PhD
Looking for funding?
Use our scholarships search tool to look for available scholarships. Also explore our latest funded PhD vacancies, and our international scholarship collaborations.
PhD study is offered across the College.
To search for opportunities based on your own research idea you first need to identify a research group whose objectives best match your idea.
If you find a suitable group, you normally need to identify a potential supervisor before submitting an application. This is an important step, as you will need to find out whether they have an appropriate supervisor. You also need to discuss your research ideas before you apply.
Use the links under 'Find PhD opportunities' below to identify the different opportunities within research groups in our academic departments and multidisciplinary Centres and Institutes.
Read more about our Doctoral study experience so you know what to expect.
Studentships
If you don't have a particular research idea that you're looking to pursue, we recommend searching our current fellowships and studentships. These are PhD projects in specified areas for which funding has already been granted to Imperial.
Browse the latest fellowship and studentship vacancies.
You may also be eligible for one of our integrated PhDs, which are covered by funded studentships.
Split PhD scheme
Our Split PhD scheme allows you to carry out some of your research abroad, either in the field or at an overseas institution. Find out more about our split PhD scheme.
Partner Research Institution (PRI) Scheme
If you work in a public research institution, industrial research laboratory or at another university then you may be able to register for a PhD at Imperial but carry out the research where you work. Find out more about the PRI scheme and how to apply.
Find PhD opportunities
Use the links below to search the different PhD opportunities within our academic departments, centres and institutes. Our interdisciplinary approach means our expertise often spans departmental boundaries – and so do our courses – so you may find opportunities in an unexpected area of the College.
Faculty of Engineering
- Aeronautics
- Bioengineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Computing
- School of Design Engineering
- Earth Science and Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Imperial College Business School
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
Global Challenge institutes
We have six Global Challenge institutes, which were created to address some of society's biggest challenges.
If you have an idea for a PhD that falls within the remit of one of our Global Challenge institutes please contact them directly to discuss before making a formal application to the College.
- Data Science Institute
- Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
- Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
- Institute for Security Science and Technology
- Institute of Global Health Innovation
Energy Futures Lab does not offer PhD programmes, but does deliver the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures.
Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich
We have recently formed a strategic partnership in education, research and innovation with the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s most international and entrepreneurial universities, producing highly ranked research, like Imperial, in science, engineering and medicine.
As part of the partnership, Imperial and TUM have launched a 'Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies' with the aim of co-developing cross-disciplinary clusters of PhD students who will have access to world-leading academic supervisors and state-of-the art facilities at both institutions.
The first round of the programme will focus on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Robotics'.
Find out more about the Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies and apply