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'Engineers Make It Happen' Nuffield Bursaries

Guy Bishop from St George’s College, Surrey who took an engineering bursary placement at QinetiQ in Summer 2007
As part of the ‘Engineers Make It Happen’ campaign, the Nuffield Foundation, in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), offers an Engineering Bursaries scheme that provides funded placements for further education engineering students to gain experience working in clearly defined roles in industry.

The scheme offers funded places (£80 per week) during the 2009 summer vacation to enable students in certain UK regions (see below) to gain a 4-6-week insight into the world of engineering industry.

The history behind the ‘Engineers Make It Happen’ Nuffield Bursaries

The Nuffield Foundation has run a highly-respected School and College Science Bursary scheme for over 10 years and the Engineering Bursary scheme will be run to the same model, ensuring that it uses the best practice of years of experience. It was piloted in summer 2008 with great success.

The scheme forms part of the ‘Engineers Make It Happen’ campaign being led by the Engineering and Technology Board. As a condition of the bursary award, students have to complete a report template about what they did during their bursary placement.

There is a fantastic opportunity to receive an additional £200 cash prize from the ETB for students who submit a bursary report within two weeks of completing their bursaries and are chosen to be used as part of the ‘Engineers Make it Happen’ campaign.

Which students are eligible to apply for ‘Engineers Make It Happen’ Nuffield Bursaries?

Any student in the first year of an engineering course at a further education college at level 3 and above in Northern Ireland, Wales, the North East, East Midlands and London may apply (e.g. BTEC National Certificate, HNCs, HNDs and Diplomas and Foundation Degrees).

How long do placements last?

The Bursary will be for 4-6 weeks during the summer vacation.

The Bursary focus

Bursary students will have a defined role within their host company enabling them to gain realistic experience working within an engineering team on real projects and activities. Your role will make a genuine contribution to the work of the host organisation.

Which types of employers will the scheme benefit?

This scheme is designed to benefit ‘smaller’ employers (typically 500 employees or less) who usually have less resource available to host such students. Eligible students are those studying qualifications at skill level 3 and above at further education colleges (e.g. BTEC Certificates and Diplomas and Foundation Degrees), so Bursary holders’ capabilities are considerably above those of school-based, work-experience students.

Potential placement providers are invited to consider hosting a Bursary student in summer 2009 over the college summer vacation (which is typically the end of June to early September – though this varies in different UK regions and nations).

Unlike ‘traditional’ work experience, the Engineering Bursary Scheme:

• requires host companies to provide students with a defined role and measurable outcomes

• places enthusiastic and motivated students, who are paid a bursary (£80 per week) by the Engineering & Technology Board

• matches students interests and expertise to company requirements.

Contact your Nuffield Co-ordinator to register your interest or to discuss the scheme without commitment.

Last Updated Tue, 9 December 2008