{{Short description|Engineering award}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|date=April 2024}} {{Primary sources|date=April 2024}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox organization | name = Arkwright Engineering Scholarships | logo = Arkwright_logo.png | logo_size = 200px | type = Non-Profit Educational Organisation | founded = 1991 | founder = | region_served = United Kingdom | product = Engineering scholarships for selected students studying 'A' levels, Scottish Highers and International Baccalaureate | focus = Engineering & Technical Design | method = | parent_organization = Smallpeice Trust | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsib = | owner = | website = [https://www.arkwright.org.uk www.arkwright.org.uk] | dissolved = | footnotes = }}
The '''Arkwright Engineering Scholarship''' is an engineering award given to engineering students within the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. It has been running since 1991 and, as part of The Smallpeice Trust, has awarded over 6,000 scholarships to date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkwright Engineering Scholarships |url=https://www.arkwright.org.uk/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727060934/https://www.arkwright.org.uk/ |archive-date=2025-07-27 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.arkwright.org.uk |language=english}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/charities/arkwright-engineering-scholarships/129.supplier/|title=Arkwright Engineering Scholarships|website=The Law Society Gazette|language=en|access-date=2022-11-26}}</ref> Arkwright is the largest and most prestigious Scholarship scheme of its type in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reece-foundation.org/arkwright-scholarships/|title=Arkwright Scholarships|website=Reece Foundation|date=8 July 2014 |language=en|access-date=2022-11-26}}</ref> The scholarship is named after Sir Richard Arkwright, an 18th-century industrialist and inventor, often credited with being one of the founding figures of the Industrial Revolution.
==Selection== The scholarships are awarded through rigorous selection to the highest-calibre students from all educational backgrounds to support them through their A Levels, Scottish Highers or International Baccalaureate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northyorkshirenews.com/education/prestigious-arkwright-scholarships-1-10303281|title=Prestigious Arkwright scholarships|website=northyorkshirenews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Burns|first=Judith|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-47816870|title=I was the only girl in A-level electronics|date=2019-04-11|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-23|language=en-GB}}</ref> Students apply during year 11 (England and Wales), S4 (Scotland) and year 12 (Northern Ireland) before taking their GCSE or Scottish [National 5] Standard Grade exams. Scholarships begin at the start of year 12 (England & Wales) / S5 (Scotland) / year 13 (NI). Scholarships consist of an annual financial award to the Scholar and to their school, and a range of enrichment activities that increase a Scholar's understanding of their chosen field of engineering, such as mentoring and industry visits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/18323251.bucks-student-secures-prestigious-scholarship-haribo/|title=Bucks student secures prestigious scholarship with HARIBO|website=Bucks Free Press|date=22 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/arkwright-scholarship-students-2019-12/|title=Arkwright Scholarship students celebrate at the IET|last=McCarthy|first=Alex|date=2019-12-23|website=Electronics Weekly|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/arkwright-scholarship-climate-autonomous-2019-11/|title=Arkwright Scholarship students focus on climate and autonomous vehicles|last=McCarthy|first=Alex|date=2019-11-20|website=Electronics Weekly|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> The scholars are encouraged to study engineering, and the most common destinations for scholars are the University of Cambridge, Loughborough University and Imperial College London (in order).
==Eligibility==
=== Selection process === To be awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, student applicants must go through a three-stage selection process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edtechnology.co.uk/Article/cambridgeshire-school-pupil-earns-arkwright-scholarship/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152327/https://edtechnology.co.uk/Article/cambridgeshire-school-pupil-earns-arkwright-scholarship/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 March 2020|title=Cambridgeshire school pupil earns Arkwright Scholarship|website=Education Technology|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> The first stage is an extended online application form, where students have to describe a technical project they have done and explain how engineering is an interest in their lives. This online application must include a reference from a relevant teacher at the applicant's school. Stage two has been updated for 2024/5 candidates and is now an online aptitude test.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aptitude Exam |url=https://www.arkwright.org.uk/how-to-apply/aptitude-exam |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421081418/https://www.arkwright.org.uk/how-to-apply/aptitude-exam |archive-date=2025-04-21 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.arkwright.org.uk |language=english}}</ref> The final stage is an interview hosted online <ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview |url=https://www.arkwright.org.uk/how-to-apply/interview |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204212211/https://www.arkwright.org.uk/how-to-apply/interview |archive-date=2024-12-04 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.arkwright.org.uk |language=english}}</ref>
=== Trust & sponsors === Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are a programme of '''The Smallpeice Trust'''. The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charity that provides programmes to promote engineering careers to young people aged 10 to 18 through residential courses, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Days and Scholarships.
Sponsors include Imperial College London, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and other industrial companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/176354/imperial-sponsors-first-arkwright-scholarship/|title=Imperial sponsors our first Arkwright Scholarship {{!}} Imperial News {{!}} Imperial College London|website=Imperial News|date=5 December 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/arkwright-engineering-scholarships/}}
Category:Education finance in the United Kingdom Category:Educational foundations based in the United Kingdom Category:Engineering education in the United Kingdom Category:Scholarships in the United Kingdom