Following an announcement by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA has revealed its first-ever motorsport engineering scholarship at Cranfield University in the UK.
Designed as a global talent search initiative, the scholarship aims to provide a pathway for a young engineer from one of the FIA regions to obtain a master’s in advanced motorsport engineering.
In line with the FIA’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) commitments, the governing body seeks to diversify and enrich the motorsport engineering sector. The FIA’s member clubs, which are based in 146 countries, and their local academic partners will be able to nominate students to participate in the selection process for the scholarship, which will cover the cost of tuition and living expenses in the UK.
The ethnically diverse university has carried out research, consultancy and testing for the motorsport industry since the 1970s. Furthermore, Cranfield is home to the FIA-approved Cranfield Impact Centre and AXSIM, which work with Formula 1 and other motorsport companies.
A standard Cranfield candidate selection process will be conducted, and the FIA will award the scholarship to the person who best fits the governing body’s EDI commitments. Applications for the engineering scholarship will be open from October 15, 2022, to February 15, 2023.
“I am pleased to launch the first FIA motorsport engineering scholarship in partnership with Cranfield University in the UK,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “I passionately believe that the sport should be open to anyone who has a desire to learn and participate. This scholarship will allow a young person who facing financial challenges the opportunity to study motorsport engineering at the world’s leading university in the field and to bring that knowledge back to their country and community.”
James Brighton, professor of automotive engineering at Cranfield, added, “At the highest levels of motorsport there are still barriers to entry for the brightest engineers, with fierce competition for roles. Engineers need to have a passion for the sport, exceptional technical knowledge and the ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This scholarship will allow a student that typically would not be able to join us the chance to study in the UK, on our leading postgraduate program. Through our relationships with the industry combined with their desire, we will build the attributes, skills and network needed to start their motorsport career.”
