Project Funding

There are multiple funding sources available to engineering undergraduates for individual and team projects. Below are details of

 

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Soft white robot with hydraulic lines connecting to it

James Dyson Foundation Bursary Fund

4th year project students may be able to apply for extra funding for their project and an opportunity to share their project at the annual outreach event Dyson Day. View our James Dyson Foundation Bursary Fund page for details.

 

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Desktop sized dome structure with fake grass sprinkled around

Kirk Fund

Students undertaking individual and team projects that involve using engineering and technology in sustainable development can apply for project funding from the Kirk Fund.

Funding is available for

  • Developing & testing ideas, building prototypes
  • Travel and support for remote collaborations

The level of support depends on the needs and potential impact of the project. A typical starter grant would be expected to be of the order of £500 in the first instance. Promising ideas/projects could receive multiple rounds of funding as well as mentoring to take the idea further. Prizes may be awarded to the most significant contributions.

How to apply?

Applications from student societies can be made alongside the other SPIP / Dragons’ den pitches.

Individuals/small teams can also apply at any time during the year. The first step would be to express interest by email to Dr Alexandre Kabla, ajk61

Proposals will be assessed based on their technical quality and their potential to address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/).

About the Kirk Fund

The Kirk Fund was established in 2019 thanks to a donation from Dr Ewan Kirk.

In addition to student grants, the Kirk Fund also supports the IIA project GM2 – Technology for the poorest billion, run by CUED and the Centre for Global Equality.

If you have any questions, please email Dr Alexandre Kabla, ajk61

 

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Robin Jackson sitting in front of the sea

Robin Jackson Design Fund

Background

After graduating from Trinity Hall, Robin Jackson completed his National Service before working for a period in industry.  In 1965, he was appointed Lecturer in Electrical Engineering and elected a Fellow of Selwyn College.

In 1995, Robin fell ill and, very sadly, died, aged 57.

Robin made a large number of significant contributions to the Department.  He was an extremely conscientious and very popular teacher.  When the Engineering Tripos was reformed into the current 4-year MEng course in the early 1990s, he was a key member of the team that set up the 2nd year Integrated Design Project (IDP), which ran for the first time in October 1993.

Many of his research efforts were directed at improving the lives of disabled people and he became a pioneer and world leader in Rehabilitation Robotics.

He was extremely self-effacing and his obituary in the Selwyn Calendar ended: ‘He will be remembered … as a man who did much good quietly.’

Applying

If you are interested in applying for the Robin Jackson Design Fund, please read the "Full details of the fund" document below. Note that the funds is to be primarily directed at undergraduates in the Engineering Department, but will not exclude Research students within the Department and give priority to projects that contribute in the areas of rehabilitation and medical applications or generally improve the quality of human life.

Once you have completed the application form, please email it to the Dyson Centre Helpdesk dyson-helpdesk@eng.cam.ac.uk.

 

Download full details of the fund here

Download the fund application form here

 

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