About the programme
The Lord Bhattacharyya Higher Educations Bursaries support eligible students from selected sixth forms, FE colleges and academies across the West Midlands as they progress from A Levels and vocational qualifications to study degree-level engineering or related courses at any UK university. Students from low income households, and those who are under-represented in the engineering sector, are being offered the exciting opportunity to apply for a £15,000 bursary to support their studies.
In addition, successful applicants will be enrolled on the Academy's Graduate Engineering Engagement Programme (GEEP) which empowers engineering students from under-represented backgrounds to excel in their careers, through attending workshops, developing skills, building connections and gaining practical experience.
Applications for the next round of awards are now closed.
Applying for a bursary
Before you apply, please download and read the Application Guidance. This will help you understand whether you are eligible to apply, and provide thorough instructions to help you complete your application - you should refer to the guide throughout the application process as it gives additional guidance for answering the application questions.
Eligibility Criteria
The scheme is only open to eligible students from the following schools, colleges and academies which are participating in the Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme:
- Barr's Hill School, Coventry
- Blue Coat C of E School and Music College, Coventry
- Colmers School and Sixth Form College, Birmingham
- Coventry College, Coventry
- Ernesford Grange Community Academy, Coventry
- Grace Academy Solihull, Solihull
- Meadow Park School, Coventry
- Nicholas Chamberlaine School, Bedworth
- North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (Nuneaton Campus only)
- Rugby College, part of Warwickshire College Group
- Rugby Free Secondary School, Rugby
- Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Sixth Form, Birmingham
- Sidney Stringer Academy, Coventry
- Solihull College & University Centre, Solihull
- South and City College Birmingham
- WMG Academy for Yong Engineers, Coventry
- WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Solihull
You will need to be a resident of the UK, eligible to pay UK home fees at university (not international fees), and plan to start your course in autumn 2024.
These bursaries are aimed at young people from low-income households, so you will need to be able to answer 'yes' to one, or both, of the following statements:
- At least one of my parents/guardians receives mean-tested state benefits
- I have been continuously eligible for free school meals since the start of my post-16 studies
Even if you do not strictly meet the criteria above, we would still love to hear from you - applications will be considered on a case by case basis, and we invite you to explain your motivations for applying.
GEEP has its own set of eligibility criteria. You must:
- Be a UK national or have an indefinite right to live and work in the UK; AND
- Either identify as of Black, Asian or other minority ethnic background; OR identify as a woman; OR be from a non-Russell Group (RG) university OR be from a socio-economically disadvantaged background
Any applications that are incomplete, do not meet the eligibility criteria, or do not adhere to the guidelines will be rejected. The Academy is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from women and other groups who are currently under-represented in engineering.
The Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme is delivered by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with WMG at the University of Warwick.
