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Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarships 2027–28

Fully funded Open
Closes soon1 Mar 2027 — final
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Imperial College London

Key facts

Stipend
£27,036/yr
Subject
All fields
Intake
2027
Degree
PhD
Deadline
1 Mar 2027
503.5 years (42 months)

Overview

Imperial's flagship doctoral scheme funds 50 outstanding new PhD students each year across every research area at the College. Scholars bring their own research project (with an Imperial supervisor's backing), get full tuition, a £27,036/year stipend for 3.5 years, and join a cross-faculty cohort with dedicated events and training. There is no separate scholarship form — your department puts you forward automatically from your PhD admission application.

Why it is notable: You choose your own research project rather than applying to a pre-set studentship — rare for fully funded PhDs. The hidden mechanics: you MUST have a supervisor who has agreed to supervise you before you apply, supervisors can take only one scholar at a time (check the Unavailable Supervisors page), and applications are reviewed in three rounds — applying earlier means an earlier decision but the same chance.
Funding at a glance

What it covers

  • Full funding for tuition fees (home and overseas rates)
  • Stipend of £27,036 per year (2027–28 rate) for living costs, for the full 3.5 years
  • Consumables fund of £2,000 per year for the first 3 years of study
  • Programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI)
  • Full range of postgraduate support: tailored support for disabled and international students, Graduate School learning and development courses
  • Funded places start between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027

Eligibility criteria

Qualification Required
Graduationfor PhD Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for PhD programmes in all research areas at Imperial College London.
Who can applyNo restrictions on nationality — open to Imperial, UK, and worldwide candidates. Note: some departments may be unable to support international candidates; confirm with the department early.
ExperienceNo experience required — research potential is assessed through experience to date, curiosity, research plan, departmental statement, and interview.
Language CertificateCourse-dependent — meet the English-language requirements of your chosen Imperial department/PhD programme.
Other CertificatesTranscripts (assessed for past results, relative class position, awards, distinctions).
Age LimitNo Age Limit

Check your eligibility

Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.

1

Country checker

All nationalities eligible; no restrictions. Department-level limitation: some departments may be unable to support international candidates — check with the…

2

Last degree checker

Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.

3

Course checker

Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.

Complete all three checks

Your combined result will appear here.

Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.

Application essentials

Requirements

Review each requirement before you begin the application.

01

Qualification

First class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Master's (or due to receive); OR a distinction in a standalone Master's. International candidates: confirm grade equivalency with the admissions team.

02

Supervisor

Must have contacted a supervisor in an Imperial academic department who has agreed to supervise the project; supervisors limited to one scholar at a time.

03

Documents

Online admission application; 2-page personal statement/research document (p1 statement, p2 proposal); transcripts; detailed proposal if the department requires it.

04

Essays/answers

The 2-page statement (page 1: motivations + supporting information; page 2: research proposal, first person encouraged).

05

References

Two academic referees (not the proposed PhD supervisor).

06

Fee

No separate scholarship fee; standard Imperial admissions fees apply if charged.

Document checklist

01PhD admission application via Imperial's online admissions system
022-page personal statement/research document (page 1: personal statement; page 2: research proposal)
03Detailed research proposal (only if required by the department — upload in the research-proposal slot)
04Academic transcripts and degree evidence
05Two academic references (referees named in the form; not the proposed supervisor)
06English-language evidence (per departmental requirements)
Application fee
No separate scholarship fee. Any Imperial PhD application fee follows the College's standard admissions rules — not stat
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: UK Student visa.

Application Procedure

10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.

01

Identify your research area and make contact

with a supervisor in an Imperial academic department who AGREES to supervise your project. (Check the President's PhD Scholarships – Unavailable Supervisors page first; each supervisor may take only one scholar.)

→
02

Check with the relevant admissions team /

department that your grades meet the scheme's academic criteria (especially international qualifications).

→
03

Submit your application for admission to the

PhD programme through Imperial's online admissions system — there is NO separate scholarship application form.

↓
06

Use the 'research proposal' upload slot only

if your department requires a more detailed document.

←
05

Within 'Supporting documents'

personal statement = a 2-page document — page 1: motivation for applying to Imperial and the scholarship (+ supporting information); page 2: your research proposal (write in the first person; you may submit updated versi

←
04

In the funding section of the additional-questions tab

SELECT the President's PhD Scholarship option.

↓
07

Name TWO academic referees (e.g. personal tutor

thesis supervisor — NOT your proposed PhD supervisor); share Imperial's referee guidance with them.

→
08

Your department reviews the application and shortlists

candidates for the College Selection Panel, which makes the final decision.

→
09

PhD admission application via Imperial's online admissions

system

↓
10

2-page personal statement/research document (page 1

personal statement; page 2: research proposal)

Application milestones

1 Mar 2027
Application deadline
2 Nov 2026
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Imperial College London platform.
Apply Now

Frequently asked questions

Is there a separate application form for the scholarship?
No. You apply for PhD admission through Imperial's online admissions system and select the President's PhD Scholarship option in the funding section; your department puts you forward.
Who can apply?
High-performing undergraduate or Master's students worldwide — no nationality restrictions, though some departments may be unable to support international candidates. Current registered Imperial PhD students cannot apply.
What grades do I need?
A first class (or equivalent) in an undergraduate or integrated Master's, or a distinction in a standalone Master's. Departments can put forward special cases with extenuating circumstances.
How many scholarships are available?
50 per year, for 3.5 years of study.
What does it cover?
Full tuition fees, a £27,036/year stipend (2027–28 rate), a £2,000/year consumables fund for the first 3 years, and ECRI cohort events and training.
Can I study part-time?
Yes — the scheme applies to both full-time and part-time study.
What if I am not selected for the scholarship?
You will automatically be considered for a standard PhD place (without this funding).
When will I hear the decision?
Depends on the round: apply by 2 Nov 2026 → notified by 31 Jan 2027; by 11 Jan 2027 → by 15 Apr 2027; by 1 Mar 2027 → by 31 May 2027.

Need document or attestation help?

Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.

Open Opplore guides

Key contacts

Imperial College London

Published on official pages

student.funding@imperial.ac.uk

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