Would £4,000 a year convince you to study a subject that leads to a career in chip design?
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is offering scholarships worth £4,000 per year to support students studying chip-related degree courses at UK universities.
The scholarship can provide £4,000 per year for each remaining year of study, up to a maximum of four years, subject to final terms and eligibility requirements.
Which route you should use depends on when you started, or expect to start, your degree.
Which route applies to you?
Starting university this September (2026)?
Applications for this year’s semiconductor scholarship support are being handled by the UK Electronics Skills Foundation. Please apply through UKESF here: [LINK].
Planning to start in 2027/28, or interested in future semiconductor scholarship opportunities?
Register your interest below and we will contact you with further information and next steps.
What happens after you register?
If you register your interest, the UK Semiconductor Centre will use the information you provide to help direct you to the right scholarship route.
We expect to contact registered students in October 2026 with further information about eligibility, next steps and relevant alternatives if this scholarship route is not the right fit.
For eligible students, the process for confirming scholarship support is expected to begin in December 2026 or January 2027.
About the scholarship
The scholarships are part of TechFirst, the UK Government programme designed to open up pathways into technology careers and help more people develop the skills needed by fast-growing sectors such as semiconductors.
The scheme is designed for students who are interested in semiconductor-related subjects and future careers in areas such as chip design, electronics, photonics, materials, advanced manufacturing, AI hardware, communications, quantum technologies and future computing.
Who can register interest?
You can register interest if you:
- are applying to start a relevant UK university course in 2027/28 or later
- meet, or expect to meet, the definition of a UK “home student” by the relevant start date
- are interested in developing skills and experience for a future career in the UK semiconductor sector
A “home student” means someone who is classified as eligible to pay the UK domestic tuition fee rate, normally because they are settled in the UK and have lived in the UK for a required period before starting their course.
The semiconductor scholarships will be available to students studying the following subjects:
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Computer Science
If you are studying a course that you believe is relevant to a semiconductor career, please choose “Other” and include the full course name.
Final eligibility requirements will be confirmed when applications open. These may include academic requirements, course requirements and requirements relating to the number of years remaining on a student’s degree programme.
The scholarship scheme is not open to students applying for a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship Programme.
Register your interest now!
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