Imperial College London is one of the best research universities on the planet, and its President's PhD Scholarship is how it attracts the brightest doctoral minds from everywhere. Fifty scholarships a year, open to all nationalities, with full tuition, a £27,036 annual stipend, and research funding for three and a half years. The first application round closes on 2 November 2026 — and because there's no separate scholarship form, your PhD admission application IS your scholarship application. Here's everything you need to know.
In short: The Imperial President's PhD Scholarship 2027-28 offers 50 fully funded PhD places at Imperial College London for outstanding graduates of all nationalities — full tuition, a £27,036 yearly stipend, and £2,000 annual research funding. Apply through Imperial's PhD admissions portal by 2 November 2026 (Round 1), 11 January 2027 (Round 2), or 1 March 2027 (Round 3).
● Applications Open
Quick Overview
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Host Institution: Imperial College London
- Degree Level: PhD (doctoral research)
- Program Duration: 3.5 years
- Funding Type: Fully funded (tuition + stipend + research consumables)
- Deadline: 2 November 2026 (Round 1), 11 January 2027 (Round 2), 1 March 2027 (Round 3) — all at 23:59 UK time
Benefits of the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship 2027
This is one of the most generous PhD packages in the UK. Each of the 50 scholarships provides:
- Full tuition fee funding — Whether you're classified as a Home or Overseas student, your tuition fees are covered for the full 3.5 years. For international students, that alone can be worth over £100,000.
- £27,036 annual stipend — The 2027-28 rate, paid to assist with your living costs in London. That's among the highest PhD stipends in the UK.
- £2,000 consumables fund per year — For the first three years, you get an annual research budget for lab materials, equipment, fieldwork costs, and other research expenses.
- Bespoke professional development — A programme of tailored opportunities and events delivered by Imperial's Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI), plus access to the full range of postgraduate support at Imperial.
- Freedom to focus on research — With fees and living costs handled for 3.5 years, you can give your doctoral research your complete attention instead of juggling part-time work.
Eligibility Criteria for the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship 2027
The bar is high — this scholarship is for genuinely outstanding candidates. Here's what Imperial expects:
- First-class academic record — You should normally hold, or be expected to obtain, a first-class (or equivalent) undergraduate or integrated Master's degree. If your undergraduate degree isn't first-class, you can still qualify with a distinction in a standalone Master's qualification.
- Strong research potential — Beyond grades, the selection panel looks for evidence that you can do original, high-impact research. Departments may nominate exceptional candidates with documented extenuating circumstances behind their grades.
- All nationalities welcome — There are no nationality restrictions. Applicants from the UK and worldwide are eligible. (Do note that some departments may not be able to support international candidates for certain projects — check with your department early.)
- New PhD applications only — The scheme is only open to people applying for a new PhD programme. Currently registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible.
- A supervisor who has agreed to supervise you — Before applying, you must make contact with an academic supervisor at Imperial who agrees to supervise your proposed research. Check Imperial's list of unavailable supervisors first — a supervisor can only have one President's scholar at a time.
- English language requirement — You must meet your department's English language requirements for PhD admission (typically IELTS/TOEFL at the level your department specifies).
Imperial also explicitly welcomes applicants from non-traditional academic or career pathways where there's strong evidence of research potential.
How to Apply for the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship 2027
There is no separate scholarship application form — this is the part most people get wrong. Your PhD admission application is your scholarship application. Follow these steps:
1. Find a supervisor first — start now. Browse Imperial's doctoral programmes, identify academics working in your research area, and email them with your CV and a concise research idea. You need a supervisor who confirms they will supervise you. Check the unavailable supervisors list before you approach anyone. 2. Choose your PhD programme and start date. Your funded start date must fall between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027. Pick the programme that matches your research. 3. Apply through Imperial's online admissions system. Complete the PhD admission application on Imperial's official portal (apply.imperial.ac.uk). 4. Select the scholarship in the funding section. In the additional questions tab, open the funding section and tick the "President's PhD Scholarship" option. Skip this and you won't be considered — it's that simple. 5. Write your two-page personal statement. Page one covers your motivation, background, and why Imperial. Page two contains your research proposal. Write it in the first person and make both pages earn their space. 6. Add two academic referees. Enter their institutional email addresses — your proposed supervisor cannot be one of your referees. Warn your referees early so their references arrive on time. 7. Upload transcripts and department documents. Provide full transcripts of your university studies and anything else your department requires. 8. Submit before your chosen round's deadline. 2 November 2026, 11 January 2027, or 1 March 2027 at 23:59 UK time. Your department reviews your application and nominates eligible candidates to the College Selection Panel, which makes the final decision.
