The Coachmakers of London Automotive Engineering Scholarship

The purpose of the scholarship is to enable the selected students to participate in automotive related research at Brunel. Thus, providing scholarship recipients the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge and from that, it is hoped enhance their career options.

The scholarships will cover all the costs associated with enabling the successful awardees to work within one of the University’s automotive related research groups or centres for approximately six weeks over the summer. In addition, the selected students will be employed as Junior Research Fellows for the duration of the scholarship on the JS4-13 grade at £14.57 per hour for 35 hour working weeks.

The timing of this activity will be either during the period between the end of a student’s second year and the start of their third year or, between the end of their third year and the beginning of their fourth year if the student is enrolled on an MEng course.

Successful awardees will be expected to undertake duties as specified by the Coachmakers or Brunel. In the case of the Coachmakers this is likely to be writing a small article describing the work undertaken during the scholarship, attendance at a dinner and meeting senior people within the automotive industry and the Coachmakers. In the case of Brunel this entails writing a short report detailing work undertaken as part of the scholarship and may include representing the University at recruitment activities. In all cases the requests will not be arduous.

A forum for like-minded people whose interests focus on areas including the automotive and aerospace industries. The Livery encourages social interaction by arranging events nationally and internationally; providing support in the form of educational scholarship to students; encouraging and promoting, within those industries, excellence in design, technical development and commercial significance through commitments to individuals for long-term educational courses.

Trade and craft associations have flourished all over Europe for centuries, but the City of London companies, now known as the Livery, are unique in their survival, number and diversity.

The social and economic conditions which gave birth to the original guilds have long since been overtaken by the development of industry and commerce, but the Livery Companies still flourish today as living institutions. Their survival has been achieved by doing what they have always done: fostering their trade in a wide context, serving the community, and embracing modern skills and professions. Today there are 108 Livery Companies in the City of London, some of modern origin (Builders Merchants, Environmental Cleaners, Information Technologists and the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers) and some of ancient origin (Mercers, Goldsmiths, Weavers, Fishmongers) with the oldest being the Weavers, incorporated in 1115.

There are over 40,000 Liverymen of the City of London, 41 Companies have their own halls. Livery Companies have traditionally run almshouses, and in recent times the more modern equivalent, sheltered housing, where today 41 housing schemes and 947 residents are supported.

Livery Companies are widely involved in education. Around 125 educational establishments and schools have a specific link with Livery Companies and benefit from financial assistance, Brunel University London is one of those educational establishments.

The application form comprises of two parts:

1. A completed form consisting of answers to a few short questions, and a statement of no more than 500 words explaining why you should be awarded a scholarship. You should describe how your academic study, professional experience and other factors affect your desire to stay within the automotive industry.
2. Your CV, which must be attached to the application form, as explained on the form.

Submit your application here (the deadline to submit the completed application will be confirmed in 2025).

Late applications and incomplete applications will not be considered.

To be eligible for a scholarship a student must:

• Either be in their second year (FHEA Level 5) with one year of study remaining at FHEA Level 6 or be in their third year (FHEA Level 6) enrolled on an MEng degree with one year of study remaining at FHEA Level 7, the final year of an MEng degree. MSc students are not eligible for this scholarship.
• Be a student enrolled on an undergraduate course within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
• Be a UK national and a HOME fee payer.
• Be available to undertake work during the summer vacation. In line with the first bullet point, if you are and MEng student the summer vacation must either be between your second and third or your third and fourth year. If you are a BEng student the summer vacation must be between your second and third year.
• Complete the scholarship application process as described above in the Section headed The Application Process.

Those not eligible for this scholarship:

• Students who are not UK nationals.
• Students not on an undergraduate degree within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
• Students that are not either in their second year (FHEA Level 5) with one year of study remaining at FHEA Level 6 or in their third year (FHEA Level 6) enrolled on an MEng degree with one year of study remaining at FHEA Level 7, the final year of an MEng degree.
• Students on an MSc course.

1. Applications for the scholarship will be reviewed by the Department after the closing date.
2. All scholarship applications will be assessed against a set of standard criteria and students applying for the scholarship must pass a rigorous selection and a transparent evaluation process this may include an informal interview conducted by the members of the Department Scholarship Committee.
3. The Department Scholarship Committee will be responsible for assessing all applications and shortlisted applicants for consideration. The Livery will be consulted at various points of the selection process.
4. The Department Scholarship Committee will be responsible for initiating and managing the communication with students. The Committee will be responsible for producing a final list for eligible awardees and communicating the result of the scholarship application.
5. Applications for the scholarship will be considered on the balance of eligibility criteria met by each student.
6. The decision of the Department Scholarship Committee is final. The University will not accept any appeals in respect of the decisions made by the Department Scholarship
7. Students who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of allocation will be considered for the scholarship using the information provided at the time of their application only and cannot be considered should their circumstances change during the course of their studies. Scholarships cannot be backdated.

1. The scholarship cannot be deferred to future months or years.
2. The scholarship will only be awarded if the potential recipient is fully enrolled at the University on an eligible course, as stated in Section entitled Eligibility.
3. The applicant must meet all of the criteria as stated in Section entitled Eligibility.
4. Successful awardees are required to undertake duties as specified by the Coachmakers or Brunel. In the case of the Coachmakers this is likely to be writing a small article describing the work undertaken during the scholarship, attendance at a dinner and meeting senior people within the automotive industry and the Coachmakers. In the case of Brunel this entails writing a short report detailing work undertaken as part of the scholarship and may include representing the University at recruitment activities. In all cases the requests will not be arduous. 
5. Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a reasonable amount of communication with Brunel staff and contacts at the Coachmakers Guild The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers.

1. Misleading information: The University reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship from anyone who is found to have misled the University about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek repayment by appropriate means of any money already paid.
2. Mode of Attendance Change: If a student transfers from a full-time to a part-time study the scholarship may be withdrawn.
3. Changing Course: If a student transfers to a course outside of those within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering the scholarship will be withdrawn.
4. Abeyance/Temporary Withdrawal: Any student in such a position will be reviewed and a decision made as to if it is appropriate for them to retain a scholarship. Payments made prior to temporarily withdrawing will not generally be requested to be repaid.
5. Suspension of Study: Should a student be suspended for any reason; the scholarship would be withdrawn; any consideration of reinstatement will be dependent on the disciplinary outcome.
6. Repeat/Extended Study: Repeat periods of study, and periods of temporary withdrawal that result in extended periods of study, may result in the withdrawal of the scholarship.
7. Withdrawal from Study: A student who withdraws from their course prior to completion and who is in receipt of a scholarship award will not normally be requested to repay scholarship payments made up to the point of withdrawal; however, entitlement to all future scholarship payments and/or adjustments, cease immediately a student withdraws.
8. Failure to perform Duties: A student will be required to work a full working week and follow the requirements of the project assigned to them. Failure to do this will result in the scholarship being terminated. In addition, if you scholarship recipients fail to meet the requirements as listed in Section 5, the University will seek to remove the scholarship. Professor D J Mynors will oversee any issues that arise relating to performing required duties.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the scholarship or these terms and conditions please email Diane.Mynors@brunel.ac.uk with the subject line stating ‘COACHMAKERS – Query’.

Updated 29 November 2024.