Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships: 50 Fully Funded PhD Places, Any Nationality, Any Discipline

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Imperial College London is one of the world’s top 10 universities. Its President’s PhD Scholarships offer 50 fully funded PhD places — open to any nationality, in any discipline — for candidates who want to pursue a research project of their own choosing with the support of an excellent Imperial supervisor.

Each scholarship provides full tuition fees plus a £26,500 annual stipend for 3.5 years, a £2,000 annual consumables fund for the first 3 years, and access to a bespoke programme of opportunities through Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute.

Applications are considered at three points in the academic year. The next deadline for 2026/27 consideration has passed, but prepare now for the 2027/28 cycle, which will follow the same structure.

What the Scholarship Covers

At £26,500 per year in London — where living costs are high, the stipend requires careful budgeting. However, with full tuition separately covered and the ECRI programme providing professional development, the scholarship represents a genuinely comprehensive PhD funding package at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility

No nationality restriction: Applications are welcome from anywhere in the world. Some departments may be unable to support international candidates — check with your intended department before applying.

Academic requirement: Either of the following:

• A First Class (or equivalent) in an undergraduate or integrated Master’s degree, OR
• A Distinction in a standalone Master’s qualification (for candidates who did not achieve First Class at undergraduate level)

Special case pathway: Applicants who have not met the advertised grade requirements but have extenuating circumstances may be selected as a special case by their department — contact the department directly before applying.

Alternate Pathways: Candidates with non-traditional academic or career pathways who show strong research potential are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Must be a new PhD applicant: Current registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible.

The Supervisor Requirement: Do This First

Before you do anything else, you must make contact with a supervisor at Imperial College London who has agreed to supervise your proposed research project. This is a prerequisite for applying.

Note: supervisors are limited to supervising one President’s Scholar at any one time. Check the “Unavailable Supervisors” list on the Imperial scholarship page before making contact.

How to Apply

There is no separate scholarship application form. You apply through Imperial’s standard online admissions system — and your department puts you forward for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential.

Personal statement requirements (within the admissions application):

Your personal statement must be a 2-page document:

• Page 1: Personal statement — motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, and any supporting information not included elsewhere
• Page 2: Research proposal — your proposed research project

Also required:

• Two academic references (do not include your proposed PhD supervisor as a referee)
• To be considered for the scholarship: select this option in the funding section of the additional questions tab

Three Application Deadlines Per Year

For the current 2026/27 cycle:

For the 2027/28 cycle, watch the Imperial scholarship pages from approximately October 2026 for the new deadlines.

For more information and application: 

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