Eligibility criteria

Academic criteria

1. Candidates must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first-class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree; or if this has not been achieved
2. Candidates must be in receipt of (or where this has yet to be received be able to provide evidence of high performance that will lead to) a distinction in a standalone Master’s qualification.

This allows candidates who have demonstrated excellence at Master's level, but not achieved a first class undergraduate degree, to be able to apply to the scheme.

Candidates with only a single undergraduate degree or integrated Master’s must still must be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first class or equivalent.

Other criteria

1. Applications are accepted from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide. There are no restrictions on nationality, although some departments may be unable to support international candidates.
2. The scheme is only open to new PhD applications. Current registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible to be considered for a President's PhD Scholarship.

Application process

Before you apply

• You must have made contact with a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial College London who has agreed to supervise your research project.
• Supervisors are limited to supervising one scholar at any time. Please review the President's PhD Scholarships - Unavailable Supervisors page for more information.

Application process

• There isn't a specific scholarship application form. 
• You should submit your application for admission to study at Imperial through our online admissions system and your department will put you forward for the scholarship based on academic merit and potential.

Scholarship-specific instructions for the admissions process are below; you must also meet any additional application requirements stated by your department of choice.

Additional admissions instructions

1. For the 2024–25 academic year, the earliest start date for funded places is 1 August 2024, the latest start date is 1 November 2024.
2. When prompted for a personal statement you must include a 2-page document:
   1. the first page should be a personal statement (motivations for applying to Imperial and the scholarship, and any other supporting information not included elsewhere on the form that you feel will enhance your application)
   2. the second page should be your research proposal. You may submit updated versions of this statement if required following application submission if your department shortlists you for the scholarship. You are encouraged to write in the first person. 
3. When prompted for the names of two academic referees, these should be people who can provide an academic reference in support of your application (e.g. your personal tutor or your thesis supervisor). You should not include your proposed PhD supervisor. You are encouraged to share this guidance with your two referees, noting, in particular, the recommendation to use ‘they/them’ language (rather than gender pronouns).
4. To be considered for the President's PhD Scholarship scheme, you must select this option in the funding section of the additional questions tab within the online application form.

Additional information

Successful candidates will receive written confirmation of their scholarship. Any offer of a PhD place will be conditional on the candidate receiving the predicted qualifications.

1. Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 6 November 2023 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by end of January 2024. 
2. Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 8 January 2024 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by end of March 2024.
3. Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 4 March 2024 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by end of May 2024.

Contact

If you have any additional questions, please contact us at phdscholarshipscheme@imperial.ac.uk.