The Tyler James Alexander Scholarship aims to support underrepresented talent to pursue a motorsport career by providing a unique combination of financial support towards fees for the Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc, an internship at a world-leading racing team, and mentoring support from experienced motor racing professionals. The TJA Scholarship was founded by Jane Nottage in memory of her partner, Tyler.

Alongside the financial support to pursue the masters programme, the successful scholar will also have the unparalleled experience of a 3-month internship at both McLaren Racing in the UK and Team Penske in the US. In Tyler’s spirit, the internships will give you hands on experience working with a range of experts, many of whom worked with Tyler, to provide real world motorsport experience to complement the scholars’ studies at Cranfield.

The aim of the programme is to support underrepresented talent within motorsport by providing a student with an opportunity they may otherwise not have had. Underrepresentation covers a broad range of demographics and includes women, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, disability, neurodiversity, and those from a lower socio-economic background.

Applicants with an offer of a place on the Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc must produce a written statement, covering the following key areas:

• What inspired you to pursue a career in motorsport and what your career aspirations are. 

• Describe how the Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc will help you to realise your career aspirations.

• Explain why you should be considered to receive the TJA Scholarship. You may choose to include details about your personal merits or funding requirements. 

• Outline the outcomes you expect from an internship at a racing team, including the value to you and the value to the team. 

Candidates will be shortlisted for an interview with the Admissions Tutors for the Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc.

A maximum of four candidates will be selected to sit a final interview with members of the racing teams and scholarship committee.

Following a decision between Cranfield and the racing teams, one candidate will be offered the TJA Scholarship.

Please note that by applying to the programme you hereby grant image rights to your image usage in content and all media over the course of the programme

Embark on your academic journey with Cranfield University by taking the next step towards your future. 

Click the "Apply Now" button below to be directed to the official Cranfield University website, where you'll find the application form. Take the first steps towards a career in motorsports and join a community committed to excellence in research, innovation, and global impact. Your exciting academic adventure begins with a simple click – start your application process now!

“Although there are many things that aren't great in the overall kaleidoscope of chaos that you sometimes find in motor racing, I would do it all over again.”

Tyler James Alexander was a founding father of McLaren in 1963, with Bruce McLaren and Teddy Mayer. He achieved huge success in the Can-Am Championship, his technical ability embracing five Constructors’ Championships between 1967 and 1971. Tyler was the McLaren Team Boss in the Indy 500 series and led McLaren to its Indy 500 victories in 1974 and 1976, with driver Johnny Rutherford. Tyler had a rare ability to embrace the hands-on engineering of the past while always looking to the future.

In the early 1990s, as McLaren’s Special Projects Manager, he was a central figure in key technical innovations, such as the development of the semi-automatic gearbox. In his career, Tyler worked alongside the likes of Roger Penske, Paul Newman and Carl Haas, Martin Whitmarsh, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Adrian Newey, Paddy Lowe, Ross Brawn and many others who also command great reverence in motorsport. Tyler’s skills as an engineer were underpinned by his personal ethics, team-work and sheer determination. His legacy lives on through the Tyler James Alexander Scholarship.

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