Imperial PhD Scholarship is a funded doctoral opportunity at Imperial Business School that includes tuition support and a living stipend and is aimed at candidates applying to the Doctoral (MRes & PhD) programme.
Imperial Business School takes a holistic approach to admissions, assessing academic achievement, motivation, research fit and potential. The school offers funded doctoral places, guidance during the MRes and information on Research Council funding (EPSRC/ESRC) where eligible.
Imperial PhD Scholarship Benefits
- Imperial PhD Scholarship offers a funded Doctoral programme at the Business School.
- This includes a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years through the Business School Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship.
- Funding for a sixth year can be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the potential to undertake a teaching or research assistant studentship with one of the Business Schools research centres.
- Some of our scholarship funding comes from EPSRC and ESRC for candidates who meet Research Councils UK’s academic and residential eligibility conditions.
- During the MRes you will have a discussion with our team to find out whether you are eligible to move onto any of these awards.
Imperial PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Imperial PhD Scholarship looks for evidence of strong and consistent academic performance and expect applicants to have high grades at undergraduate and Master’s level, including a strong dissertation.
- From graduates of UK institutions, this would normally equate to a combination of at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree at undergraduate level and a Master’s degree awarded with Merit or Distinction.
- In exceptional circumstances, we will consider candidates holding a strong First Class Honours undergraduate degree, without a Master’s, if accompanied by very strong academic references and outstanding CV and personal statement.
- Applicants are expected to have knowledge of Calculus, Matrix Theory/Linear Algebra, Statistics, and Data analysis and programming.
- A GMAT or GRE score is a compulsory requirement to be considered for entry into the Doctoral programme at Imperial Business School.
- We expect applicants to have obtained strong scores across all elements of the exam and consider strong scores to be in the 90th percentile or higher in either test.
- All Doctoral students must meet our English language entry requirements; applicants with degrees taught in English in specified countries meet the requirement automatically.
- Most applicants meet the English requirement with IELTS (academic) minimum 7.0 with minimum scores of 6.5 in all elements, TOEFL iBT tests taken before 21 January 2026 minimum 100 overall with minimum scores of 22, or Duolingo English Test 125 overall.
How to Apply for Imperial PhD Scholarship
- Applications are made through our online application system: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/apply/Doctoral-2years
- Start a new application and search for “Business”; select Business (MRes 2YFT) and choose the pathway based on your research area of interest.
- Provide a brief outline of your primary research interest and indicate a potential supervisor.
- Upload supporting information: current resume/CV, statement of purpose, complete degree transcripts, contact details of two academic referees, GMAT/GRE test scores and evidence of English language qualification.
- It’s essential we receive your supporting documents and reference information before midnight (UK time) on Wednesday 2 December 2026.
- If shortlisted you will be invited to an interview with a panel of faculty; overseas candidates will have an online interview.
- You will be notified of your application result by email and receive official notification via your Imperial Gateway account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Imperial PhD Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply for the Doctoral programme.
How do I apply and what documents do I need to submit with my application?
Apply through the online application system and search for ‘Business’ to select Business (MRes 2YFT). You must upload a CV, statement of purpose, complete degree transcripts, contact details of two academic referees, GMAT/GRE scores and evidence of English language qualification. Your application will be incomplete until all supporting documents and references are received.
What are the key dates and the admissions deadline?
Applications for the 2027 intake are open. The admissions deadline for the PhD programmes is Wednesday 2 December 2026. You should ensure all supporting documents and references are uploaded by midnight (UK time) on that date for your application to be considered complete.
What funding does the Doctoral programme provide?
The Business School offers a funded Doctoral programme including a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years through the Business School Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. Additional sixth-year funding may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Is a GMAT or GRE required?
Yes. A GMAT or GRE score is a compulsory requirement to be considered for entry into the Doctoral programme. Scores must be submitted before the application will be considered. The school expects strong scores and prefers scores roughly in the 90th percentile.
What academic qualifications do I need to be eligible?
Applicants are expected to show strong and consistent academic performance, typically at least an Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree plus a Master’s degree with Merit or Distinction. In exceptional cases a strong First Class undergraduate degree without a Master’s may be considered with very strong references and application materials.
What pre-requisite knowledge is expected before joining the PhD programme?
You should have a solid foundation in quantitative research methods and knowledge in areas such as Calculus, Matrix Theory/Linear Algebra, Statistics, and data analysis and programming (R, STATA, MATLAB, Python). Candidates in qualitative fields may be considered but will still be required to undertake quantitative training.
What are the English language requirements?
Doctoral students must meet English language entry requirements. Degrees taught in English in specified countries meet the requirement automatically. Typical accepted tests include IELTS academic minimum 7.0 (6.5 in each element), TOEFL iBT (tests before 21 Jan 2026: minimum 100 overall with minimum 22 in elements) and Duolingo overall 125.
What happens after I submit my complete application?
Once your application and supporting documents are uploaded, the Doctoral Recruitment & Admissions team will assess your application. Complete applications will be considered by the Academic Selection Committee and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview before a final decision is made.
Can I apply before I have my English test or GMAT/GRE score?
You may submit your online application prior to meeting the English language requirement, but a GMAT or GRE score must be submitted before your application will be considered. Applications without a GMAT/GRE score or without references will be considered incomplete.
How will I be notified of the admissions decision?
You will be notified of your application result by email after the interview, and you will receive official notification via your Imperial Gateway account from the Imperial Registry team. The official offer will detail any conditions to be completed to take up your place.
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