Rolls-Royce Scholarship Programme 2027
Job Description
Introduction
Applications are open for the Rolls-Royce Scholarship Programme 2027, which brings together Rolls-Royce-sponsored UK PhD programmes offered through participating universities.
The programme is intended for applicants seeking doctoral research opportunities connected to Rolls-Royce’s technical interests. Applicants apply to individual PhD projects, with each project setting its own academic, funding and application conditions.
About Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce develops complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Its technical work covers aerospace, marine and land-based systems.
The company supports doctoral researchers and research staff through its university network. Approximately 500 PhD researchers and 800 research staff are supported across the network at any one time.
About The Rolls-Royce Scholarship Programme 2027
The Rolls-Royce Scholarship Programme 2027 is not one universal scholarship with a single application form, fixed research topic or standard award package. It consists of separate Rolls-Royce-sponsored PhD projects hosted by participating UK universities.
Applicants select a project that matches their academic background and research interests. The selected researcher joins the relevant university department and research team, works under the supervision arrangements established for the project, and completes the doctoral requirements of the host institution.
Research projects are connected to Rolls-Royce’s technical interests. Depending on the project, researchers may collaborate with Rolls-Royce researchers or professionals alongside their academic supervisors.
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Programme type: PhD scholarship and university-based doctoral research programme
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Location: United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
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Format: University-based research
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Research setting: Academic and engineering teams working on industry-linked projects
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Project listings: Current projects are listed through FindAPhD.com and jobs.ac.uk, as well as the relevant university application routes
Each individual project determines its host university, research topic, academic department, supervisors, duration, funding terms, eligibility requirements and deadline.
Research Areas And Project Options
Applicants apply for specific projects within relevant technical areas. The available areas include:
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Aerospace And Mechanical Engineering: Research connected to aircraft systems, mechanical technologies and advanced engineering applications.
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Electrical Engineering And Energy Technologies: Research involving electrical systems, energy systems and related power technologies.
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Materials And Manufacturing: Projects involving advanced materials, production methods and manufacturing technologies.
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Artificial Intelligence And Data Science: Technical research applying computational and data-driven methods to engineering and industrial systems.
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Nuclear Physics: Doctoral research connected to nuclear science and related technical applications.
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Marine Engineering: Research linked to marine systems, propulsion and engineering applications at sea.
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Power And Propulsion: Research focused on systems and technologies supporting Rolls-Royce’s power and propulsion activities.
The research question, expected outputs, department, supervisors and academic requirements are defined in the individual project description.
What PhD Researchers Do
Researchers complete the academic and technical work set out in their approved project and by the host university. Their activities may include:
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Conducting advanced doctoral research in the selected technical area.
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Joining and contributing to a university research team.
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Developing specialist research skills and technical expertise relevant to the project.
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Working with academic supervisors and, where included in the project, Rolls-Royce researchers or professionals.
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Completing doctoral assessments, research outputs and other requirements established by the university.
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Contributing to research within an international academic and engineering environment.
Eligibility And Requirements
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Applicants must apply for a specific Rolls-Royce-sponsored or Rolls-Royce-supported PhD project at a participating UK university.
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Applicants must meet the academic qualifications and research requirements stated in the selected project listing.
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Applicants must have an academic or research background relevant to the chosen topic.
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Applicants must be prepared to undertake university-based doctoral research in the United Kingdom.
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Applicants must satisfy any additional requirements set by the host university, academic department or research team.
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Nationality, residency and tuition-fee status requirements depend on the individual project.
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International applicants must confirm that their chosen project accepts their nationality and fee status.
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Applicants must review the complete project listing before applying.
Funding And Financial Support
Financial support is determined separately for each PhD project. Some projects are fully funded, while others may apply different conditions based on student status, nationality or fee status.
Applicants must check the selected listing for the exact funding arrangement, including:
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Tuition-fee coverage
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Stipend amount and payment terms
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Eligibility for the available funding
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Any requirement for self-funding or additional financial support
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Funding duration in relation to the PhD period
The programme does not have one confirmed stipend, universal tuition-fee arrangement or standard funding package that applies to every project.
Duration, Supervision And Selection
The duration of the PhD and the structure of the research are set by the host university and individual project. The project listing also explains the supervision arrangement, assessment requirements and any collaboration with Rolls-Royce.
Applicants are assessed against the academic, research and project-specific requirements established by the university and relevant research team. Successful candidates become members of the university team responsible for the approved research.
Project And Application Information
Applicants should identify a current Rolls-Royce-sponsored PhD project that matches their qualifications, research interests and funding needs. Before submitting an application, they should review the complete project listing for the research topic, host university, academic entry requirements, nationality rules, tuition-fee coverage, stipend, duration, submission route and deadline.
Applications are submitted through the university or project-specific route stated in the selected listing. There is no single programme-wide deadline because participating projects set their own closing dates.
Application deadline: 31 January 2027
Requirements
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Applicants must apply for a specific Rolls-Royce-sponsored or Rolls-Royce-supported PhD project at a participating UK university.
-
Applicants must meet the academic qualifications and research requirements stated in the selected project listing.
-
Applicants must have an academic or research background relevant to the chosen topic.
-
Applicants must be prepared to undertake university-based doctoral research in the United Kingdom.
-
Applicants must satisfy any additional requirements set by the host university, academic department or research team.
-
Nationality, residency and tuition-fee status requirements depend on the individual project.
-
International applicants must confirm that their chosen project accepts their nationality and fee status.
-
Applicants must review the complete project listing before applying.
Funding And Financial Support
Financial support is determined separately for each PhD project. Some projects are fully funded, while others may apply different conditions based on student status, nationality or fee status.
Applicants must check the selected listing for the exact funding arrangement, including:
-
Tuition-fee coverage
-
Stipend amount and payment terms
-
Eligibility for the available funding
-
Any requirement for self-funding or additional financial support
-
Funding duration in relation to the PhD period
The programme does not have one confirmed stipend, universal tuition-fee arrangement or standard funding package that applies to every project.
Duration, Supervision And Selection
The duration of the PhD and the structure of the research are set by the host university and individual project. The project listing also explains the supervision arrangement, assessment requirements and any collaboration with Rolls-Royce.
Applicants are assessed against the academic, research and project-specific requirements established by the university and relevant research team. Successful candidates become members of the university team responsible for the approved research.
Project And Application Information
Applicants should identify a current Rolls-Royce-sponsored PhD project that matches their qualifications, research interests and funding needs. Before submitting an application, they should review the complete project listing for the research topic, host university, academic entry requirements, nationality rules, tuition-fee coverage, stipend, duration, submission route and deadline.
Applications are submitted through the university or project-specific route stated in the selected listing. There is no single programme-wide deadline because participating projects set their own closing dates.
Application deadline: 31 January 2027