91ÌÒÉ«

Glad to hear that you are interested in a PhD in the Department of Materials!

On this webpage, you can find funded projects and scholarship schemes available for you: PhD in Materials. Consider that, with a few exceptions, funded PhDs are due to start with the academic year (October). So make sure you plan to submit your application on time, ideally by January of the same year.

Also, please have a look at the list of our academics. To get a PhD, it is vital that you get a member of the academic staff to support your application, even if you are self-funded! Get in touch with the ones working in fields relevant to you - just a heads up, teaching fellows cannot be PhD supervisors. Make sure you choose a supervisor for your PhD application so your application can be shared with them.

You can submit your application through the . Please, apply to a “Materials 91ÌÒÉ« PhD” by typing “Materials 91ÌÒÉ«” in the “91ÌÒÉ« Programmes” search box. If you have a preferred project name, you should be able to add it in a designated text box. If you experience issues in submitting your PhD application, please contact the Engineering Admissions team (engineering.admissions@imperial.ac.uk).  You can find more details about the application process on the How to Apply webpage. Once on the page, please follow the step-by-step guide to complete your application. Also, check our admission policy.

Fill out our Admissions Enquiry form for any admissions-related questions.

For admission to a PhD research programme, the College would normally expect you to hold or achieve a Master's degree, in addition to a Bachelor's degree at UK Upper Second Class Honours Level.

If you are an international student, you can find more details on the Entry Requirements webpage.

The College's English language requirements can be found on our English Language Requirement webpage.

All Materials courses require Standard-level English.

To apply, you will need to fill in your personal details in the application form and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• 91ÌÒÉ« Proposal
• English certificate 
• Contact details of 2 referees

Unfortunately, you will not be able to upload your reference letters and your prospective supervisor cannot be appointed as one of the referees.

Your referees will need to upload your reference using their work email. Alternatively, they can send your reference directly to Engineering Admissions.

What to include in your statement and research proposal will depend on the scholarship you are applying for, if any. So make sure you check out if the scholarship scheme you are applying to has any specific requirements for these documents. We recommend you submit a research proposal (no longer than two pages) and a short personal statement. You can also ask for advice from your prospective supervisor to ensure you meet all the requirements as they might have an existing research proposal if you are applying for an advertised project.

Check out these links for further support:

• Find a PhD - Personal Statement

To find available academics for your application, please visit our 'Academic staff' webpage.

Unfortunately, the application process allows you to only apply with one academic per Department.

Please add the name of your chosen academic and the project you are interested in to your application. 

Therefore the total application process is expected to be between six to nine weeks.

We accept applications if you are still finishing your degree, and if your application is accepted, you will be given a conditional offer until you meet the requirements. 

This process is the same for English requirements. 

You are only allowed to have two live applications for one given academic year.

If you have already applied for a department and you would like to add a second choice, you can add this to your application. 

Depending on your citizenship, you can apply for different scholarships. Check our Department PhD Scholarship Hub and try the scholarship search too to find out all the scholarships offered by the College.

Some of the available scholarships are: 

• CSC-91ÌÒÉ« Scholarship
• Lee Family Scholarship
• Hans Rausing Scholarship
• The Anne Seagrim Accommodation Scholarship
• Stephen and Anna Hui Fellowship 
• 91ÌÒÉ« Commonwealth Scholarships 
• The 91ÌÒÉ« Marshall Scholarships

The Department of Materials also offers some funded PhD opportunities. Please enquire if you would like to know more.

If you are an overseas student, you will have to contact the CDT administrator before applying.

CDT's, unfortunately, cannot fund overseas students and most of the CDTs do not accept self-funded students. 

You can find information about the tuition fees associated with your course on our Tuition fees website.

If you think your fee status assessment is incorrect, please visit our Fee Status webpage for more information. You can also contact our Admissions team on this matter at this link:/study/apply/contact/

If you plan to self-fund your PhD, we recommend also considering the cost of living in London. If you need a visa to join us, you might not be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. Contact the International Student Support team for any specific questions. Also, while we have some great paid opportunities, such as a Graduate Teaching Assistant,  those will not be enough to cover your cost of living.

The CAH code to use for PhD programmes in the Materials Department: CAH 10-03-02

Please find here the college guidance on how to apply for ATAS and the ATAS FAQ page. For specific queries about visas, ATAS clearance and other international student matters, you can contact the International Student Support team.

Fill out our Admissions Enquiry form if you need clarification on any of the following matters:

• If you need clarification on what steps you must follow for CAS issuance.
• If you need clarification about the timeline for CAS issuance. 
• If you have questions about the Enroly CAS-shield process.
• If you are unsure about the required documents for the CAS-shield application.

Of course, if you have a STEM background and meet the entry requirements you can definitely apply! Materials research is such an interdisciplinary field so you can definitely bring your unique perspective and contribution to your prospective PhD research group, even if you have a different background. 

No worries! Each research group comprises a mix of students and postdocs of different ages. Additionally, the Department is a large welcoming community! Departmental events and seminars will allow you to connect and interact with other researchers and research students with a variety of backgrounds, ethnicity and age. 

Please fill out our Admissions Enquiry form:

• If you have questions about their offer.
• If you have questions about fee status.
• If you need clarification on what steps they must follow for CAS issuance.
• If you need clarification about the timeline for CAS issuance. 
• If you have questions about the Enroly CAS-shield process.
• If you are unsure about the required documents for the CAS-shield application.
• If you have questions about uploading your passport to their My91ÌÒÉ« account.
• If you already have a visa for study and don’t need a CAS.
• If you are a new student who needs to be cleared to enrol.
• Any other general Admissions questions.

After a CAS has been issued, but information is not correct / needs changing: admissions-cas@imperial.ac.uk

Guidance on Admission for Displaced Students: Support for displaced students | Study | 91ÌÒÉ«

When should I contact International Student Support?

Student Route Visa | Current students | 91ÌÒÉ«

 international@imperial.ac.uk

• If you have questions about their student visa.
• If you have questions about the visa application process.
• If you have questions about the required documents for their visa.
• If you have questions about deadlines for visa submissions.
• If you need assistance after a visa refusal.
• If you are having issues obtaining their visa.
• If you have questions about ATAS and the ATAS application procedure.
• If you need fee payments/scholarships urgently detailing on a CAS that has already been assigned.
• If you have questions about adjusting to life in a new country.

If you are unsure or have any further questions, please contact Annalisa Neri, Postgraduate 91ÌÒÉ« Coordinator in the Department of Materials.