Applications are now open for the Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship for the academic year 2025. This scholarship offers an outstanding opportunity for potential PhD students who desire to study and undertake research at a world-class research institution.

The President’s PhD Scholarships provides up to 50 research students with great potential the opportunity to work within their chosen research area with the support of an excellent supervisor. So, if you are a high-performing undergraduate or master’s student, you could secure this scholarship and shine in your postgraduate studies.

Key Details

• Application Deadline:
  • 3 November 2025 (Results by 31 January 2026)
  • 12 January 2026 (Results by 31 March 2026)
  • 2  March 2026 (Results by May 31, 2026)
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Organizer/Host Institution: Imperial College London
• Eligible Countries: All nationalities
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: High-achieving undergraduate and Master’s students
• Fields: All research disciplines at Imperial College London
• Study Level: PhD
• Degree Required: First-class undergraduate or distinction in a Master’s degree
• Number of Opportunities: 50 scholarships
• Duration: 3.5 years
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: United Kingdom

 Benefits

The President’s PhD Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:

• Full tuition fee coverage for 3.5 years
• Annual stipend of £26500(2026/27 rate) to assist with living costs
• A consumables fund of £2,000 per year for the first 3 years for research expenses
• Access to exclusive academic and networking events organized by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI)
• Additional support for postgraduate students, including resources for international and disabled students

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the President’s PhD Scholarships, applicants must:

• Be a high-achieving undergraduate or Master’s student with a strong academic record
• Hold or expect to receive a first-class undergraduate degree or an equivalent qualification
• OR hold (or expect to receive) a distinction in a standalone Master’s program
• Have excellent research potential and a well-defined research proposal
• Be a new PhD applicant
• Current Imperial PhD students are not eligible
• Have secured a supervisor at Imperial College London who agrees to support their application
• The scholarship is open to applicants worldwide, with no nationality restrictions.
• Imperial College London also welcomes applications from non-traditional academic backgrounds through its Alternative Pathways program.

To read about the university’s English language requirements, go to this link.

All applicants to Imperial College London—whether home, EU, or international—must demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency for their chosen course. The College sets two attainment levels, Standard and Higher, and the level required varies by programme as specified on individual course pages. Applicants can satisfy this requirement in one of three ways: by achieving the minimum score in one of the accepted English language tests or qualifications (such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or others), by being exempt based on academic qualifications from eligible English-speaking countries, or by successfully completing the Imperial College London Pre-Sessional English Programme (for postgraduate students only). The Business School, however, does not recognise pre-sessional courses for this purpose.

For those who qualify for an English language exemption, the requirement may be waived if the applicant has completed a degree equivalent to a UK qualification in a country where English is the primary medium of instruction. Additionally, doctoral candidates must meet the Doctoral Academic Communication Requirement (DACR) after admission, which ensures advanced academic communication skills. Applicants requiring a student visa must also demonstrate English proficiency through one of the approved tests, with scores valid within two years of the intended start date, and these will be confirmed in the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for visa purposes. Imperial further offers a three-week Pre-sessional and Orientation course for students who wish to strengthen their academic communication skills before starting their studies.

How to apply?

To apply for the Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships, candidates must first secure agreement from a potential academic supervisor at Imperial who is willing to oversee their research project, noting that each supervisor may only supervise one scholar at a time. Once a supervisor is confirmed, applicants must submit an online application for admission to Imperial through the College’s admissions system — there is no separate scholarship application form. During the application, candidates should select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the “funding” section of the additional questions tab. Within the “Supporting documents” section, applicants must upload a two-page personal statement: the first page outlining motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, and the second presenting a concise research proposal (which may be updated later if shortlisted). Two academic referees, excluding the proposed PhD supervisor, must be provided. Applicants should adhere to departmental requirements, including any requests for a more detailed research proposal. For the 2026–27 academic year, eligible funded start dates range from 1 August to 1 November 2026. The selection process involves two stages: first, departmental shortlisting based on academic excellence and research potential; then, review by the College Selection Panel, which makes final offers based on Faculty recommendations and strategic allocations. Applicants are assessed on academic excellence (grades, awards, distinctions) and research potential (experience, originality, proposal quality, and interview performance). Successful candidates receive written confirmation of the scholarship, while others are automatically considered for a standard PhD position.

Applicants should submit their application for admission to Imperial online. The chosen department will then consider the application for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential.

Apply Now

Required Documents

Applicants must prepare and submit the following documents:

• Personal Statement (2 pages):
  • Page 1: Motivation for applying, research interests, and supporting details
  • Page 2: Detailed research proposal
• Academic Transcripts (undergraduate and Master’s, if applicable)
• Two Academic References (excluding the proposed PhD supervisor)
• Proof of Academic Excellence (e.g., class ranking, awards, or distinctions)
• Research Proposal

Selection Process and Criteria

The selection process consists of two stages:

Departmental Review:

• • Departments evaluate applications and shortlist the most promising candidates
  • Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to the College Selection Panel

College Selection Panel Review:

• • Candidates are assessed based on academic excellence and research potential
  • The Faculty allocation stage ranks top candidates and offers scholarships
  • Additional scholarships may be awarded based on widening participation goals

Assessment Criteria

Assessment criteria are as follows:

• Academic Excellence (grades, class ranking, distinctions)
• Research Potential (research experience, research proposal quality, innovation)
• Departmental Support (statement from the department and performance in interviews)

Successful candidates will receive written confirmation of their scholarship.

For more information, please visit the Imperial College website.

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