Contact
For further information on PhD scholarships, please contact Sarah Willis:
Email: s.willis@imperial.ac.uk
The Department is pleased to offer a range of scholarships to support PhD study across its diverse research areas. Below, you will find detailed information about our scholarship schemes, application process, and key deadlines. A full list of departmental scholarships can be found below, alongside details of some Imperial-wide PhD scholarships.
In addition to browsing this page, we strongly encourage prospective students to explore further funding opportunities. Imperial College London provides:
- A scholarship search tool featuring hundreds of scholarships available across the university.
- A comprehensive list of external scholarships available.
- Useful pages on postgraduate funding (for both MSc and PhD programmes) and doctoral fees/funding.
We often have PhD positions open across the Department. Some of these positions come with funding, and others do not.
Scholarship schemes and further information
- Scholarship schemes and deadlines
- When should I apply for a scholarship?
- How do I apply for a scholarship?
- How are scholarships awarded?
The table below provides a summary of scholarship schemes available across the Department and University. For each scholarship, the round in which an application can be made, and the relevant deadline, is indicated (X). An application can only be made once.
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Application deadlines |
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Round 1
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Round 2
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Round 3
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Round 4
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department Scholarships | ||||
| Scholarship for Women One scholarship is available each year and will cover home tuition fees for up to 3 years, and maintenance at the UKRI London rate (£22,780 for 25-26) for 3.5 years. This scholarship could provide partial funding for overseas students. The scholarship can be offered on a part-time basis, and includes provision for sickness and maternity pay. |
X | X | X | |
| Department EPSRC Scholarship We have one scholarship funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). These scholarships are open to Home students only and cover Home tuition fees and maintenance at the UKRI London rate (£22,780 for 25-26) for 3.5 years. To be eligible as a Home student, candidates must meet the UKRI criteria. |
X | X | X | |
|
Shawki Saad PhD Scholarship |
X | |||
|
Skempton Scholarships |
X | X | X | |
|
Dixon Scholarships |
X | X | X | |
| Imperial-wide Scholarships | ||||
| Imperial College President's Scholarships | X | X | X | |
| Imperial China Scholarship Council Scholarships | X | |||
| Imperial College Lee Family Scholarships Open to students who ordinarily reside in mainland China or Hong Kong (excluding Taiwan). Two scholarships are available across the College, covering overseas tuition fees, a living costs stipend and consumables budget. |
X | |||
Please note, unless specified in the scheme details, funding does not cover Student visa or Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees.
- You will need to submit your PhD application by the deadlines outlined in the section above in order to be considered for our schemes.
- Where there is a later deadline advertised for Imperial-wide scholarships, the departmental deadline before the University deadline will apply, as you will need to go through the departmental selection process before we can put you forward for a University Scholarship.
- Applicants must also be nominated for funding by their prospective PhD supervisor by the deadlines indicated. For further details on the application process, see the next section.
- Depending on the scheme you apply to, the earliest you will be able to start your PhD (for the next rounds of scholarships) will be August-October 2026.
To apply for a PhD scholarship, you must follow this process:
- Find a PhD supervisor. Visit the academic staff pages of our website to help identify topics of interest and potential supervisors. Contact your preferred supervisor(s) directly, to discuss potential projects and funding options.
- Submit your PhD application for admission through the Registry online admissions systems by the deadlines listed above for each scholarship round. More information on the application process can be found in our FAQs. Online applications should only be submitted after a potential academic supervisor has expressed sufficient interest in your application.
- Applicants must also be nominated for funding by their prospective PhD supervisors by the same deadlines listed below for each scholarship round.
Note: the PhD Awards panel will only consider applicants, not current students.
Our goal is to identify and support the most outstanding PhD candidates through a fair and transparent selection process. The Department operates a single selection procedure for all scholarships, including:
- Imperial President’s PhD Scholarships
- Imperial China Scholarship Council Scholarships
- Departmental Scholarships
The PhD Awards Panel is co-chaired by the Directors of Research and Postgraduate Research, with four additional academic staff members joining on an annual rotation. The Awards Panel evaluates candidates based on a range of criteria, including academic achievements such as grades, cohort ranking, and recognition through academic awards. Research potential is also considered, with attention given to prior experience—such as publications and undergraduate research placements (e.g., UROP). In addition, the panel reviews references and any relevant experience gained after graduation.
