MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme

Apply

Key facts

  • Number of scholarships: 12 available over the UK
  • Value: £43,000
  • Opens: 9 March 2026
  • Deadline: 6 May 2026
  • Helps with: Equipment and study costs, Living costs, Tuition fees
  • Duration: 1 year MSc

Summary

The MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme, supported by Mission 44, helps UK-based students pursue a master’s degree in motorsport or a related field. These scholarships aims to help address the under-representation of some groups in engineering and motorsport and accelerate the rate of progress of change.

The Scholarship Programme was launched in 2022 to address a specific recommendation within The Hamilton Commission's first report, Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport.  Sir Lewis Hamilton HonFREng formed The Hamilton Commission, alongside the Royal Academy of Engineering to address the underrepresentation of Black people in UK motorsport and the STEM sector.  

For 2026 the eligibility criteria is being expanded. As well as Black and mixed-Black applicants, the scholarship will now be open to women and individuals from a less advantaged socio-economic background.  The ambition is to broaden access to more groups of young people who are underrepresented within the Motorsports industry. Through the scholarship, the RAE want to create opportunities and pathways to careers into Motorsports for as many young people as possible.

Successful awardees will receive:

  • Scholarship funding - Worth up to £43,000, the scholarship will cover full tuition fees and living costs for an eligible Motorsport (or related) MSc course (this means the total scholarship value will vary by scholar, depending on the course and university chosen, and may be less than this figure).
  • Tailored career support – A structured programme designed to help awardees access the motorsport industry and build career readiness, in partnership with Driven By Us.
  • Expert mentoring – Six months of mentoring to develop the skills and knowledge needed for roles or placements in Formula 1 and the wider motorsport and engineering sectors, in partnership with AFBE-UK.
  • Exclusive networking events – Invitations to themed events at the Royal Academy of Engineering, connecting awardees with motorsport professionals and Academy Fellows.
  • Community support – Collaborate, share, and communicate with fellow awardees and programme supporters through dedicated forums.
Back to scholarship

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship, all applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be UK-domiciled (i.e. living in the UK on a permanent basis).
  • Hold (or be completing) an undergraduate degree in engineering, a STEM subject, or a related field, as per the entry requirements for the chosen MSc course.
  • If a graduate, must have graduated from an undergraduate degree within the last five years.
  • Be applying (or planning to apply) for an MSc course in motorsport or a related field at a UK university for the 2026/27 academic year.
  • Not already hold a postgraduate MSc degree (or higher qualification) in a related subject. MEng degrees are eligible. 

Additionally, applicants to the programme must be:

  • Black or mixed-Black and/or
  • A Woman and/or
  • From a less advantaged socio-economic background. This means you meet at least one of the following statements: 
    • You are from a low-income household and/or
    • You were eligible for free school meals whilst at secondary school and/or
    • Your permanent residence is in an area of high deprivation and/or
    • You are the first in your family to attend university

The eligible course list for the University of Strathclyde is:

  • MSc Advanced Materials Engineering
  • MSc Advanced Manufacturing: Technology & Systems
  • MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace
  • MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Energy Systems
  • MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Materials
  • MSc Design Engineering
  • MSc Electronic and Electrical Engineering
  • MSc Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering
  • MSc Machine Learning and Deep Learning

Subject eligibility

Aeronautical engineering, Design manufacture & engineering management, Electronic & electrical engineering, Mechanical & aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering, Product design

Levels eligibility

Postgraduate Taught

Study modes eligibility

Full Time

Fee Status

England or N. Ireland or Rep. Ireland or Wales, Home (Scottish)

Student type

Applicant

Back to scholarship

Further information

As a result of completing the programme, awardees will have:

  • Increased knowledge of the motorsport sector, including skills requirements, career opportunities and pathways available.
  • Improved skills in job applications and selection processes, such as interviews and assessment centres.
  • Increased professional networks within Motorsports and engineering   
  • Improved personal confidence and resilience                   
  • A lifelong professional network, with peers, mentors, and industry contacts.
  • Access to resources and activities, designed to enhance engineering career prospects.
Back to scholarship

How to apply

Find out more on how to apply at the Royal Academy of Engineering website.

Back to scholarship

Contact us

Any questions should be directed to the Royal Academy of Engineering