PhD funding
A supervisor who agrees to support your application is needed before you apply.
Enquiries: tian.chen@imperial.ac.uk. Refer to How to apply for instructions.
Imperial scholarships
| Scheme | Deadline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| President's PhD Scholarship | Three rounds, closing in early November, mid-January, and early March | Select it in the funding section of your PhD application. |
| CSC–Imperial Scholarship | Imperial's deadline falls in mid-January; the China Scholarship Council application follows in March or April | For Chinese nationals. |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships | Set by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, usually in autumn | For citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK, with at least a 2:1, or a 2:2 with a master's degree. |
| Imperial Marshall Scholarships | Set by the Marshall Commission, usually September | For US citizens with a first degree from a US institution and a grade point average of at least 3.7 who have not previously studied at a UK university. |
UK funding
| Scheme | Deadline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 Industrial Fellowship | Mid-February, for fellowships starting in October | For candidates employed by, or holding an offer of employment from, a UK company, or nominated candidates in an industry-coupled doctoral programme. Three years, or up to five part time. |
| Postgraduate Doctoral Loan | Rolling | For UK students. Not available alongside research council funding. |
| Imperial scholarships search, external scholarships, and charitable grants and trusts | Varies | The College's indexes of funding from Imperial and from outside it. The College also lists funded PhD vacancies by faculty. |
National scholarships
Many countries fund their own citizens to study for a doctorate abroad, and for international applicants this is often the most practical route. Examples include the China Scholarship Council, Indonesia's LPDP, Turkey's YLSY programme, Brazil's CAPES, and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education. If you hold or intend to apply for one, name the scheme in your first message.
Supplementary awards
These supplement an existing award or cover specific costs.
- Amelia Earhart Fellowship - for women pursuing doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences
- Royal Aeronautical Society Centennial Scholarship Fund
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers postgraduate awards
- Armourers and Brasiers' Company awards in materials science
- Livery company and charitable trust awards, indexed on the College's charities and trusts page
Timing
For a start in October, contact us in the summer of the previous year and apply in the November or January round. Contact Lisa Kelly, PhD Administrator (Admissions), at l.kelly@imperial.ac.uk with questions about the application process.