Educational Support Fund

Sponsorship for Gifted Students in Marine Science and Engineering to
meet industry's critical shortage of suitably qualified entrants.

BENEFITS to both industry sponsors and students:

• early identification of high quality students with potential interest in marine science and technology

• early exposure of sponsoring firms to students and vice versa

• steering of uncommitted high quality students towards the offshore and maritime industry, particularly towards the sponsoring firms

• regular exposure of students' progress, professional interests and project work to sponsoring industry

• potential for industry involvement in project work

• improved industry/university contacts

• a ready-made linkage for vacation attachments of students to sponsoring firms

• regular publicity for sponsoring firms

• linkage with a government approved scheme.

HISTORY OF SUCCESS

• Over 150 postgraduate and undergraduate students supported through the £340,000 raised by the Educational Support Fund

• Very high success rate, with very good academic results, and onward entry into the offshore industry or related research

• Of unique scope, the Fund is one of the largest non-governmental sources of sponsorship for science and engineering students

• Annual awards range from £2,000 for undergraduates to £4,000 for taught MSc students, with special Gold and Platinum prizes to the outstanding students of the year.

For more information contact:
Cheryl Ince
SUT, 80 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5BJ, UK.
t  +44 (0)20 7 382 2601
f  +44 (0)20 7 382 2684
e  cheryl.ince@sut.org

The Society for Underwater Technology's Educational Support Fund offers sponsorship awards to high calibre undergraduate and postgraduate students, either starting or continuing a degree which embraces at least one relevant component area of marine science, underwater technology or offshore engineering. Applications are also welcome from those from mainline engineering courses where students can demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the marine field.

The postgraduate award is only available to students taking one year taught MSc courses.

The undergraduate scholarship award will continue throughout the entire period, or remaining part, of the degree course, subject to a satisfactory academic standard being maintained, which will be reviewed annually.

The grants are open to any student, irrespective of age or nationality.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

Postgraduate candidates should:

have a first degree in a relevant engineering or science subject,

AND

be seeking a place on a one year MSc postgraduate course of study related to offshore engineering, marine science or underwater technology.

Undergraduate candidates should have either:

permission to proceed to the second or subsequent year of the BSc or BEng degree course,
OR

a firm offer of a degree place at a university,
OR

a provisional offer to be based on examination results yet to be taken.

WHEN TO APPLY

Students wishing to be considered for an SUT sponsorship award should complete and return the application form by the 31 July preceding the start or continuation of the degree course in October of the same year. Late applications will not be entertained.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection is made on the basis of the information given in the application form together with:

For Postgraduates

A head of university department's report and/or current employers reference as applicable.

For Undergraduates
A head teacher's reference or head of a university department's report.

It is important to ensure that all sections of the application form are fully completed.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the assessment in early September.

FINANCES

Postgraduates
SUT scholars may apply for other sources of funding and still be eligible for an SUT grant. The Society's Educational Support Fund currently pays its sponsorship students up to a maximum of £4,000 per annum for a full academic year. This top-up grant does not affect the eligibility for a EPSRC grant.

Undergraduates
SUT scholars must apply for their local authority grant like everyone else, and like other students they could find the amount reduced by the assessed parental contribution. However, on top of the grant, and without affecting it in any way, whether it is a maximum or reduced grant, the Society's Educational Support Fund currently pays its sponsorship students up to a maximum of £2,000 per annum for a full academic year.

HOW TO APPLY

Application forms (available from SUT) should be sent with relevant reference(s) by 31 July each year to
 Cheryl Ince at cheryl.ince@sut.org