Imperial College London Lee Family Scholarships

Imperial College London is pleased to announce the Lee Family Scholarships 2026/2027, an exclusive and fully funded opportunity for exceptional postgraduate researchers from mainland China and Hong Kong. These prestigious scholarships support new PhD applicants across Engineering, Medicine, Natural Sciences, and the Business School, offering full tuition, a generous annual stipend, and research consumables funding.

Imperial College London was founded in 1907 when several prestigious science and medical institutions in London merged to create a dedicated centre for research and innovation. Over the years, it has grown into one of the world’s leading universities, known for its strong focus on science, engineering, medicine, and business. Imperial has played a major role in groundbreaking discoveries, technological advancements, and global scientific progress.

Table of Briefs

Background

The Lee Family Scholarships were established through the generous support of the Lee family to empower outstanding researchers from mainland China and Hong Kong to pursue doctoral studies at Imperial College London. The aim of the scholarship is to nurture world-class talent in STEM and business-related fields, enabling scholars to develop advanced research skills at a globally recognised institution.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Lee Family Scholarship, applicants must:

Residency Requirements

• Ordinarily reside in mainland China or Hong Kong Taiwan not included.

Fee Status

• Be classified as an Overseas fee-paying student.

Academic Eligibility

• Apply for a PhD in:

  • Faculty of Engineering

  • Faculty of Medicine

  • Faculty of Natural Sciences

  • Imperial Business School only for current Imperial MRes students progressing to PhD in 2026/2027

• Must be a new PhD applicant current Imperial PhD students are not eligible.

Offer Requirement

• Hold a formal offer of admission by the time the department submits the nomination form.

English Language Requirement

• Must meet the English language condition by 30 June 2026.

Intended Career Path

• Applicants must not intend to work in the UK using skills gained from the PhD after completing their degree.

Start Dates

• Earliest start: 1 August 2026

• Latest start: 1 November 2026 later dates considered case by case

Benefits

What the Scholarship Covers

• Full tuition fees for 3.5 years

• £26,500 annual stipend

• Consumables budget:

  • £2,000 per year first 3 years

  • £1,000 in the final year

• Number of awards: 3

• Academic year: 2026/2027

This comprehensive package ensures that selected scholars can focus fully on high-impact research at one of the world’s leading universities.

Eligible Departments

This scholarship covers a wide range of STEM and business disciplines, including:

Aeronautics, Bioengineering, Brain Sciences, Business School, Environmental Policy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computing, Design Engineering, Earth Science & Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Immunology & Inflammation, Infectious Disease, Life Sciences, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metabolism & Reproduction, National Heart & Lung Institute, Physics, Public Health, Surgery & Cancer, and more.

Application Process

1. Contact Departments & Supervisors Early

• Students must approach potential supervisors and departments before submitting the PhD application.

• Some departments may have earlier internal deadlines, so early communication is essential.

2. Submit Complete PhD Application

• Apply via My Imperial by 12 January 2026.

• PhD application review may take 6–8 weeks.

3. Hold a Formal Offer

• You must receive a formal admission offer by the time your department completes the nomination form.

4. Department Nomination

• Departments will assess academic excellence and potential.

• Nomination submission deadline: 9 February 2026 11:59pm UK time.

5. Selection Panel Review

• Final decisions made by Imperial’s Selection Panel.

6. Notification of Results

• Applicants will be informed by 31 March 2026.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: 12 January 2026.

Conclusion

The Lee Family Scholarships offer an exceptional opportunity for ambitious researchers from mainland China and Hong Kong to pursue a fully funded PhD at Imperial College London one of the world’s leading institutions in science, engineering, medicine, and business. With comprehensive financial support, access to world-class facilities, and guidance from renowned academics, recipients can focus entirely on building impactful research careers.

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