Formula 1® Engineering Scholarship at Cambridge
The Formula 1® Engineering Scholarship at Cambridge 2027/28 application form isn’t live yet. If you have seen conflicting information elsewhere claiming that applications are currently open with an August 30 deadline, the information appears to be outdated or cached. The university’s own outreach scholarships page states that the form for 2027/28 entry is not yet available and directs applicants to check back for updates.
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Cambridge’s published funding details confirm that the award will be worth £20,000 for the year once applications open, calculated using the maximum government-set tuition fee plus the maximum Student Finance maintenance loan. Here’s what to know now, and how to be ready the moment the form goes live.
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Born From a Personal $1 Million Commitment
The Formula 1 Engineering Scholarship traces back to 2020, when Chase Carey, then Formula 1’s non-executive chairman, committed $1 million (roughly £725,000) of his own money specifically to fund engineering-focused scholarships for students from underrepresented backgrounds at leading universities. F1 launched the gift through its #WeRaceAsOne initiative, which forms part of the sport’s broader diversity and inclusion strategy introduced in 2019. F1 selected Cambridge as one of several universities to receive and administer the funding through the Cambridge Trust.
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Professor Richard Prager, who helped launch the scholarship at Cambridge, framed the reasoning directly: engineering is fundamentally about problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork, all of which benefit from a genuinely diverse and inclusive environment. Formula 1 has since extended its funding commitment multiple times, and the scholarship now runs across several partner universities beyond Cambridge — recent cohorts have included students at Strathclyde, Imperial, Oxford, and Italy’s Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna (MUNER), alongside Cambridge itself, with Formula 1’s own leadership describing the programme as opening the sport’s door to a new wave of talented students who might not otherwise have had access to it.
Formula 1® Engineering Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Formula 1® Engineering |
| Host Country ⇒ | United Kingdom |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate |
| Benefits ⇒ | University tuition fee (Home rate) plus a maintenance grant — £20,000 |
| Funded by ⇒ | University of Cambridge, administered by the Cambridge Trust, funded by Formula 1 |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | UK students assessed at Home fee status |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | The application form for the next cycle is not yet available. Check the University’s outreach scholarships page for updates on when it opens |
What the Scholarship Provides
- The University tuition fee, at the Home rate, is covered in full
- A maintenance grant, with the combined package for 2027/28 confirmed at £20,000 total, equivalent to the maximum government-set tuition fee plus the maximum Student Finance maintenance loan
- Coverage across all four years of the standard Cambridge Engineering degree
- Continued eligibility for a Cambridge Bursary, since holding this scholarship doesn’t preclude separate bursary support
Other universities participating in the wider F1 scholarship scheme, including Imperial College London, have published similar funding structures that combine Home-rate tuition with a maintenance stipend, providing context for how partner institutions typically value the programme.
Formula 1® Engineering Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Based on the criteria published for this scholarship, applicants will generally need to meet the following once the form opens:
- Hold a confirmed place for entry to the University of Cambridge for a first undergraduate Engineering degree, due to commence study in October 2027 — verifiable through UCAS Hub
- You must qualify for UK Home fee status as confirmed in your Cambridge College offer letter. If you are unsure about your fee status, contact your offering College directly for clarification.
- You must have already applied to Student Finance in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland for both a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan and received confirmation that you qualify for financial support.
- Have had an income assessment conducted by Student Finance, with consent given for that information to be shared with the University
- Come from a background underrepresented in Engineering — Cambridge’s outreach scholarships page frames eligibility specifically around this
- Be able to demonstrate genuine motivation for a future career within Formula 1 or the wider motorsport industry, since this is an assessed part of the selection criteria, not a formality
If awarded, you’re able to reduce your Student Finance loan to zero rather than being required to take it out, but you’ll still need a completed income assessment regardless, since that’s also what determines your separate eligibility for a Cambridge Bursary. Holding this scholarship doesn’t exclude you from also receiving a Cambridge Bursary.
Required Documents and Prerequisites
Once the application opens, be ready with:
- Confirmation of your Cambridge Engineering offer, verifiable through UCAS Hub
- Confirmation of your Home fee status, from your College offer letter
- Confirmation from Student Finance that your tuition fee and maintenance loan applications have been assessed
- A completed Student Finance income assessment, with consent given to share results with the University
- A written response, within the application itself, addressing your motivation for a career in Formula 1 or motorsport engineering
Formula 1® Engineering Scholarship: How to Apply
- Check the University’s outreach scholarships page directly and regularly for the 2027/28 application form to go live — this is the only reliable source for the current status.
- In the meantime, complete the prerequisites: confirm your Cambridge Engineering offer on UCAS Hub, confirm your fee status, and apply to Student Finance for your tuition fee and maintenance loans if you haven’t already.
- Ensure your Student Finance income assessment is completed and consent given to share it with the University, since this needs to be in place before you can submit a scholarship application.
- Once the form opens, complete it in full, including your written response on your motivation for a Formula 1 or motorsport engineering career.
- Submit before whatever deadline is published alongside the form.
- Direct any questions to [email protected].
Application Deadline
As of now, the 2027/28 application form is not yet available, and the University has not published a confirmed deadline. Check the University’s outreach scholarships page directly for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Formula 1 Engineering Scholarship currently open for applications?
No. The application form for 2027/28 entry is not yet available. The University’s page directs applicants to check back for updates.
How much is the scholarship worth?
For 2027/28, the confirmed total is £20,000, combining Home-rate tuition fees with a maintenance grant equivalent to the maximum Student Finance maintenance loan.
How many students receive this scholarship each year at Cambridge?
Two new Engineering students per year.
Do I need to have already applied for a student loan before applying for this scholarship?
Yes. You’ll need to have already applied to Student Finance for both a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan, with a completed income assessment and consent given to share it with the University.
Does winning this scholarship affect my eligibility for a Cambridge Bursary?
No. Holding the Formula 1 Scholarship does not preclude you from also receiving a Cambridge Bursary, provided you separately qualify.
Is this scholarship open to international students?
No. It’s specifically for UK students assessed at Home fee status.
Disclaimer: All programme details in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. The application window for 2027/28 entry has not yet opened. Always confirm the latest details, including the exact deadline once published, directly on the University of Cambridge’s official outreach scholarships page. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Cambridge or Formula 1.
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