High-achieving students and recent graduates from around the world can apply for the President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London, a fully funded doctoral opportunity offering full tuition fee support, an annual stipend of £27,036 and additional research funding.
For the 2027–28 academic year, Imperial College London is offering 50 President’s PhD Scholarships to candidates demonstrating outstanding academic performance and strong research potential. The scholarship supports a 3.5-year PhD programme and allows successful scholars to undertake a research project of their choice under the guidance of an Imperial supervisor.
There are no nationality restrictions, although individual academic departments may have limitations regarding support for international candidates.
What the Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship Covers
The President’s PhD Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for the duration of the funded doctoral programme.
Each of the 50 scholarships includes:
- Full funding for tuition fees for 3.5 years.
- £27,036 annual stipend at the 2027–28 rate to help with living costs.
- £2,000 per year consumables fund during the first three years.
- Bespoke opportunities and events delivered through Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI).
- Access to Imperial’s wider postgraduate support services.
- Access to learning and development opportunities for early-career researchers.
The scholarship is available for both full-time and part-time study.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is open to talented candidates from Imperial College London, elsewhere in the UK and worldwide. Candidates can apply regardless of nationality.
The scheme is specifically intended for new PhD applicants with evidence of academic excellence and research potential.
Applicants must normally meet one of the following academic requirements:
- Hold or be expected to obtain a first-class undergraduate or integrated master’s degree, or an equivalent qualification; or
- Hold or be expected to obtain a distinction in a standalone master’s degree.
The master’s pathway allows applicants who may not have achieved a first-class undergraduate degree but have demonstrated outstanding performance at master’s level to be considered.
International applicants should check with the relevant Imperial Admissions team to determine whether their qualifications and grades meet the scholarship requirements.
Alternative Academic Pathways
Imperial College London also recognizes that strong research potential can be demonstrated through non-traditional academic or career pathways.
Candidates who do not meet the standard advertised academic criteria may potentially be considered as a departmental special case where there are extenuating circumstances affecting their grades but they can demonstrate the calibre required for the scholarship.
Examples may include strong performance in research project modules or evidence of exceptional performance during research placements.
Applicants interested in this route should contact their proposed department before submitting an application.
Important Eligibility Conditions
The President’s PhD Scholarship is only available to new PhD applicants.
Current registered Imperial College London PhD students are not eligible to apply for consideration under the scheme.
Before applying, prospective candidates must also make contact with an academic supervisor in an Imperial department who has agreed to supervise their proposed research project.
Applicants should check Imperial’s list of unavailable supervisors because supervisors are limited in the number of President’s PhD Scholars they can supervise at any one time.
How to Apply
There is no separate scholarship application form.
Instead, candidates must apply for admission to an eligible PhD programme at Imperial College London through the University’s online admissions system.
During the admissions process, candidates must indicate that they wish to be considered for the President’s PhD Scholarship in the funding section of the additional questions tab.
For the 2027–28 academic year, funded PhD places can begin between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027.
Applicants should prepare a two-page personal statement document containing:
- A personal statement explaining their motivation for applying to Imperial and the scholarship.
- A research proposal outlining the proposed doctoral research.
Candidates must also provide two academic referees. The proposed PhD supervisor should not be listed as one of the two academic referees.
Applicants should also check their chosen department’s requirements because additional documents or application requirements may apply.
Selection Process
There are 50 scholarship places available, and selection takes place through a two-stage process.
First, eligible candidates are reviewed by the department to which they have applied. Departments then select candidates for consideration by the College Selection Panel.
The assessment focuses primarily on academic excellence and research potential.
Academic excellence may be demonstrated through academic results, transcripts, class position, awards and distinctions.
Research potential is assessed through previous research experience, interest in discovery, the proposed research plan and its potential contribution, as well as the departmental assessment.
Applicants who are not selected for a President’s PhD Scholarship will automatically be considered for a standard PhD place.
Application Deadlines for 2027–28
Imperial has three scholarship consideration rounds for the 2027–28 academic year:
- 2 November 2026, 23:59 UK time — successful applicants notified by 31 January 2027.
- 11 January 2027, 23:59 UK time — successful applicants notified by 15 April 2027.
- 1 March 2027, 23:59 UK time — successful applicants notified by 31 May 2027.
Candidates should allow sufficient time to identify a supervisor, prepare their research proposal and complete the PhD admission application before the relevant deadline.
Why Consider the Imperial PhD Scholarship?
The President’s PhD Scholarship combines doctoral tuition support with a substantial annual living-cost stipend and research consumables funding. Scholars also become part of a cohort of President’s PhD Scholars and can participate in specialist opportunities provided through Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute.
The scholarship is open internationally and supports research across Imperial’s academic disciplines, subject to departmental availability and eligibility.
Prospective applicants should review their intended department’s PhD opportunities, identify a suitable supervisor and carefully prepare their academic and research materials before applying.
