Frequently asked questions

There are two Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship programmes– one awarded to engineers and one awarded to scientists. This £50,000 MBA scholarship enables successful applicants to add business, finance and marketing expertise to the skills they gained through their engineering and science training and qualifications. The qualifications, experience and contacts gained through the MBA programme will assist the newly graduated Sainsbury Management Fellows in their ambition to secure senior level roles in blue-chip companies or to start and grow their own enterprises.

Yes. However, social sciences are not applicable. 

EIBF awards a total of 16 scholarships each year – eight for engineers and eight for scientists. 

The number of applications fluctuates; in recent years the numbers range between 50 and 60. 

Up-to-date eligibility criteria can be found on our specific engineers and scientists scholarship pages.

No. Typically applicants for the scholarship are in their mid to late twenties.

No. However, for engineers, the assessment panel looks favourably on applicants who are chartered or working towards chartership. 

No. The assessment panel is looking for leadership potential and this can be demonstrated through a diversity of activity where you have taken the lead in a professional or personal capacity.

What are the deadlines to apply for the scholarship?

There are two application rounds per year for both scholarships. For up-to-date deadlines, visit the Royal Academy of Engineering and National Physical Laboratory websites. 

No. The Engineering Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship can be used when studying at the approved business schools (link). The Science Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship can be used at these approved UK business schools. (link)

It is not necessary to have secured a place at business school before applying for this scholarship. Successful applicants without a confirmed place at an approved business school will be given a scholarship ‘offer in principle’, which must be taken up within 12 months, otherwise the offer expires.

Yes. If successful in being awarded a scholarship, candidates can be mentored through the business school application and interview process  by a Sainsbury Management Fellow. 

However, EIBF takes no responsibility for the results of business school applications and can make no guarantees of candidates being admitted to an eligible MBA programme. If candidates unsuccessful in being awarded a place after 12 months, the scholarship offer will expire.

Candidates have 12 months after being awarded a scholarship to secure a place at one of the approved business schools. 

No. The Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship is open only to candidates who will be studying for a full time MBA at one of the participating business schools.

Yes, as long as candidates study at one of the business schools participating in the scholarship programme.

The current list of schools will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

A written submission with supporting evidence is required. This is followed by an interview for the short-listed applicants. Full details of the application process can be found on the Royal Academy of Engineering and National Physical Laboratory websites. 

The Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Physical Laboratory administer the scholarship applications with the help and support of Sainsbury Management Fellows. 

Applications can be made by candidates in conjunction with employers, not exclusively by employers. Where an employer supports an application, it is helpful if a covering letter confirming this with outline plans for future career development.

Applications are checked against the eligible criteria and then reviewed. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to an interview after the closing date of the application round. This process takes approximately four to six weeks.

For the engineering scholarship, the panel will consist of members of the Royal Academy of Engineering and alumni from the Sainsbury Management Fellowship. For the science scholarship, the panel will consist of faculty from the National Physical Laboratory and alumni from the Sainsbury Management Fellowship.

As with any interview, preparation and confidence are key to success. Sainsbury Management Fellows have pooled their experiences and written an article to help applicants with the application process and the panel interview. 

• Demonstration of progression in career
• Demonstration of leadership skills or leadership potential
• A future commitment to work in UK industry or associated area

Yes. Please see the Royal Academy of Engineering and National Physical Laboratory websites for details on how to apply. 

The £50,000 scholarship is paid as a lump sum directly to successful candidates before they start their MBA course.

Successful candidates take full responsibility for how they use their £50,000 scholarship fund. The scholarship can be used for fees, course materials, relocation costs – whatever is helpful to the candidate.

More than 400 people have received the scholarship since 1987.

Yes, candidates may re-apply for a scholarship if they were unsuccessful in being shortlisted the first time and have not already taken a full time MBA course. However, those people who were previously shortlisted and been unsuccessful in being awarded the scholarship cannot re-apply. 

Yes. Mentoring is one of our charitable objects and EIBF is committed to the development of engineers and scientists. Find out more about the mentoring programme.

After graduation, candidates will become Sainsbury Management Fellows. They will receive a welcome pack with information about the support and networking opportunities available to Fellows. 

Candidates will also be invited to join the LinkedIn group which enables people to proactively engage with other SMFs. 

When SMF became a registered charity, the charity was named Engineers in Business Fellowship (EBIF). The Sainsbury Management Fellowship is EIBF’s scholarship programme.

MBAs expose students to many areas of business in an intensive, immersive way that challenges and stretches students’ perspectives and thinking. The MBA experience is sometimes described as a re-wiring of students’ brains so that they can think critically and quickly analyse information, filtering out what is important from the irrelevant. 

The skills taught in an MBA programme enable people to read, assess, structure and plan rapidly; skills that will enable people to find innovative ways of dealing with big problems.

An MBA graduate also gains a razor-sharp ‘tool kit’ to apply to any business challenge and of course, the ‘glow’ of the prestigious international business school brand. Apart from the new skills propelling career prospects and salary, the network of peers from the business school become life-long associates and friends and this is a powerful asset.

The MBA is an instantly recognisable brand, is offered by leading business schools worldwide, comes with a high price tag and reputation. MBA students usually have several years work experience under their belt. 

MBA and MSc education can be very similar in content however, the MSc allows for a wide variety of subject specialisations. There are a variety of MScs in business from excellent schools and universities. MScs in business and administration topics are usually shorter than MBAs, more affordable and, crucially, more suited to those at an earlier stage in their career.