Doctoral Programme In Sustainable Aviation (DPSA)

Imperial College London - Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable Aviation

Start Date: October 2026

Application Deadline: January, 19th, 2026

Introduction: The Brahmal Institute invites applications for the October 2026 PhD Cohort Programme in Sustainable Aviation. This pioneering doctoral programme is dedicated to addressing one of the most urgent global challenges — transforming aviation into a truly sustainable sector. The Institute provides a unique interdisciplinary environment for visionary researchers eager to challenge convention, disrupt existing systems, and reimagine the future of air transport. Building on Imperial College’s world-leading expertise and global partnerships, the programme fosters blue-sky thinking and bold innovation. Candidates will join a vibrant research community committed to developing transformative ideas that could redefine aviation and drive meaningful environmental change across the sector.

Objectives: The projects will each pursue disruptive and transformative research to advance the sustainability of aviation. Each will investigate or develop technologies or policies with the potential to create a sector visibly different from today’s, enabling radical change beyond incremental efficiency gains. Projects will reduce environmental impact beyond fuel efficiency, generate actionable insights for system-wide transformation, and provide a foundation for real-world implementation of sustainable solutions across aircraft design, operations, and policy. Students will apply to predefined, cross-disciplinary projects that embody this vision of bold, evidence-based innovation for a greener aviation future. For more details on our available projects, please visit: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brahmal-institute/dpsa/2026entry/

General Information:

• Duration: 3.5 years
• Funding: Full coverage of tuition fees. a generous travel budget, and an annual tax-free stipend of £21,237.

Eligibility:

• Having obtained or expect to obtain a 1st class honours Master’s (or higher) degree in Aerospace Engineering or allied disciplines such as Computational Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.
• Ability to develop and apply new concepts while prioritising work in response to deadlines.
• Creative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent background in numerical methods, and scientific computing.
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for publication
• Demonstrated understanding of and passion for sustainability.
• We are accepting applications from both Home and International students

Imperial is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and are working in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

How to apply:

• Submit your application at: Application process | Study | Imperial College London. You will need to include the reference (AE0064) and address your application to The Brahmal Vasudevan Institute. When making your application, please type ‘Aeronautics Research (PhD)’ into the programme search bar.
• When applying, please use "Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation “ as the proposed topic, “AE0072” as the supervisor and "Brahmal Institute" as the group.
• In lieu of a research statement, attach a one page (A4) letter of interest to your application that contains the following information:
• Your ranked preference (top 3) of DPSA projects (as seen here).Please indicate these clearly at the top of the page;
• Answers to the following two questions (maximum 200 words each):
• What steps have you taken, and what future ones will you pursue, to become a leader in sustainability?
• Why does your background and experience make you a good fit for the Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA)?

Further Information: To learn more about Imperial College, please go to www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg. For further inquiries, contact us at brahmal-institute@imperial.ac.uk.