Dreaming of an academic career in business research? Imperial College Business School in London is accepting applications for its fully funded Doctoral Programme, starting in September 2027. Every admitted student gets a full tuition fee waiver, including the overseas rate, and a tax-free living stipend for up to five years. International students are eligible. Applications close on 2 December 2026.
Programme at a Glance
- University: Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London
- Programme: Doctoral Programme (MRes followed by a PhD)
- Research areas include: Management & Entrepreneurship, among other Business School departments
- Start date: September 2027
- Duration: Five to six years
- Funding: Full tuition fee waiver (home or overseas) and a tax-free stipend
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Deadline: 2 December 2026, midnight UK time
How the Programme Works
The doctoral journey starts with a Master of Research (MRes) lasting one or two years, depending on your research area. The MRes builds a strong theoretical foundation and gives thorough training in research methods. After completing it, students move on to the PhD, where they carry out original research under the supervision of Imperial faculty. Management and organisational researchers work on topics such as entrepreneurship, strategy, organisational behaviour, leadership and innovation.
Benefits
- Full tuition fee waiver: Covers home/EU or overseas fees, which is a big advantage for international students
- Living stipend: Paid through the Business School Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. The 2026–27 rate is £29,580 a year, tax-free, and it is expected to rise for 2027–28 in line with UK research council rates.
- Up to five years of funding: A sixth year may be considered case by case
- Teaching experience: The scholarship includes graduate teaching assistant work, which builds your academic CV
- World-class environment: Study at one of the world’s top-ranked universities, in the heart of London
Continued funding depends on satisfactory progress each year.
Eligibility
Imperial looks for academically outstanding candidates. Based on the School’s published guidance, you should have:
- Strong grades at both undergraduate and master’s level, including a strong dissertation. For UK graduates, this usually means at least an upper second-class (2:1) bachelor’s degree and a master’s with Merit or Distinction. Exceptional candidates with a first-class bachelor’s degree and no master’s may be considered if they have very strong references and an outstanding CV and statement.
- A master’s in a relevant field, such as management, business, organisational studies, psychology, economics, sociology, human resources or strategy
- A GMAT or GRE score. Imperial has said it expects strong scores across all sections, ideally in the 90th percentile or higher. Offers are not made conditional on a future test score, so you must have sat the test before applying.
- English language evidence, unless you are exempt
Required Documents
After submitting the online form, upload:
- Your current CV
- A statement of purpose
- Complete degree transcripts
- Contact details for two academic referees
- Your GMAT or GRE scores
- Evidence of English language proficiency
All documents and reference information must arrive before midnight UK time on 2 December 2026. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Writing Your Statement of Purpose
Imperial asks applicants to cover:
- Why you want to do an MRes and PhD
- Possible research areas you want to explore
- Specific Business School faculty whose research matches your interests
- What excites you most about your chosen field
- Relevant past study or research, especially any done with faculty
Tips for a Strong Application
- Book your GMAT/GRE now. With the deadline in early December, you need time to sit the test and possibly retake it to reach a top score.
- Name real faculty. Read recent papers by Imperial researchers in your area and explain clearly how your interests fit with theirs.
- Brief your referees early. Their references must also be in by the deadline.
- Show research potential. Highlight your dissertation, publications, conference papers or research assistant work.
How to Apply
- Read the Doctoral Programme admissions page on the Imperial Business School website.
- Submit the online application form through Imperial’s application system.
- Upload all supporting documents and referee details.
- Make sure everything is complete before midnight UK time on Wednesday, 2 December 2026.
Apply for the Imperial Business School Doctoral Programme
Questions can be sent to [email protected].
