Royal Academy of Engineering expands scholarship scheme in partnership with Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44

The Royal Academy of Engineering has relaunched and expanded its MSc Motorsport Scholarship Program.

Sir Lewis Hamilton with MSc Motorsport Scholars at Silverstone July 2025

Relaunched in partnership with Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44 foundation, the scheme will offer scholarships of up to £43,000 to a wider pool of candidates. The scheme will also now work in partnership with the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers and Driven By Us.

The relaunch follows a successful two-year pilot that awarded 13 scholarships to students in the 2023-24 academic year and eight in 2024-25. Five of these recipients are now working in Formula 1 teams, two in the motorsport sector and one in a broader engineering role. 

“Mission 44 is excited that the MSc Motorsport Scholarship programme has already resulted in young engineers from Black and mixed Black backgrounds securing jobs in motorsport,” explains Jason Arthur, CEO at Mission 44. “However, we know that there is much more to do to ensure that the motorsport and STEM careers more broadly are diverse and inclusive. Disadvantaged students are still 44 percent less likely to progress to advanced STEM studies compared to their peers, while women currently make up only around 10 percent of the motorsport workforce.”

A total of 12 fully funded scholarships are now available, up from eight offered previously, with applications welcomed from anyone from a Black or mixed-Black ethnic background as well as women and those from a less advantaged socio-economic background, regardless of ethnicity. 

The scheme will now also include a structured program of networking and training led by Drive By Us, a community organization focused on increasing diversity in motorsport, Formula 1, and the wider automotive industry.

“Motorsport is rich with opportunity, yet many talented engineers from underrepresented backgrounds still face barriers to entry and progression,” adds James Dornor, Founder at Driven By Us. “Through this structured programme, we are committed to equipping scholars with the confidence, industry insight, and real-world readiness needed to thrive. By connecting awardees with a complete community network, role models, and key industry stakeholders to form meaningful development pathways, we are not only supporting individual careers but actively contributing to a broader shift in the motorsport ecosystem, one where opportunity, leadership, and innovation are shaped by truly diverse talent.”

Successful applicants will also participate in a six-month mentorship program helping them to develop the skills needed for a potential career in Formula 1 and the wider motorsport industry.