Applications for the 2027 intake open on Monday 12 October 2026 and close at 11pm on Sunday 8 November 2026, with a four-year programme beginning in June 2027.

For reference, the application window for the 2026 intake ran from Monday 12 October 2025 to 11pm on Sunday 8 November 2025. The new window for 2027 follows the same dates a year later.

The four-year programme, starting June 2027, will place students on a variety of engineering projects, offering broad, hands-on experience across the company and helping them build skills directly relevant to the electricity networks sector.

The scholarship package includes four paid 10-week summer placements, a paid year-long industrial placement, access to a company mentor with support towards professional registration, free IET student membership (or equivalent), and access to the Fast Track Graduate Engineer Programme.

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Eligible Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering and Energy students will receive a £3,000 annual bursary alongside paid placements throughout their degree and a full year of paid industrial experience. Each scholar is paired with a company mentor and supported through to professional registration.

More than 90 students have completed the scheme to date, with a majority taking up full-time roles after graduation.

NIE Networks is seeking innovative, forward-thinking engineers to help shape tomorrow's electricity networks and support progress towards net zero. The organisation encourages all eligible candidates to apply, describing the scheme as a potential career-defining opportunity.

Students on the following courses at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) or Ulster University are eligible to apply. Applicants must be in their first year, or in their second year if they are on, or eligible to transfer to, the MEng pathway: MEng or BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (QUB); BSc Energy (Ulster – Belfast); BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Ulster – Magee); BEng Renewable Energy Engineering (Ulster – Magee).

The scheme is also open to students on IET-accredited MEng or BEng electrical, electronic or power engineering courses at any Power Academy university. As a member of the Power Academy, NIE Networks accepts a number of Power Academy Scholars each year.

On graduation, scholars will be eligible to apply for the NIE Networks Fast Track Graduate Engineer Programme.

To learn more or start an application, visit the scholarships page.