The IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship scheme is now in its second year, and follows the £2 million figure that the IET has already invested last year. The scholarships will provide each winner with at least £1,000 per academic year. Winners also benefit from mentoring and work experience placements through the IET’s extensive networks, in an attempt to close the ever growing skills gap which has increased for the ninth year running.
This year, 69 scholarships have been awarded to students who started either a Masters or Undergraduate engineering degree at a UK-based university in the autumn of 2014, and nearly half of these have been awarded to female candidates (42%) up from just 19% of scholarships which were given to female applicants last year. Currently, just six per cent of the UK’s engineering work force is female.
The IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship programme is open to all UK students hoping to achieve three ‘A’s at A Level, three ‘A’ grade Advanced Highers, five ‘A’ grade Highers or an International Baccalaureate Diploma at 36 points or above and who are applying to join an IET accredited engineering or technology degree course. Those who are selected receive at least £1,000 per year during their studies.
Prospective students who are wishing to apply for a Diamond Jubilee Scholarship can apply online soon. See www.theiet.org/diamond.
Chloe Adams-Pickford, an Engineering Science student at The University of Oxford, currently receives the IET Diamond Jubilee scholarship: “I received the first instalment of the IET Great Exhibition Scholarship in January 2015 and I haven’t spent a large amount of it just yet. I plan to use the money to fund a trip to Swaziland next summer where I will be helping to plan the infrastructure for a tourist community. I’m passionate about using my skill set to support people in other countries who may not be as fortunate as me.
“Aside from the finances, the scholarship has opened up a number of societies that I have been able to get involved. One that I have particularly enjoyed is Stemettes, an organisation which encourages and inspires women to enter STEM industries. Without the scholarship I may not have been aware of this fantastic group where I have learnt so much and met other young aspirational engineers.
“I can’t thank the IET enough for granting me the IET Great Exhibition Scholarship. I encourage anyone who may be considering applying for it to do so as it has proven to be an invaluable asset for me.”
