Scholarship overview
Degree level
Postgraduate taught, Master's research
Value
Full tuition fees, stipend of £22,000 and £1,500 equipment grant
Number of awards
1
Academic year
2026/2027
Tuition fee status
Home, Overseas
Mode of study
Full time, Part time
Available to
Prospective students
Application deadline
24/04/2026
Additional information
Available to applicants in the following departments
- Aeronautics
- Bioengineering
- Brain Sciences
- Business School
- Centre for Environmental Policy
- Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Computing
- Design Engineering
- Earth Science and Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Immunology and Inflammation
- Infectious Disease
- Institute of Clinical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Materials
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction
- National Heart and Lung Institute
- Physics
- School of Public Health
- Surgery and Cancer
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for this award you must:
have applied to study and received an offer for an eligible Master's programme (see below) starting in Autumn 2026 by the deadline of 11:59pm (UK time) on Friday 24th April 2026.
have completed the Sanctuary Scholarship application form by the deadline of 11:59pm (UK time) on Friday 24th April 2026.
fall into one of the following immigration status groups:
a refugee - a person who has been granted refugee status either in the UK or in another country
a person who has been granted humanitarian protection or some other form of protective leave to remain in the UK (including a Ukrainian Family Scheme, Ukraine Extension Scheme or Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme visa)
an asylum seeker - a person who has made a claim within the UK for refugee status
Eligible Master’s courses
As well as the above criteria, you must also apply for an eligible course:
One-year full-time or two-year part-time Master’s course in the Imperial Business School, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Centre for Culture, Languages and Communication
Courses that are not eligible
Online/distance learning courses
Imperial Business School MBA programmes
MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering in the Dyson School of Design Engineering
Please note: This scholarship is not available to continuing students.
Application process
Submit your application to study an eligible Master's course for 2026 entry and receive an offer to study by the scholarship application deadline of 11:59pm (UK time) on Friday 24th April 2026. Search for an eligible Master's course (see list in Eligibility criteria), create an online account and submit your application through our application portal. Use our guide on How to apply for additional help. Some departments have application rounds for the postgraduate taught courses, with fixed application dates throughout the year. For more information on application rounds and the deadlines, please go here.
Application fee: If you’re applying for a postgraduate course at Imperial, you may need to pay an application fee. For information on application fees and to check if you're eligible for an application fee waiver, please go here.
Complete the Sanctuary scholarship application form by the deadline of 11:59pm (UK time) on Friday 24th April 2026. You will be asked to confirm your personal details, immigration status and provide a personal statement supporting your application. You will be asked to upload proof of your immigration status. If you cannot provide it at this time there is an option to explain why in the form.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement assesses your suitability for the Sanctuary Scholarship. You will be asked to address the following:
- Why have you chosen to study at Imperial College London?
- How do you feel the Sanctuary Scholarship would help you achieve your ambitions for the future?
- Explain your personal situation and the barriers you have faced in continuing your education with reference to your current status in the UK.
- Details of your financial circumstances. If you have attended school/college since coming to the UK, how have you supported your studies? Will you have any other means to financially support yourself at College other than this scholarship?
Outcome
The successful candidate will be notified of the outcome no later than 30th June 2026. If you have not heard from us by this date, please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application. This award is for students starting in the academic year 2026/27 and cannot be deferred. All scholarships are awarded subject to students accepting award Terms and Conditions. Please note that the award is conditional upon you receiving an unconditional offer to study at Imperial by September 2026.
Additional information
What does the scholarship cover?
- Tuition fees paid in full (Home or Overseas rate)
- Stipend for living costs equating to £22,000 per annum
- £1,500 equipment grant for the purchase of a laptop or other educational equipment
- Costs pertaining to | English language proficiency test exam fee (if English language is required as part of the offer of admission), visa application (if applicable) and NHS surcharge.
Please see the Student Support Zone to discover the extra support available to refugees, asylum seekers and forced migrants.
Contact
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at scholarships@imperial.ac.uk.