A President’s Ph.D. A scholarship could offer you the exceptional chance to receive full funding for tuition fees and a generous stipend for a 3.5-year Ph.D. place at Imperial College London if you are an outstanding undergraduate or Master’s student who is determined to pursue a Ph.D. program at a top-tier research institution. The scholarship applies to both full- and part-time study. The President’s PhD Scholarships give students the opportunity to work on a research project of their choice with the help of a top-notch advisor and benefit from opportunities to form cohorts with other President’s PhD Scholars.
This competitive scheme has higher than usual eligibility requirements, attracting candidates who show excellent academic performance and promising research potential. Imperial College encourages applications from people from all backgrounds, as we recognize that diversity not only benefits Imperial but also helps the sector to better represent the communities that we serve.
There are 50 scholarship spots available. A two-stage approach will be used to evaluate applications:
- Candidates meeting or predicted to meet the eligibility criteria will be reviewed by the Department to which they have applied. Departments will select a shortlist of candidates to present to the College Selection Panel for consideration.
- The final decision will be made by the College Selection Panel. The members of the panel are the Vice-Provost (Research), the Director of the Graduate School, and the Faculty Vice-Deans for Research.
Imperial recognizes excellence in all the Faculties and as such allows some offers to be made at the Faculty level:
- A Faculty allocation stage will score and rank candidates in Departmental shortlists, making initial offers to the most promising candidates. Faculty Vice Deans present these candidates with justification for offers at the College Selection Panel.
- The College Selection Panel makes additional offers from a ring-fenced allocation to candidates that meet widening participation or other strategic alignment goals.
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.
- Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 6 November 2023 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by the end of January 2024.
- Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) on 8 January 2024 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by the end of March 2024.
- Applicants who apply by 23:59 (UK time) 4 March 2024 and are awarded a scholarship will be notified by the end of May 2024.
Location:
United KingdomBenefits
Each of the 50 scholarships available provides the following support during the 3.5 years of study:
- Full funding for tuition fees
- A stipend of £25,150 (2024-25 rate) per annum to assist with living costs
- A consumables fund of £2,000 per annum for the first 3 years of study
- A programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Graduate School
You will also have access to the full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial, including tailored support for disabled and international students, and the wider Graduate School programme of professional skills courses.
Eligibilities
Academic Criteria:
- 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
- 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 the Master’s level but have 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 be in receipt of, or due to receive, a first-class or equivalent.
Other Criteria:
- 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.
- The scheme is only open to new PhD applications. Currently, registered Imperial Ph.D. students are not eligible to be considered for a President’s Ph.D. Scholarship.
Application Process
- There isn’t a specific scholarship application form.
- You should submit your application for admission to study at Imperial through the online admission 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:
- 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.
- When prompted for a personal statement you must include a 2-page document:
- 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)
- 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.
- 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 the guidelines provided on the website with your two referees, noting, in particular, the recommendation to use ‘they/them’ language (rather than gender pronouns).
- To be considered for the President’s Ph.D. Scholarship scheme, you must select this option in the funding section of the additional questions tab within the online application form.
Application Deadline: November 6, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
