Engineering scholarship aims to boost UK industry

More Imperial engineering students will benefit from industry experience thanks to the expansion of the Kingsbury Scholarship programme.

More Imperial engineering students will benefit from industry experience thanks to the expansion of the Kingsbury Scholarship programme. The Kingsbury Scholarships, which have been established through the generous support of alumnus Derek Kingsbury CBE FREng (Electrical Engineering 1947), offers scholarships to UK undergraduates in financial need who have a firm offer from the College to study an engineering course. Eligible students are required to spend a year working in UK industry before they start studying at Imperial. 

Derek Kingsbury enjoyed a notable career in UK industry with Associated Electrical Industries, Thorn Electrical Industries, Dowty Group, Pearson and Fairey Group. Commenting on why he decided to found the Scholarship at Imperial, he said: “I want to encourage more students to consider industrial and technical careers in the UK. I believe that investing in academic success and encouraging ambition and excellence in engineering students is vital to UK industry."

The Kingsbury Scholarship programme aims to support gifted students who may not otherwise have been able to study. This support is combined with a year spent in industry to gain a valuable insight into the sector.

The first Kingsbury Scholar, Catherine Stevenson, joined Imperial last October. Mr Kingsbury has recently expanded the Scholarship programme, enabling the College to offer a Kingsbury Scholarship to one outstanding student each year. Successful students receive a full scholarship for the duration of their course, which includes a tuition fee waiver and a grant towards living costs.

Catherine started her MEng course in Aeronautics in October last year. To meet the criteria for the scholarship, she worked for one year at ScottishPower before commencing her studies, giving her a valuable insight into UK industry.

“My placement at ScottishPower was invaluable in helping me to understand how engineering and technology are practically applied to industrial solutions. I’m sure this will help give me a head-start on my course at Imperial” said Catherine. “The placement, which I arranged through the Engineering Development Trust’s Year In Industry scheme, also helped instil in me a valuable work ethic and a useful glimpse of the working world as an engineer that has made me all the more determined to qualify as a chartered engineer after I graduate. I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded this prestigious scholarship,” she added.

The College invites applications for the Kingsbury Scholarships from eligible UK students who have received a firm offer to study an engineering course in 2013-14. The deadline for applications is 1 May 2013. Click on the link to find out more information and to apply for the Kingsbury Scholarship.

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