Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships 2026 – Fully Funded PhD in the UK

Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships 2026: Overview

The President’s PhD Scholarship is a prestigious award offered to outstanding undergraduate or Master’s graduates who wish to pursue a fully-funded 3.5-year PhD at Imperial College London. The scholarship supports world-class research training, provides full financial coverage, and fosters cohort-building opportunities among scholars.

Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships 2026: Eligibility

• Nationality: Open worldwide – no restrictions.

• Academic requirements:

  • Must have, or be on track to achieve, a first-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent).

  • OR must hold a distinction in a standalone Master’s degree (if undergraduate was not first-class).

  • Integrated Master’s candidates must still meet the first-class requirement.

  • International applicants should confirm equivalency of grades with the admissions team.

• Special cases:

  • Applicants with extenuating circumstances and strong research performance may be considered by departments.

• Alternate pathways: Candidates with non-traditional academic/career routes showing strong research potential are encouraged to apply.

• Other rules:

  • Only new PhD applicants are eligible (current Imperial PhD students cannot apply).

  • Applicants must secure agreement from a supervisor at Imperial before applying.

  • Supervisors may supervise only one scholar at a time.

Benefits

Each of the 50 scholarships provides:

• Full tuition fee coverage

• Annual stipend: £26,500 (2026–27 rate)

• Consumables fund: £2,000 per year (for first 3 years)

• Duration: 3.5 years of full support

• Training & development: Access to bespoke opportunities/events via the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) and all postgraduate support services at Imperial

Fellowship/Program Components

• Conduct an independent PhD research project with the support of an Imperial supervisor

• Participate in cohort-building activities with fellow President’s PhD Scholars

• Gain access to Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute development programs

• Networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities

Application Requirements

• Supervisor approval: Must contact and secure a willing supervisor at Imperial.

• Application documents:

  • Online PhD application form (via Imperial’s system)

  • Personal statement (2 pages):

    • Page 1: Motivation for applying, why Imperial, relevant background

    • Page 2: Research proposal (concise outline of planned project)

  • Research proposal (extended version) if required by the department

  • Two academic references (not from proposed supervisor; referees should ideally use gender-neutral language)

• Must select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the application form.

Selection Criteria

• Academic excellence (first-class/Distinction-level performance)

• Demonstrated research potential (through projects, placements, publications, etc.)

• Quality of research proposal and motivation statement

• Supervisor availability and departmental nomination

Application Process

1. Identify and contact a supervisor at Imperial College London.

2. Obtain agreement from the supervisor to support your application.

3. Prepare required documents (2-page statement, references, transcripts).

4. Submit application through Imperial’s online admissions system, ensuring:

   • Selection of the President’s PhD Scholarship under funding.

   • All supporting documents are attached.

5. Departments nominate top candidates.

6. The central selection panel reviews nominations.

7. Successful candidates receive formal notification via email.

Application timelines:

• Scholarships are considered in three rounds across the academic year.

• Earliest start date: 1 August 2026

• Latest start date: 1 November 2026

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships 2026