Imperial College London President’s PhD Scholarships

Imperial College London’s President’s PhD Scholarships are described as providing full funding for tuition fees and a generous stipend for a PhD place at Imperial. The scholarships are intended to allow students to undertake a research project of their choosing with support from a supervisor, alongside cohort-building opportunities with other President’s PhD Scholars.

The scheme accepts applications from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK, and worldwide, with no restrictions on nationality. It applies to both full-time and part-time study. The scholarships are described as offering cohort-building opportunities through support delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI).

Imperial states there are 50 scholarship places. Applications are reviewed in a two-stage process: eligible candidates are reviewed by the department, which selects a shortlist to present to the College Selection Panel. The final decision is made by the College Selection Panel, with an additional stage for Alternate Pathways candidates.

Each scholarship provides support during the PhD place lasting 3.5. The package includes full tuition fees, a stipend and a consumables fund during the first 3 of the study period, plus programme opportunities and events delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI). The scheme includes access to postgraduate support and learning and development courses available at Imperial.

• Applicants must be high-performing undergraduate or Master’s students with a strong desire to undertake a PhD programme at Imperial College London.
• No restrictions on nationality.
• Applications are accepted from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK, and worldwide.
• The scholarship applies to both full-time and part-time study.
• Academic criteria: candidates must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree.
• If a first class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree has not been achieved, candidates must be in receipt of, or where this has yet to be received be able to provide evidence of, a distinction in a standalone Master’s qualification.
• Candidates with only a single undergraduate degree or integrated Master’s must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first class or equivalent.
• International candidates should check with the relevant Admissions team that their grades meet the requirements of the scheme.
• Department Special Case: applicants that have not met the advertised eligibility criteria may be selected by their department as a special case if there are extenuating circumstances and they are otherwise of the calibre required (e.g. high marks in research project modules; evidence of high performance on research placements). Candidates who want to identify themselves for this should contact their proposed department directly before applying.
• Alternate Pathways: candidates with non-traditional academic and/or career pathways who show strong research potential are encouraged to apply.
• Only new PhD applications are eligible; current registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible.
• Some departments may be unable to support international candidates.
• Before applying, you must have made contact with a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial who has agreed to supervise your research project.
• Supervisors are limited to supervise one scholar at any time.

• Full funding for tuition fees.
• Stipend of £27,036 per annum to assist with living costs.
• Consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first 3 of the study period.
• A programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI).
• Access to the full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial, including tailored support for disabled and international students, and wider Early Career Researcher Institute Learning and development courses.

1. Before applying, make contact with a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial College London and ensure the supervisor has agreed to supervise your research project.
2. Submit your application for admission to study at Imperial through the online admissions system.
3. Your department will put you forward for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential.
4. Follow scholarship-specific instructions in addition to any additional application requirements stated by your department of choice.
5. Select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the additional questions tab within the online application form.
6. Upload the required supporting documents in the admissions system (including your personal statement and, where applicable, your research proposal option under supporting documents).
7. When prompted, enter the names of two academic referees who can provide an academic reference; do not include your proposed PhD supervisor.
8. Submit by the relevant application deadline time in the “When you’ll hear” section, since scholarship applications are considered at three points throughout the academic year.

• A personal statement structured as a 2-page document: first page with personal statement (motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, and other supporting information not included elsewhere on the form); second page with a research proposal.
• A research proposal option under “Supporting documents” should be used to provide a more detailed document if required by the department.
• Names of two academic referees who can provide an academic reference in support of the application (not the proposed PhD supervisor).