Imperial PhD Scholarship 2027-28 (President’s PhD Scholarships)

📘 About the Imperial PhD Scholarship

The Imperial PhD Scholarship, officially the President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London, offers 50 fully funded places for a 3.5-year PhD for 2027-28 entry. It pays full tuition fees, a living stipend of £27,036 a year and a research consumables fund, so a Ugandan graduate can take up a PhD in London without private sponsorship.

There are no nationality restrictions, so Ugandan and other East African applicants can apply, although some departments may not be able to support international candidates. Scholars pick their own research project with a supervisor who has agreed to take them on, and join a cohort of President’s PhD Scholars.

Imperial considers applications in three rounds. The first cut-off is 2 November 2026, and the last is 1 March 2027. Applying in the first round gives you the most places to compete for.

✅ Eligibility Requirements

• Must hold, or be due to receive, a first class (or equivalent) undergraduate or integrated Master’s degree, or a distinction (or evidence of high performance leading to one) in a standalone Master’s degree
• Must be a new PhD applicant; current registered Imperial PhD students are not eligible
• Must have contacted an Imperial supervisor who has agreed to supervise your research project
• Must apply to a department that can support international candidates (if you are applying from outside the UK)
• Must select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section of the online application
• Must start the PhD between 1 August 2027 and 1 November 2027

🎁 Scholarship Benefits

📅 Key Dates

📎 Required Documents

• Online PhD application to your chosen Imperial department
• A 2-page supporting statement: page 1 a personal statement, page 2 your research proposal
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Names of two academic referees (not your proposed PhD supervisor)
• Any extra documents your department requires, such as a longer research proposal

📝 How to Apply

1. Find a supervisor in an Imperial department whose research matches yours, and get their agreement to supervise you. Each supervisor can only take one President’s scholar at a time.
2. Apply for PhD admission through Imperial’s online admissions system. There is no separate scholarship form.
3. Upload your 2-page statement under ‘Supporting documents’, written in the first person.
4. In the additional questions tab, select the President’s PhD Scholarship option in the funding section. If you skip this, you will not be considered.
5. Submit by 23:59 UK time on 2 November 2026 (2:59am Kampala time on 3 November) for Round 1, or by the later cut-offs of 11 January or 1 March 2027.

Your department shortlists candidates, then Imperial’s College Selection Panel makes the final decision based on academic excellence and research potential. Applicants who aren’t picked are automatically considered for a standard PhD place. Read the full rules on Imperial’s President’s PhD Scholarships page.

📞 Contact & Inquiries