Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship 2027-28 in UK

Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship 2027-28 in the UK | Fully Funded

The Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship 2027-28 offers an opportunity for outstanding students from around the world to pursue a fully funded PhD at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom. The scholarship provides full tuition fee funding, a generous annual stipend, and research-related financial support for up to 3.5 years.

Imperial College London offers 50 President’s PhD Scholarships for eligible candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and strong research potential. The programme allows successful scholars to undertake a research project of their choice under the guidance of an approved Imperial supervisor.

Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship 2027-28 Overview

The President’s PhD Scholarship is designed for high-performing undergraduate and Master’s students who want to continue their academic careers through doctoral research at Imperial College London.

The scholarship is open to applicants from the UK and worldwide, with no nationality restrictions under the general scheme. However, individual departments may have limitations on supporting international candidates, so applicants should confirm the requirements of their chosen department before applying.

For the 2027-28 academic year, funded PhD places can begin between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027.

Scholarship Details	Information
Host Institution	Imperial College London
Country	United Kingdom
Degree Level	PhD
Number of Awards	50
Duration	3.5 years
Funding	Fully Funded
Annual Stipend	£27,036
Tuition Fees	Fully covered
Consumables Fund	£2,000 per year for first 3 years
Eligible Nationalities	Worldwide
Study Mode	Full-time and part-time
Application Method	Imperial PhD admission application
Main Deadlines	2 November 2026, 11 January 2027, 1 March 2027

Financial Benefits

The Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for the duration of the funded period. Each of the 50 selected scholars receives:

• Full funding for tuition fees

• £27,036 per year as a living-cost stipend for the 2027-28 rate

• £2,000 per year consumables funding for the first three years

• Access to bespoke opportunities and events delivered through Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute

• Access to wider postgraduate support services at Imperial College London

The scholarship funding is provided for 3.5 years of study.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is intended for applicants with outstanding academic records and strong potential for doctoral research.

Applicants should normally have achieved, or be expected to achieve, a first-class undergraduate degree or equivalent, including an integrated Master’s degree. Candidates with a standalone Master’s qualification can also be considered if they have achieved, or are expected to achieve, a distinction.

International applicants should confirm that their academic qualifications meet Imperial's equivalent standards. In exceptional cases, departments may consider candidates who do not meet the standard academic criteria if there are relevant circumstances and strong evidence of research potential.

The scholarship is available to applicants worldwide, but it is only for new PhD applications. Students who are already registered on a PhD at Imperial College London are not eligible for the President’s PhD Scholarship.

Research Areas and Departments

The President’s PhD Scholarship is available across a wide range of academic disciplines at Imperial College London. Participating areas include:

• Aeronautics

• Bioengineering

• Brain Sciences

• Business

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemistry

• Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Computing

• Design Engineering

• Earth Science and Engineering

• Electrical and Electronic Engineering

• Life Sciences

• Materials

• Mathematics

• Mechanical Engineering

• Physics

• Public Health

• Medicine and Clinical Research

• Infectious Disease

• Surgery and Cancer

Applicants should check their chosen department's PhD requirements and available research opportunities before applying.

How to Apply for the Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship?

There is no separate scholarship application form for the President’s PhD Scholarship. Applicants must first apply for admission to an eligible PhD programme at Imperial College London through the university's online admissions system.

Before applying, candidates must contact a potential academic supervisor at Imperial who has agreed to supervise their proposed research project. Supervisor availability is an important part of the process because supervisors can only support one President’s PhD Scholar at a time.

When completing the online application, candidates must select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the additional questions tab.

For 2027-28 entry, Imperial also requires a two-page personal statement. The first page should explain the applicant's motivation for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, while the second page should contain the research proposal. Applicants must also provide two academic referees who can support their PhD application.

Application Deadlines

Imperial College London will consider applications for the 2027-28 President’s PhD Scholarship at three points during the academic year.

Applicants who submit by 23:59 UK time on 2 November 2026 and are selected for the scholarship will be notified by 31 January 2027.

The second deadline is 23:59 UK time on 11 January 2027, with successful applicants notified by 15 April 2027.

The final deadline is 23:59 UK time on 1 March 2027, with scholarship decisions expected by 31 May 2027.

Applicants should begin the process early because contacting a suitable supervisor, preparing a research proposal and completing the PhD admission application can take considerable time.

Selection Process

The selection process is based primarily on academic excellence and research potential. Departments initially review eligible applications and create shortlists. These candidates are then considered by the College Selection Panel.

Academic performance may be assessed through previous results, transcripts, awards, distinctions, and relative academic standing. Research potential is assessed through previous research experience, research interests, the proposed research plan and the department's assessment.

Candidates who are not selected for the President’s PhD Scholarship may still be considered for a standard PhD place at Imperial.

Final Thoughts

The Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship 2027-28 provides fully funded doctoral study at one of the UK's leading research universities. With full tuition funding, a £27,036 annual stipend and additional research consumables support, the scholarship can provide substantial financial assistance to successful PhD candidates.

International applicants, including students from Pakistan, can apply under the general scheme because there is no nationality restriction. However, applicants should check their selected department's requirements and supervisor availability before submitting their PhD application. Apply Now