your degree programme.
• One award only: The Whitworth Prize can only be awarded once.
• If something stopped you: If, due to a serious illness or for another valid reason, you are unable to fully meet a requirement, the IMechE may apply the rules flexibly.

How to apply

You apply online and sit an aptitude test. The application deadline is 17 July each year. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, and the IMechE Awards Committee then makes the final decision.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very narrowly defined. It is aimed at engineers who have not followed a traditional academic route but have instead pursued a practice-oriented, work-based career path, which limits the pool of applicants. If you clearly fit this profile and possess sound academic and practical skills, your chances are good. The interview is crucial – so be prepared to demonstrate why your practical experience sets you apart from the rest.