First engineering classes begin at Dyson's private university
There first engineering undergraduates at vacuum-cleaner giant Dyson's Institute of Engineering and Technology have begun their degree studies. Of 850 applicants, 33 were accepted onto the four-year course, which pays students a salary throughout their studies and offers the prospect of a job with Dyson upon graduation. The company said 27% of entrants are female, compared with the UK average of 16%. The course is taught by company scientists and University of Warwick academics at the institute's Wiltshire campus. Dyson has invested in education to tackle what it says is a shortage of skilled engineers in the UK.
Today, engineering undergraduates begin their degree studies at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology on the Dyson technology campus in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Over 850 students applied for 25 places on the course and due to the exceptionally high calibre of candidates, 33 Undergraduate Engineers were accepted onto the four-year engineering degree.

According to Dyson, 27% of the undergraduate engineers starting this year will be female, significantly more than the UK average of 16%. Students who accepted places at the Institute included those with offers from top universities including the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London and 66% achieved at least one A* at A-Level.

The Dyson Institute builds on Dyson’s previous work in schools and universities to overcome the lack of engineers in the UK and is the first University of its kind following the passage of the Higher Education and Research Act on 27th April 2017.

The undergraduate engineers will be mentored by Dyson’s practicing scientists and engineers who will teach alongside academics from WMG, the University of Warwick. They will benefit from learning high level science and engineering theory, combined with real-world application on live projects.

Earning a salary throughout the course and the prospect of a graduate role with Dyson on completion of their degree means the students should come away from higher education debt-free.

James Dyson said: “Dyson’s undergraduate engineers will develop new technology alongside world-leading engineering practitioners, creating real products that end up in homes around the world and all alongside their academic work. I am looking forward to seeing what exceptional things they achieve over the next four years and hope they will want to work at Dyson for many years to come.”

Applications for 2018 entry open today (14th September 2017).