Description
The President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London are designed to attract the most talented students from across the globe. Through this competitive award, the opportunity to undertake a PhD programme at a world-class institution is provided, alongside generous financial support and tailored academic development. High-performing undergraduate or Master’s students with outstanding academic records are considered. Successful candidates are placed under the guidance of a leading Imperial supervisor and are offered cohort-building opportunities with fellow President’s PhD Scholars. Imperial College London is consistently ranked among the world’s top institutions for research and innovation. Through the President’s PhD Scholarship, global talent is nurtured, diverse pathways are embraced, and future research leaders are created.
A total of 50 fully funded scholarships are awarded annually.
What the Scholarship Covers
Each scholarship ensures:
- Full funding for tuition fees
- Annual stipend of £26,500 (2026–27 rate) for living costs
- A consumables fund of £2,000 per year for the first three years
- Bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI)
- Access to the full range of postgraduate support services at Imperial
The funding duration is set at 3.5 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are open worldwide with no nationality restrictions. Both full-time and part-time study options are accepted. Diversity and non-traditional academic pathways are strongly encouraged.
Academic requirements include:
- A first-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent); OR
- A distinction at Master’s level, if the undergraduate degree was not first-class
Special consideration may be given by departments in cases of exceptional research potential despite not meeting the advertised grade criteria.
Current registered PhD students at Imperial are not eligible.
How to Apply
Applications are handled through Imperial’s online admissions system. No separate scholarship form is required.
Step-by-step process:
1. Identify a Supervisor
- Contact an Imperial academic supervisor who agrees to support your research project.
- Note: A supervisor may only supervise one President’s PhD Scholar at a time.
2. Submit PhD Application
- Apply online for admission to a PhD programme at Imperial College London.
- Indicate interest in the President’s PhD Scholarship within the funding section.
3. Prepare Supporting Documents
- Two-page personal statement is mandatory: #Page 1: Motivation for applying to Imperial and the scholarship #Page 2: Research proposal
- Two academic referees must be listed (not including the proposed supervisor).
4. Departmental Review
- Eligible applications are reviewed by the department.
- Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to the College Selection Panel.
5. Final Selection
- Candidates are assessed based on academic excellence and research potential.
- The College Selection Panel makes the final award decisions.
Deadlines and Notification
Applications will be considered in three rounds:
- 3 November 2025 - Results by 31 January 2026
- 12 January 2026 - Results by 31 March 2026
- 2 March 2026 - Results by 31 May 2026
The funded start dates will be between 1 August 2026 and 1 November 2026.
Key Selection Criteria
Applicants are assessed on:
1. Academic Excellence
- Degree results, transcripts, class position, awards, distinctions
2. Research Potential
- Research experience, proposal strength, and discovery interest
- Departmental feedback and interview performance
Official Page & Application: President’s PhD Scholarships – Imperial College London & My Imperial application
Website URL
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-doctoral/grants-scholarships/presidents-phd/