Admissions

QRT Labs studentships at Imperial are awarded through the Department of Computing's PhD admissions, whichever department your intended supervisor is in. There is no application fee and no separate scholarship application.

1. Choose your project. Select up to three of the centre's project proposals, in order of preference, or propose your own topic within the centre's research themes. Every proposal has a reference such as 2027-TB-2; note the references of the ones you select.
2. Choose your supervisors. Any academic in the supervisory pool can supervise you. If the person you want is not in the pool, contact them first to check they are willing to supervise you before you apply. Name your intended supervisors in your personal statement.
3. Apply for a PhD in Computing, April or October 2027 entry, through Imperial's online application system.
4. Give your project title. Your title must end with a bracket that names QRT Labs and lists the references of the proposals you selected, in order of preference. Use the title of your first-choice proposal, or your own title if you are proposing a topic. For example:
   • One proposal, 2027-TB-2: Title of proposal 2027-TB-2 (2027-TB-2, QRT Labs)
   • Three proposals, with 2027-TB-2 your first choice: Title of proposal 2027-TB-2 (2027-TB-2, 2027-CC-1, 2027-HF-1, QRT Labs)
   • Your own topic: Your title (QRT Labs)
   The bracket is how your application is identified as a QRT Labs application and matched to the proposals, so copy the format exactly.
5. Prepare the rest of your application. More guidance on how to prepare it, including what your personal and research statements should contain, is in the Department of Computing's PhD application guidelines.

Imperial's standard requirement for a PhD in Computing applies: a First Class or Distinction Master's-level degree, or equivalent, in computer science, mathematics or another relevant scientific or technical discipline, and the University's English language requirement at Standard level.

These are the minimum. The programme is very competitive, and most successful applicants will have more than the minimum, such as research experience or a strong master's project. But we look at each application as a whole, and we encourage everyone who meets the requirements to apply.

Every studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years and open to Home and Overseas applicants. It covers tuition fees and a stipend at the standard Imperial rate.

Students can be supervised by any academic in the centre's supervisory pool, across Computing, Mathematics and the Business School. Each project proposal comes with its supervisors. If you propose your own topic, we encourage you to contact potential supervisors before you apply.

Applications for April or October 2027 entry open in October 2026 and are considered in the Department of Computing's admissions rounds. Apply by one of the deadlines below to be considered in that round.

• 1 October 2026
• 1 December 2026
• 1 February 2027
• 1 April 2027

Enquiries about admissions go to Amani El-Kholy, Admissions Officer, Department of Computing, at a.o.el-kholy@imperial.ac.uk. The department's PhD FAQs answer most general questions about applying.