Scholarship overview
Degree level
Postgraduate taught
Value
Full tuition fees and a stipend of £22,041
Number of awards
2
Academic year
2026/2027
Tuition fee status
Overseas
Mode of study
Full time
Available to
Prospective students
Application deadline
30/04/2026
Additional information
Available to applicants in the following departments
- Life Sciences
- School of Public Health
Eligibility criteria
Imperial is pleased to announce the Lord Robert May Scholarship for the 2026/27 academic year.
The scholarship has been established in honour of Lord Robert May of Oxford (1936–2020), one of the most influential theoretical ecologists of his generation.
This scholarship is available to Overseas students who have an offer to study one of the following programmes, beginning in autumn 2026:
MSc Living Planet with Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution (within the Department of Life Sciences)
MSc Epidemiology (within the School of Public Health)
Applicants shall be ranked on the following basis:
Academic merit (using your College application)
Their academic achievements and motivation for pursuing a Master's degree
Financial need
Applicants shall be required to submit two written statements as part of their application:
A statement on their academic achievements and motivation for pursuing a Master's in their chosen field;
A statement attesting to their financial need and how this scholarship would assist them in achieving success in their studies
To apply for this scholarship, applicants need to complete the application form and have an offer to study an eligible programme by 11:59pm (UK local time), Thursday 30th April 2026.
Please note: This scholarship is not available to continuing students.
Course specific information
Please note that only the following programmes are eligible for this scholarship:
MSc Living Planet with Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution
MSc Epidemiology
Applicants must hold an offer to study one of these courses by the scholarship application deadline of Thursday 30th April 2026.
Application process
Stage 1: Apply for one of the eligible master's degree courses at Imperial College London
You must submit an application for one of the eligible master’s degrees through the standard College application procedure as soon as possible and have an offer of admission by the deadline of 11:59pm (UK local time), Thursday 30th April 2026. Some departments have application rounds for the postgraduate taught courses, with fixed application dates throughout the year. Therefore, you may be required to submit an application for admission by the end of February 2026 in order to get a decision by the scholarship deadline of Thursday 30th April 2026. 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.
Stage 2: Complete the scholarship application form.
Applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form. Applicants will be assessed on academic merit or potential through the standard admission process. Through the scholarship application form, applicants will be required to successfully demonstrate their academic achievements and motivation for pursuing a Master's in their chosen field. In addition to this, applicants will be required to demonstrate that they come from a financially disadvantaged background and this will be assessed through the information provided on the scholarship application.
Additional information
Value and Number of Awards
The two successful scholars will have their tuition fees paid in full and receive a stipend for living costs equating to £22,041 per annum.
Outcome of Award
The successful candidates will be notified by email no later than 31st July 2026. If you have not heard from us by this date, please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application.
The successful scholars may be expected to meet informally with the donors on occasions, participate in events surrounding this scholarship, or be required to submit a short statement of progress that will be shared with the donors.
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.
Contact
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at scholarships@imperial.ac.uk.