Program Overview
- 50 fully funded PhD scholarships at Imperial College London
- Full tuition coverage for 3.5 years
- Annual stipend of £26,500 (2026-27 rate)
- Annual consumables fund of £2,000 for first 3 years
- Bespoke opportunities through Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI)
- Students undertake research project of their choosing with excellent supervision
- Open to full-time and part-time study
Eligibility Requirements
- First class or equivalent in undergraduate/integrated Masters degree; OR
- Distinction in standalone Masters (if undergraduate degree below first class)
- Open to all nationalities (UK, international, and Imperial students)
- Must have agreed supervisor from Imperial academic department
- New PhD applicants only (current Imperial PhD students ineligible)
- Supervisors limited to one President's PhD Scholar at a time
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: November 3, 2025 → notification by January 31, 2026
- Round 2: January 12, 2026 → notification by March 31, 2026
- Round 3: March 2, 2026 → notification by May 31, 2026
Research Areas
- All Disciplines
Application Requirements
- Apply through Imperial's online admissions system
- Application materials:
- 2-page personal statement:
- Page 1: Motivations for applying to Imperial and scholarship
- Page 2: Research proposal (may be updated after submission if shortlisted)
- Detailed research proposal (if required by department)
- Two academic references (not including proposed PhD supervisor)
- Academic transcripts
- 2-page personal statement:
- Must select President's PhD Scholarship option in funding section
Notes
- Start dates: August 1 - November 1, 2026
- Selection process: Two-stage review (Departmental shortlist → College Selection Panel)
- Assessment criteria: Academic excellence and research potential
- Special case pathway: Applicants with extenuating circumstances may be considered by department even if not meeting standard eligibility
- Alternate pathways: Non-traditional academic/career pathways strongly encouraged
- Additional support: Tailored support for disabled and international students available
- Unsuccessful scholarship applicants automatically considered for standard PhD admission
- Referees encouraged to use they/them language in references