WS
Scholarships & Awards

The Whitworth Scholarship.

Established by Sir Joseph Whitworth in 1868 and continuing without interruption to today — an award for engineers who combine the workshop and the lecture hall in equal measure.

Overview

Workshop, then university.

Unlike most academic awards, the Whitworth was designed to recognise engineers who had spent serious time on the workshop floor before entering university. That requirement, unusual in 1868, remains the scholarship's defining feature.

The award is administered today by the Whitworth Awards Scheme through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in continuation of Sir Joseph's original endowment.

Impact

A century and a half of engineers.

1868
First scholarship awarded
≈280
Living Whitworth Scholars today
70+
Major UK engineering employers represented
100%
Combine workshop and academic experience
How to apply

Applications are open.

Applications for the Whitworth Scholarship are made through the Whitworth Awards Scheme, administered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The annual deadline is typically late February.

  1. 1
    Confirm eligibility
    Engineering apprentices, technicians or degree apprentices in the UK, normally nominated by their employer or college.
  2. 2
    Prepare your submission
    Evidence of workshop experience, academic record, and a personal statement on your engineering ambitions.
  3. 3
    Submit through the Awards Scheme
    Applications are reviewed by an independent panel each spring.
Visit the Whitworth Awards Scheme