President’s PhD Scholarship in the United Kingdom 2026/2027 – Fully Funded PhD at Imperial College London

Are you a high-achieving undergraduate or Master’s graduate looking for a fully funded PhD scholarship in the UK? The President’s PhD Scholarship 2026/2027 at Imperial College London offers outstanding students the opportunity to undertake a 3.5-year fully funded PhD at one of the world's leading research universities.

The Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship is open to applicants of all nationalities and allows successful scholars to pursue a research project of their choice under the guidance of an excellent academic supervisor. Scholars also benefit from professional development, networking, and cohort-building opportunities with other President’s PhD Scholars.

President’s PhD Scholarship 2026/2027 – Key Details

• Scholarship Name: President’s PhD Scholarship
• Degree Level: PhD
• Host Institution: Imperial College London
• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Study Duration: 3.5 years
• Funding: Fully funded
• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Tuition Fees: Fully covered
• Annual Stipend: £27,036 per year for 2027–28
• Research Funding: £2,000 per year for the first three years
• Application Fee: None
• Earliest Start Date: 1 August 2027
• Latest Start Date: 1 November 2027
• Application Deadlines: 2 November 2026, 11 January 2027, and 1 March 2027

What Does the President’s PhD Scholarship Offer?

The Imperial College London PhD scholarship provides comprehensive financial and academic support, including:

• Full tuition fee coverage for the duration of the PhD programme.
• A £27,036 annual stipend for the 2027–28 academic year to help cover living expenses.
• £2,000 per year for the first three years toward research-related expenses.
• Access to events, training, and professional development opportunities through the Early Career Researcher Institute.
• Opportunities to connect and collaborate with other President’s PhD Scholars.
• Access to Imperial College London’s postgraduate support services, including dedicated support for international and disabled students.
• The opportunity to undertake a PhD research project of your choice with the support of an Imperial academic supervisor.

President’s PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the fully funded PhD scholarship in the UK, applicants generally need to meet the following requirements:

• Hold, or expect to obtain, a first-class undergraduate degree or equivalent.
• Candidates who do not meet this undergraduate requirement may still be eligible if they hold, or expect to obtain, a distinction in a standalone Master’s degree.
• Have already contacted an Imperial College London academic supervisor who has agreed to support the proposed research project.
• Be a new PhD applicant rather than an existing registered PhD student at Imperial College London.
• Applicants from non-traditional academic or career backgrounds may also be considered if they demonstrate strong research potential.
• Applicants who narrowly missed the standard academic requirements because of genuine extenuating circumstances may still be considered as special cases if supported by their department.

How Are Candidates Assessed?

Applicants for the President’s PhD Scholarship at Imperial College London are assessed primarily on academic excellence and research potential.

Academic Excellence

The assessment may consider:

• Previous academic achievements
• Academic transcripts
• Relative class position
• Academic awards and distinctions

Research Potential

Applicants may also be assessed based on:

• Previous research experience
• Demonstrated interest in research and discovery
• Quality and potential contribution of the proposed research project
• Research proposal
• Departmental statement and interview performance

President’s PhD Scholarship Application Deadlines 2026/2027

There are three application deadlines for the 2027–28 academic year:

Applicants should select the deadline according to when they wish to receive a scholarship decision.

President’s PhD Scholarship Selection Process

There are 50 scholarship places available. The selection process involves two main stages.

1. Departmental Review

Eligible applicants are first reviewed by their chosen academic department. The department identifies and shortlists strong candidates for consideration by the College Selection Panel.

2. College Selection Panel

Shortlisted candidates are considered by the College Selection Panel, which includes senior Imperial representatives such as the Vice-Provost (Research), Director of the Graduate School, and Faculty Vice-Deans for Research.

The process includes a faculty allocation stage for shortlisted candidates, followed by additional consideration for candidates applying through eligible Alternate Pathways.

Important Things to Do Before Applying

Before submitting your application for the Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship, you should:

• Identify a suitable PhD research area and department.
• Contact an appropriate Imperial College London PhD supervisor.
• Obtain confirmation that the supervisor is willing to support your proposed research project.
• Check whether your preferred supervisor is available to support a President’s PhD Scholar, as each supervisor can support only one scholar at a time.
• Prepare your academic and research documents well in advance of the application deadline.

Admissions Requirements for 2027–28

For the 2027–28 academic year, successful applicants can begin their PhD between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027.

Under the supporting documents section of the application, candidates should submit a two-page personal statement structured as follows:

Page 1 – Personal Statement

Explain:

• Why you want to study at Imperial College London
• Why you are applying for the President’s PhD Scholarship
• Your academic and professional background
• Other relevant achievements, experience, or information

Page 2 – Research Proposal

Present your proposed PhD research project in the first person. Shortlisted candidates may subsequently be asked to update their research proposal.

If your selected department requires a more detailed research proposal, you should submit it separately using the appropriate research proposal option.

Academic References

Applicants must provide the names of two academic referees, such as:

• A personal tutor
• Thesis supervisor
• Another appropriate academic referee

Your proposed PhD supervisor cannot be used as a referee.

How to Apply for the President’s PhD Scholarship

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

To apply:

1. Identify your preferred PhD department and research area.
2. Contact a suitable Imperial academic supervisor and obtain their agreement to support your project.
3. Prepare your two-page personal statement and research proposal.
4. Arrange two academic referees.
5. Complete the Imperial College London PhD admission application.
6. Select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the additional questions tab.
7. Submit your application before one of the three applicable deadlines.

Why Consider the Imperial President’s PhD Scholarship?

The President’s PhD Scholarship 2026/2027 provides an opportunity for high-performing students to pursue doctoral research in the United Kingdom with full financial support. In addition to tuition fee coverage and an annual stipend, successful scholars receive research funding and access to Imperial's academic and professional development resources.

If you are searching for fully funded PhD scholarships in the UK, PhD scholarships for international students, Imperial College London scholarships, or fully funded doctoral scholarships in the United Kingdom, this opportunity may be relevant to your academic and research plans.

Official scholarship information: Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarship

Applicants should carefully review the official Imperial College London scholarship and admissions requirements before applying, as eligibility, deadlines, funding rates, and application procedures may be subject to change.