The Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarships fund 50 PhD places for 3.5 years: full tuition fees, a stipend of £27,036 per year (2027-28 rate) and a £2,000 per year consumables fund for the first 3 years. There are no restrictions on nationality. For a decision by 15 April 2027, apply by 11 January 2027 at 23:59 UK time. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed Imperial's official scholarship page and set out the steps below.
What the Scholarship Covers
Each of the 50 scholarships provides this support during the 3.5 years of study:
🎓 Tuition: full funding for tuition fees
💷 Stipend: £27,036 per year (2027-28 rate) to help with living costs
🧪 Consumables fund: £2,000 per year for the first 3 years of study
🌟 Bespoke programme: opportunities and events delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI)
🤝 Wider support: access to the full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial, including tailored support for disabled and international students and the ECRI learning and development courses
The scholarship lets you carry out a research project of your own choosing with the support of an excellent supervisor, alongside cohort-building opportunities with other President's PhD Scholars. It applies to both full-time and part-time study.
Who the Scheme Is For
Imperial describes this as a competitive scheme with higher than usual eligibility requirements, aimed at high performing undergraduate or Master's students who want to do a PhD at a world-class research institution. Applications are accepted from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide, and the organiser states there are no restrictions on nationality, although some departments may be unable to support international candidates. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Academic Requirements
🥇 Undergraduate or integrated Master's: you must have, or be due to receive, a first class degree or equivalent
🎓 Standalone Master's route: if you did not achieve a first, you must have (or be able to show evidence of high performance that will lead to) a distinction in a standalone Master's qualification
📌 Single degree holders: candidates with only a single undergraduate degree or an integrated Master's must still hold, or be due to receive, a first class or equivalent
🌍 International candidates: check with the relevant Admissions team that your grades meet the requirements of the scheme
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Special Case and Alternate Pathways
🧩 Department Special Case: a department may select an applicant who has not met the advertised criteria as a special case if there are extenuating circumstances around why the grades were not acquired and the candidate is otherwise of the required calibre, for example high marks in research project modules or evidence of high performance on research placements. Contact your proposed department directly before applying if you want to be considered this way
🛤️ Alternate Pathways: candidates with non-traditional academic and/or career pathways who show strong research potential are encouraged to apply
Other Conditions
🆕 New applications only: the scheme is open only to new PhD applications; current registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible
📜 Terms: Imperial publishes scholarship terms and conditions that you should read before applying
👩🏫 Supervisor first: you must have contacted a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial who has agreed to supervise your research project. Supervisors can supervise only one scholar at any time, and Imperial keeps an "Unavailable Supervisors" page that you should check
How to Apply
There is no separate scholarship application form. You apply for admission to study at Imperial through the online admissions system, and your department puts you forward for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential. You must also meet any additional requirements stated by your department of choice.
📅 Start dates: for the 2027-28 academic year, the earliest start date for funded places is 1 August 2027 and the latest is 1 November 2027
📝 Personal statement: a 2-page document under "Supporting documents". The first page is a personal statement covering your motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship plus any other supporting information; the second page is your research proposal. You may submit updated versions if your department shortlists you, and you are encouraged to write in the first person
📑 Research proposal option: use the research proposal option under "Supporting documents" for a more detailed document if your department requires it
👥 Two academic referees: people who can give an academic reference, such as your personal tutor or thesis supervisor. Do not list your proposed PhD supervisor. Imperial encourages you to share its guidance with them and recommends 'they/them' language rather than gendered pronouns
✅ Select the scheme: to be considered, you must choose the President's PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the additional questions tab of the online application form
Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter can help you plan the personal statement page. Browse more funding in the Scholarships category on Youth Works Hub.
How Applications Are Reviewed
50 places are available, and review has two stages:
🏫 Department stage: candidates who meet or are predicted to meet the eligibility criteria are reviewed by the department they applied to, and departments select a shortlist for the College Selection Panel
🏛️ College Selection Panel: the final decision is made by the Vice-Provost (Research), the Director of the Graduate School and the Faculty Vice-Deans for Research
📊 Faculty allocation: some offers are made at Faculty level, where candidates on departmental shortlists are scored and ranked, and Faculty Vice-Deans present the most promising candidates with justification to the Panel
🛤️ Strategic allocation: the Panel makes additional offers from a ring-fenced allocation for Alternate Pathways candidates
Assessment Criteria
🏅 Academic excellence: shown by past academic results, transcripts, relative class position, awards and distinctions
🔭 Research potential: shown by your research experience to date, your interest in discovery, the research plan and its potential contribution as described in your research proposal, and the departmental statement, which also reflects on performance at interview
Successful candidates receive written confirmation of their scholarship, and any offer of a PhD place is conditional on receiving the predicted qualifications. Applicants who are not selected for the scholarship are automatically considered for a standard PhD.
Application Rounds and Notification Dates
Applications are considered at three points in the academic year. All times are 23:59 UK time:
📅 2 November 2026: scholars selected are notified by 31 January 2027
📅 11 January 2027: scholars selected are notified by 15 April 2027
📅 1 March 2027: scholars selected are notified by 31 May 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship pay?
It covers full tuition fees for 3.5 years, a stipend of £27,036 per year (2027-28 rate) and a consumables fund of £2,000 per year for the first 3 years.
How many scholarships are available?
50 scholarship places are available under the scheme.
Can international students apply?
Yes. There are no restrictions on nationality, although some departments may be unable to support international candidates. International candidates should check with the relevant Admissions team that their grades meet the requirements.
Do I need a first class degree?
You need a first class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Master's degree, or a distinction in a standalone Master's qualification. A department can also put forward a special case where there are extenuating circumstances.
Is there a separate scholarship application form?
No. You apply for a PhD through Imperial's online admissions system and select the President's PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the additional questions tab.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
Yes. You must have contacted a supervisor at Imperial who has agreed to supervise your research project.
Can current Imperial PhD students apply?
No. The scheme is open only to new PhD applications.
What if I am not selected for the scholarship?
Applicants not selected are automatically considered for a standard PhD.
Deadline
⏳ 11 January 2027
Links
🌐 President's PhD Scholarships page: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/fees-and-funding/scholarships/presidents-phd-scholarships/
📝 Doctoral application process: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/postgraduate-doctoral/application-process/
📧 Scholarship questions: student.funding@imperial.ac.uk