Required Documents
- Online PhD application submitted through Imperial's admissions portal
- Two-page personal statement — page 1: motivation and supporting information; page 2: research proposal
- Full academic transcripts from all previous university studies
- CV outlining your academic and research background
- Two academic referees (contact details with institutional email addresses; not your proposed supervisor)
- English language certificate meeting your department's requirement (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL)
- Any additional documents your specific department asks for — each department has slightly different extras, so read their page carefully
Imperial President's PhD Scholarship 2027 Deadline
Applications are considered in three rounds, and you should treat Round 1 as your real target — the strongest applicants apply early, and supervisor availability gets tighter later in the cycle:
- Round 1: Apply by 2 November 2026 at 23:59 UK time → decision by end of January 2027
- Round 2: Apply by 11 January 2027 at 23:59 UK time → decision by end of March/April 2027
- Round 3: Apply by 1 March 2027 at 23:59 UK time → decision by end of May 2027
Miss all three rounds and you'll have to wait for the next academic year's cycle. Also note the funded start window: your PhD must start between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027 to hold the funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship really fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition fees (Home or Overseas rate), pays a £27,036 annual stipend for living costs, and adds a £2,000 annual consumables fund for the first three years. The funding runs for 3.5 years, which is the standard length of an Imperial PhD.
Can international students apply?
Absolutely — there are no nationality restrictions, and the scholarship covers the full Overseas tuition rate. The one caveat: some departments may not be able to support international candidates for certain projects, so confirm with your target department before you invest weeks in the application.
Do I need a first-class degree?
Normally, yes — a first-class undergraduate or integrated Master's degree (or equivalent) is the standard. But there's a second route: if your undergraduate degree wasn't first-class, a distinction in a standalone Master's qualification can qualify you. Departments can also nominate candidates with extenuating circumstances behind their grades.
Is there a separate application form for the scholarship?
No, and this is the most important thing to get right. You apply for PhD admission through Imperial's online admissions system, and in the funding section of the application you select the President's PhD Scholarship option. Your department then nominates you to the College Selection Panel.
Do I need to find a supervisor before applying?
Yes. You must contact a supervisor in an Imperial academic department who agrees to supervise your proposed research before you apply. Start this process early — check Imperial's list of unavailable supervisors (supervisors already hosting a President's scholar can't take another) and email potential supervisors with your CV and research idea.
Can my supervisor be one of my referees?
No. You need two academic referees, and your proposed PhD supervisor cannot be one of them. Choose referees who know your academic work well and can speak to your research potential.
Which round should I apply in?
Round 1 (2 November 2026) if you can — you get the earliest decision and the widest choice of supervisors. But a strong Round 2 or Round 3 application beats a rushed Round 1 application every time. Don't submit before your proposal and personal statement are genuinely ready.
I'm already a PhD student at Imperial. Can I apply?
No. The scheme is only open to new PhD applications — currently registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible for consideration.
What does the personal statement need to include?
It's a two-page document. Page one is your personal statement: your motivation for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, plus supporting information about your background and achievements. Page two is your research proposal. Write in the first person and be specific — vague ambition doesn't win scholarships.
What happens if I don't get the President's Scholarship?
You're still in the running for your PhD place. Your application remains a normal PhD admission application, and your department may consider you for other funding — departmental scholarships, externally funded projects, or other centrally funded Imperial scholarships. Ask your department what's available.
Final Words
Fifty scholarships, full funding, one of the world's great research universities — the Imperial President's PhD Scholarship is as good as doctoral funding gets. But it rewards the prepared: supervisor contact, a sharp research proposal, and an early application. Round 1 closes 2 November 2026, so if Imperial is your target, your work starts today.
