The 2026 Imperial College President's PhD Scholarship is a fully financed grant for the best students from all over the world This grant pays for all of the costs of a PhD program at Imperial College London for 3.5 years. The fellowship pays for all of the student's tuition and gives them a large stipend for living expenses This makes it one of the best PhD funding packages in the UK 

Imperial College London is giving out this renowned fellowship to get the best PhD students from around the world who have shown outstanding academic performance and research potential. The President's PhD Scholarship program is meant to help students who have a lot of potential to be leaders in research and new ideas The best students from around the world can join an exclusive research community at one of the top ten institutions in the world, They will have access to cutting-edge facilities and world-famous academic supervisors

Imperial College London is one of the best colleges in the world for research, engineering, medicine, and business. The college is well-known for its cutting-edge research and innovation in fields like climate science, engineering solutions, medical research, and artificial intelligence. The President's PhD Scholarship shows that Imperial is dedicated to helping the next generation of research leaders solve global problems with new scientific and technology breakthroughs 

What makes the Imperial College President's PhD Scholarship the best choice? It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pursue cutting-edge research and be part of a lively, multinational research community in the heart of London. This program gives scholars not only full financial assistance, but also access to great research facilities, chances to work with people from different fields, and professional development programs that are meant to help them become the next generation of research leaders in both academia and industry

Summary of the Scholarship

• Level of Study: PhD (Doctoral)
• Institution(s): Imperial College London
• Study in: United Kingdom (London)
• Courses Offered: All PhD programs across all faculties and departmentsClick here to check courses 
• Program Period: 3.5 years (42 months)
• Number of Awards: Up to 50 scholarships per year 15
• Due dates:
  • Round 1: 3 November 2025 (for a start in October 2026)
  • Round 2: 12 January 2026 (for a start in October 2026)
  • Round 3: 2 March 2026 (limited availability)

What the scholarship covers

The PhD Scholarship from the President of Imperial College gives students a full range of incentives, including

• Full Tuition Fees: Covers tuition costs at home or abroad
• Stipend: £26,500 a year (2026-27 rate) for living costs 15
• Consumables Fund: £2,000 a year for research expenses (first 3 years)
• Programme Costs: Helps with conferences, workshops, and training
• Personal Development: Gives you access to leadership and skills training
• Mentorship: Gives you advice from senior academic staff
• Cohort Building: Getting to know other President's Scholars
• Travel Grant: Support for research-related travel
• Writing Fund: Help with the costs of writing a thesis

APPLY NOW 

Requirements to Get the President's PhD Scholarship

To be able to apply for the Imperial College President's PhD SZX ZXcholarship, applicants must complete the following requirements

• Languages Needed: English
• Countries that can apply: All World Countries
• Applicants must have excellent academic and research potential
• Must have or expect to get a first-class UK Master's degree or an equivalent degree from another country Click here to check eligibility
• Must be applying for a full-time PhD program at Imperial College London
• Current Imperial PhD students who have not been studying for more than 12 months can apply They must have already talked to a potential supervisor at Imperial
• International students must meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5-7.0 or equivalent)
• Cannot have more than one full-cost scholarship at a time
• Must be available to start PhD studies in October 2026

Research Areas and Departments

1. School of Engineering
   • Aeronautics
   • Bioengineering
   • Chemical Engineering
   • Civil and Environmental Engineering
   • Computing
   • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
   • Materials
   • Mechanical Engineering
2. School of Medicine
   • Brain Sciences
   • Immunology and Inflammation
   • Infectious Disease
   • Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction
   • Surgery and Cancer
   • School of Public Health and National Heart and Lung Institute
3. Faculty of Natural Sciences
   • Chemistry
   • Math
   • Physics
   • Life Sciences
   • Centre for Environmental Policy
4. Imperial College Business School
   • Finance
   • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
   • Management
   • Analytics and Operations

How to Get the President's PhD Scholarship?

