Aeronautics PhD Studentships admissions round 2025-26

Our international reputation for research makes Imperial an ideal place to pursue a research degree, whether as preparation for a research career in industry or as the start of an academic career.

We are currently accepting applications for ten PhD Studentships in the Department of Aeronautics. Open to Home, EU and International Students, these PhD Studentships will cover full tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780.  Find out more about each PhD Studentship on the following project webpages:

• Real-time machine learning and optimisation for extreme weather (AE0073)
• Artificial Intelligence for Structural Aircraft Digital Twins (AE0074)
• Novel algorithms for load rebalancing of adaptive mesh simulations on heterogeneous clusters (AE0075)
• Smart adaptive materials for soft robotics skins and Aero-robotic applications (AE0076)
• Novel hybrid composites for extreme loads (AE0077)
• How offshore wind farms and clouds interact – Maximising performance with scientific machine learning (AE0078)
• Architected materials for non-linear thermo-mechanical applications (AE0079)
• Developing a Digital Twin for composite pressure tanks (AE0080)

•  AI-Driven inverse modelling & design optimisation for Next-Gen Hypersonic Flight (AE0081)

• Turbulence under strain (AE0082)

Deadlines: The application deadline is 8 January 2026

Duration: These PhD Studentships can start anytime between 1 August 2026 and 1 July 2027 and will last for 3.5 years.

Eligibility: The eligibility criteria will vary depending on the PhD Studentship – you can find out more on the relevant PhD Studentship webpage in the above list.

How to apply:

Applications and the Supervisor Review link will go live on Monday 10 November 2025.

• Stage 1: Submit your 2-page curriculum vitae (CV), transcripts and a 300-word statement explaining your motivation for applying to this PhD Studentship to: Supervisor Review Form.  Our supervisors who will perform a comprehensive review to long-list candidates. You do not need to contact the supervisors directly to confirm you have submitted the application.
  
  Deadline: 8 January 2026

• Stage 2: Supervisors will email further instructions and an application link to long-listed candidates, inviting them to make a formal application to the PhD Studentship.

Contact: For more information about a specific project, please see the Supervisor contact details on the relevant PhD Studentship project webpage from the above list.

For application queries, contact: Lisa Kelly, PhD Administrator: l.kelly@imperial.ac.uk

Frequently Asked Questions: You can also find answers to common application questions on our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.