Eligibility criteria

Who should apply?

Chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering graduates who wish to learn how to apply their physical sciences skills to biological problems. Students from biological or medicinal backgrounds are usually not eligible. If in doubt, please contact us.

The entry requirement is a degree in the physical sciences with a minimum 2.1 or above (or equivalent).

How is the studentship structured?

Our studentships are for 4 years, covering the fees and bursary (stipend) for a one-year MRes Chemical Biology and Bio-Entrepreneurship, followed by a three year PhD, subject to passing the MRes.

Studentship funding

Successful applicants will be awarded a fully funded studentship. This includes:

  • Annual National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, currently £18,622 + £2000 London allowance for 2023/24
  • Annual Tuition fees, currently £4,712 for 2023/24
  • A Research Training Support Grant for laboratory consumable costs of £3,500 per year
  • Funding to attend conferences
  • Transferable skills training

The stipend increases annually in line with the GDP deflator, and is secured for each studentship for 4 years (1 year MRes + 3 year PhD). For further information, please visit the UK Research and Innovation webpages. 

Fee status eligibility

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Biology: Innovation in Life Sciences is funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is subject to their eligibility criteria.

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, EU and EEA students who are recruited and start from October 2021 onwards will become international students, if they do not meet UK fee status eligibility criteria.

In response to this, UKRI have opened up a limited number of UKRI funded studentships to international students. Successful applicants, both home and international, will receive a full studentship award to include a stipend and fees at the home level.

To fund the difference between home and international tuition fees, we have a very limited number of international student scholarships available to support the difference between the home tuition fee and the international tuition fee. This allocation is highly competitive, and we encourage applications.

Please note that we have filled all of our international student scholarships for October 2023 entry. 

Overseas/international students are also welcome to self-fund and join our cohorts or apply with scholarships, some examples are:

UK eligibility

To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

For a full description on eligibility criteria, please read the following documents and guidelines:

  1. Terms and conditions of training grants (PDF, 852KB) (April 2018), EPSRC. Read the terms and conditions
  2. The education regulations 2007. Read the regulations
  3. Training Grant Guide (PDF, 231KB), EPSRC. Read the training grant guide
  4. Imperial College fee status webpages
  5. The UKRI guidance pages announcing the change in international student eligibility