To apply for the Imperial College President's PhD Scholarship, please complete these steps

1. Step 1: Find a research area and a supervisor
   • Look into Imperial's research groups and academic divisions
   • Find possible supervisors who share your research interests
   • Email your CV and research proposal draft to your supervisors
   • Get a supervisor to agree to back your application

2. Step 2: Prepare Application Documents

   For your application, you will need to collect the following papers:

   • An updated academic CV
   • A personal statement (no more than 1,000 words)
   • A research proposal (no more than 2,000 words)
   • Academic transcripts and degree certificates
   • Two letters of recommendation from academics
   • Test scores for English (if needed)
   • Proof that the boss agrees
3. Step 3: Send in your PhD application
   • Complete the online application through Imperial College PhD Application Portal
   • Select "President's PhD Scholarship" as your funding source
   • Upload all the necessary papers
   • Pay the application fee, which is £80 for applications made online
   • Send in your application before the deadline for the scholarship you want
4. Step 4: Automatic Consideration for Scholarships
   • No need to fill out a separate scholarship application
   • All eligible PhD applicants are immediately considered
   • Make sure your application shows that you have outstanding academic merit
5. Step 5: The process of reviewing applications
   • Review by the department for academic suitability
   • Evaluation by the college-wide scholarship committee
   • Shortlisting based on good grades and the ability to do research
   • Some departments may need to have an interview
6. Step 6: Choose a Scholarship
   • Results are revealed about eight weeks after each deadline
   • Successful candidates get a formal offer letter
   • You must accept the scholarship offer by the deadline

How to Choose and What to Look For

The process of choosing is quite competitive and is based on

• Academic Excellence (40%): A first-class undergraduate and Master's performance
• Research Potential (30%): The quality and originality of the research proposal
• Relevant Experience (15%): Previous research experience and accomplishments
• Personal Statement (10%): How clear your academic and career aspirations are
• References (5%): How strong and relevant your academic references are 15

Scholarship Opportunities and Benefits

1. The environment for research
   • Access to top-notch labs and facilities
   • Opportunities for research across disciplines
   • Working with top academic and business partners
   • The most up-to-date computers and technical tools
2. Growth as a professional
   • Training and opportunity to teach
   • Programs for entrepreneurs and innovators
   • Science communication training
   • Workshops for career development
3. Getting involved in the community
   • Events for President's Scholars
   • Seminars and workshops across faculties
   • Opportunities for public involvement
   • Events for alumni to network
4. The London Advantage
   • Getting to know London's research community
   • Making connections with other London universities
   • Cultural and professional prospects in a global metropolis
   • Connections and relationships in the industry

Important Tips for Using

1. Get ready early—start now 6–9 months before the due date
2. Send a well-written email to possible supervisors well in advance
3. Write a strong research proposal that fits with what Imperial does best
4. Show that you are a good student by showing your grades and accomplishments
5. Get excellent references from academics who know you well and know your research potential
6. Make sure your personal statement shows how well you fit in with Imperial's research culture
7. Before you send in your work, make sure to read it over carefully

Important Dates and Timeline

• The 2026 competition starts in April 2025
• From June to October 2025, get in touch with possible supervisors
• Round 1 application deadline is 3 November 2025
• December 2025: Decisions for Round 1 are made public
• The deadline for Round 2 applications is 12 January 2026
• Round 2 verdicts come out in March 2026
• Round 3 ends on 2 March 2026, although there aren't many spots left
• October 2026: PhD programs start 15

What President's Scholars do once they graduate

Past President's Scholars have gone on to:

• Jobs as professors at top institutions throughout the world
• Leading research in industrial R&D departments
• Starting businesses and spin-out companies
• Roles in policy for governments and transnational groups
• Postdoctoral fellowships at well-known schools

Follow our YouTube channel for a step-by-step guide to the application process

Website

To learn everything you need to know about the Imperial College President's PhD Scholarship, go to the official websites:

PhD Scholarships from the President of Imperial College https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-doctoral/grants-scholarships/presidents-phd/ 

Graduate Admissions at Imperial College https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/pg/

For questions about specific scholarships, email student.funding@imperial.ac.uk

If you have queries about an academic program, please email admissions@imperial.ac.uk

Please note that the deadlines for applications and the requirements may vary Always check official Imperial College outlets for the most up-to-date information The competition for the scholarship is very tough, with only 3–4% of candidates getting prizes Meeting the minimum standards does not mean you will be chosen