A three to four year research degree
The Department describes an advanced research degree with in-depth specialist training in a topical area of Chemical Engineering and related disciplines.
Doctoral · Imperial Chemical Engineering
Imperial Chemical Engineering PhD: a research group, higher-level English and two referees
The Imperial Chemical Engineering PhD is an advanced three to four year research degree in which you join one of the Department's research groups under one or more academic supervisors. Its application asks for full transcripts, a personal statement on your research interest and experience, the details of two referees, at least one of them academic, and English at the College's higher level. For an engineering or chemistry graduate, the decision is whether your research interest fits a group and how to present it. This guide sets out what Imperial says for the 2027-28 cycle, marks Avandy's judgment separately and ends with next steps. The page does not state a degree classification, so this guide does not either.
Official information · last verified for 2027-28 entry
What Imperial asks for in Imperial Chemical Engineering PhD
Taken from Imperial's Department of Chemical Engineering PhD page and read on 1 November 2026. The page describes 2027-28 entry. For a 2028-29 start, applied for in 2027-28, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; Imperial's requirements, dates and funding for 2028-29 are awaiting publication, and none is stated here.
A research group and supervisors
You join one of the research groups and work under the supervision of one or more academic staff.
English at the higher level
Applicants must meet the College's English language requirement at the higher level.
A statement and two referees
The application includes a personal statement on research interest and experience and two referees, at least one academic.
Teaching experience is available
Students can work as Graduate Teaching Assistants for additional teaching experience.
Official sources
Read on 1 November 2026 on Imperial's Department of Chemical Engineering PhD page, which describes 2027-28 entry. Imperial's deadline, fee and funding tables, scholarship pages, the department's research pages and the University's application guidance were not used and are not stated. No deadline, fee, funding amount or place number is stated.
The decision
Does your research interest fit a Chemical Engineering group?
This guide concerns only the Imperial research degree. The reading below is Avandy's judgment (heuristic), built from what the page says about the degree and the application.
It fits if
you can name a research area in chemical engineering or a related discipline and describe your experience in it in a personal statement.
Think again if
you cannot yet connect your interest to a group. The page describes students joining a research group under academic supervisors.
Entry standard
The page does not state a degree classification. Check the Department and College pages for the standard that applies to you.
How the application is read
What the form must contain
Imperial asks you to apply through the online admissions system under the programme title Chemical Engineering (PhD). The form must include full transcripts of your university studies to date, a personal statement outlining your research interest and experience, a copy of your English language certificate if applicable and the contact details of two referees, at least one of whom must be an academic referee such as a project supervisor or personal tutor. You must meet the College's English language requirement at the higher level.
How the degree runs
A research group, specialist training and optional teaching
The Department describes an advanced research degree of three to four years with in-depth specialist training in a topical area. You join one of the research groups and work under one or more academic staff, receive professional skills training within the Department and the Graduate School and can work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for additional teaching experience. This is the 2027-28 page and may change.
Avandy's judgment
Where an application can go wrong
These points are Avandy's heuristic reading of the page. They are not Imperial rules and carry no probability.
A vague personal statement
The page asks it to outline your research interest and experience, so be specific about both.
No academic referee
At least one of the two referees must be academic.
Treating English as the standard level
The page says the higher level applies.
Choosing the wrong programme title
The title is Chemical Engineering (PhD).
Next steps
A sensible order of work
The order is Avandy's suggestion, built from the page's own steps.
Choose a group
Read the Department's research areas and choose where your interest fits.
Draft the statement
Describe your research interest and experience.
Arrange referees
Choose two, at least one academic.
Check English
Confirm you meet the higher level.
Planning for 2028-29 entry
Planning for 2028-29 entry: what carries over and what awaits publication
Imperial's pages describes entry in 2027-28. A start in 2028-29 means applying in the 2027-28 cycle, under rules Imperial has not yet published. Each item below is either last verified for 2027-28 entry, which means Imperial published it for the previous cycle and it may change, or awaiting publication for 2028-29 entry.
The structure of the route and the application
The entry standard, the application items and the research-degree structure are described on Imperial's pages for the 2027-28 cycle. Imperial has not published the following cycle.
Deadlines, places, funding and fees
This guide states none of them. Imperial publishes them per cycle; read them again when they show 2028-29.
What to do now
Choose a research group, draft the personal statement, arrange two referees and check the higher English level.
Support
Independent support with the research statement and fit
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Imperial College London or any of its departments, and it has no relationship with any member of staff. Support sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant and a PhD-level Academic Mentor help the applicant test a research idea against the department's published research areas and plan their own statement. Support here is limited to testing a research idea against the department's published research themes and planning the applicant's own statements; it does not extend to contacting staff on the applicant's behalf. Avandy does not write or submit any part of an application, cannot arrange a supervisor and promises no outcome or funding.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What must the Imperial Chemical Engineering PhD application include?
Full transcripts, a personal statement on your research interest and experience, an English language certificate if applicable and the details of two referees, at least one academic.
What English level is required?
Imperial's page says applicants must meet the College's English language requirement at the higher level.
How long is the degree?
The Department describes an advanced research degree of three to four years.
Can I teach during the PhD?
The page says you will have the opportunity to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for additional teaching experience.
Does the PhD include funding?
This guide did not read Imperial's scholarship pages and states no funding. Check the Department's pages for the cycle you apply in.
Students and families
Talk to us about the Imperial Chemical Engineering PhD
Tell us about your degrees, your research experience, the research question you want to pursue and the supervisors or groups you have in mind. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to develop the research statement.