Frequently Asked Questions

Engineering Leaders Scholarships (formerly the Engineering Leadership Awards) help ambitious undergraduates to become leadership role models for the next generation of engineers and  to undertake an accelerated personal development programme. Over the course of three years, they receive £5,000 funding for personal development and experienced mentorship to offer advice on their future development and career options. They also attend an annual training and networking event at which all the currently active scholarship holders from the different year groups are brought together along with Fellows of the Academy, Sainsbury Management Fellows, and previous alumni of the scheme.

Engineering Leaders Scholarships were formerly known as the Engineering Leadership Awards (or the Engineering Leadership Advanced Awards), the only difference being that both MEng and BEng undergraduates may now apply.

Undergraduate students studying engineering or related disciplines at a UK Higher Education Institution, including those studying degree apprenticeships 

Undergraduates who have at least two years left (including the current academic year) until they complete their degree

Undergraduates who are ordinarily resident in the UK and eligible to pay UK home fees, those in the UK on short term exchange programmes or who pay international fees are not eligible.

Scholars will receive:

• Assistance from the Academy to create personal development plans, enabling scholars to plan the use of their scholarship in the short term, and outline their intentions in the medium and long term.
• £5,000 to enable them to act on their personal development plans over a period of up to three years.

• An annual training and networking weekend at which all the current scholarship holders from the different year groups are brought together.
• Access to senior engineers for guidance and support.
• Access to an online community on MS Teams 
• Access to a community of over 300 Alumni of the scheme

The Sir Ralph Robins Scholarships are awarded to individuals who meet additional criteria related to coming from an underrepresented and underprivileged background and who wish to be considered for this prestigious award.  Along with the benefits of the Engineering Leaders Scholarships the Sir Ralph Robins Scholarships provide:

• an additional £5,000 to be used towards the cost of living at university 
• a possible 10 week or 1 year paid internship at Rolls-Royce plc
• an award produced by Rolls-Royce plc and presented at an annual drinks reception and
• the names of recipients added to a roll of honour plaque in the Rolls Royce Room at the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Central to the theme of accelerating the professional development of the individual is the need to encourage our scholars to look ahead to where they think their careers are going and to start planning for them. Once a scholarship is confirmed, scholars are expected to write a first draft of their personal development plan (PDP) to enable their scholarship to start; Academy will provide a training session to support this process. This not only stimulates thought about the longer-term career, but provides a structure around which to plan the use of the award funding itself.

The initial sum is sent after a personal development plan has been approved and a contract signed. The remaining funding is paid following approval of annual reports and updated personal development plans as needed. Second instalments will only be paid to awardees who submit their annual reports by the agreed date. 

All prospective applicants must submit an application form via the Academy’s  Grant Management System , together with any supporting documentation. The online application form and guidance notes can be found on the online grant system. 

Each year, the scheme opens in November and closes in January. Exact dates will be published on the main ELS page. 

A selection panel composed of Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Sainsbury Management Fellows and alumni of the scheme will review the applications and around 80 shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview, (TBC if this will be in person or online). The interviews will take place in late March. 

Sir Ralph Robins FREng Hon.FRAeS is one of the UK's most distinguished industrialists. During his 48 year career at Rolls-Royce plc he held many senior roles, including Managing Director, Deputy Chairman and then Chairman, serving in the latter post for 11 years. Renowned for his foresight - and unwavering believe in investing for the long-term - Sir Ralph was instrumental in commiting Rolls-Royce to the ground-breaking Trent engine programme. Trent engines continue to power much of the world's civil aviation fleet and are one of the UK's most successful technology exports.

Sir Ralph was born in 1932 and studied at Imperial College. He first joined Rolls-Royce in 1955. Amongst many honours he was nighted in 1988 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering the same year. In 1990 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.  During his long career he has also held senior roles at, amongst others, Cable & Wireless plc, Marshall of Cambridge Holdings Ltd and Schroders plc.