Imperial College London
A London university devoted entirely to science, engineering, medicine and business, based in South Kensington.
- Offer rate
- 24%
- 2025 UCAS cycle (entry autumn 2025)
- Students
- 23,920
- 12,477 undergraduates
- International
- 61%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £42,700
- From · 2026-27
About Imperial
Imperial College London is a specialist university: every undergraduate studies science, engineering, medicine or business. It is organised into four parts, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Imperial Business School, and its main campus sits in South Kensington next to the Science Museum and the Royal Albert Hall, with further campuses including White City and Silwood Park.
The university is highly international. In 2024-25, 61% of its 23,000-plus students were international, drawn from more than 150 countries, and in 2025-26 just over half of full-time students paid overseas fees. Undergraduates make up a little over half of the student body, with a large taught and research postgraduate community working alongside them.
Courses are intense, mathematical and demanding from the first week, and many run as four-year integrated master's degrees (MEng or MSci). Imperial suits students who already know which subject they want to go deep in, who enjoy problem sets and lab work, and who want to be in central London among researchers working on medicine, climate, AI and engineering problems. Most departments interview, and many courses require an admissions test such as the ESAT, TMUA or UCAT.
Scientia imperii decus et tutamen
“Scientific knowledge, the crowning glory and the safeguard of the empire” — university motto
Why students choose Imperial
The whole university is focused on STEM, medicine and business, so every course is taught by departments that are also major research groups.
Imperial was ranked joint 2nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 8th in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
Engineering degrees such as Aeronautical, Mechanical and Computing are offered as integrated MEng programmes, and the Dyson School of Design Engineering combines engineering with product design.
The South Kensington campus puts students in central London, a short walk from Hyde Park and the museums of Exhibition Road, with guaranteed first-year halls for eligible firm-choice students.
Admissions
2025 UCAS cycle (entry autumn 2025)
About 1 in 4 applications receives an offer
8,143 offers from 33,923 applications
This is an offer rate: 33,923 applications received and 8,143 offers made in the 2025 UCAS cycle (3,627 places confirmed). Rates vary widely by course; for 2025-26 entry Computing received 3,498 applications for 268 new admissions and Mathematics 4,174 for 243.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Standard offers between AAA and A*A*A depending on course |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 38-42 points overall, with 6-7 in relevant Higher Level subjects |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 92 Standard level: IELTS 6.5 (min 6.0 in each element) or TOEFL iBT 92 (min 20 in each). Some courses require the higher level: IELTS 7.0 (min 6.5) or TOEFL iBT 100 (min 22). Imperial asks all applicants to meet the requirement. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Applies to Medicine; UCAS early deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
For all other Imperial undergraduate courses.
Dates are the UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry. Admissions tests (ESAT, TMUA, UCAT) have their own earlier registration and sitting windows.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (up to five choices). Imperial assesses predicted grades, any required admissions test (ESAT, TMUA or UCAT), the personal statement and the reference; most departments then interview shortlisted applicants between November and February.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting or exceeding the course's minimum academic requirements, judged on achieved and predicted grades.
- Strong performance in the relevant admissions test where one is required.
- A personal statement and reference that show genuine engagement with the subject; tutors review applications holistically rather than on grades alone.
- Performance at interview or an admissions day, which forms part of the overall assessment for shortlisted applicants.
Tips for applying to Imperial
- 1 Check your course page early: Computing requires the TMUA, many engineering and science courses use the ESAT, and Medicine uses the UCAT, each with deadlines before the UCAS date.
- 2 Expect questions at interview about anything you mention in your personal statement, so only include reading and projects you can discuss in depth.
- 3 Medicine uses Multiple Mini Interviews rather than a panel, so prepare for short, timed stations.
- 4 Accept Imperial as your firm choice and submit the halls application by the July deadline if you want the first-year accommodation guarantee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
Home undergraduates with household income under £70,000 automatically receive the non-repayable Imperial Bursary of £1,000 to £5,000 a year, on top of government loans. Overseas-fee students are not eligible for the bursary and should search Imperial's scholarships database for course-specific awards.
- £5,000 per year
- Imperial Bursary, household income up to £16,000
- £4,400 per year
- Imperial Bursary, household income £16,001-£50,000
- £70,000 (Home students only)
- Imperial Bursary income ceiling
Academics
Computing (BEng/MEng)
One of Imperial's most competitive courses, with 3,498 applications for 268 places for 2025-26 entry and a required TMUA.
Aeronautical Engineering (MEng)
A four-year integrated master's; Imperial reports it is 1st in the UK for aerospace engineering in the Guardian University Guide 2027.
Medicine (MBBS/BSc)
Imperial reports its Medicine course is 1st in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2027; selection uses the UCAT and Multiple Mini Interviews.
Design Engineering (MEng)
Taught by the Dyson School of Design Engineering, combining engineering fundamentals with product design.
Mathematics (BSc/MSci)
A large department with 4,174 applications for 243 places for 2025-26 entry, including joint Mathematics and Computer Science routes.
Chemical Engineering (MEng)
Imperial reports the subject is 4th in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026.
Research
- Medicine is Imperial's largest area of spend: the Faculty of Medicine accounted for 41.9% of academic expenditure in 2024-25, including major units such as the National Heart and Lung Institute and the School of Public Health.
- The Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Environmental Policy anchor Imperial's climate research.
- Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson's team at Imperial produced COVID-19 modelling that shaped UK and US policy responses.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Imperial Business School
In 2025, 89.8% of Imperial undergraduates awarded honours degrees received a First or 2:1 (excluding MBBS).
Student life
Most first-years live in Imperial halls: around 90% of undergraduates choose halls in their first year, and eligible firm-choice students are guaranteed a room, with bills, internet and insurance included in the rent. Life centres on the compact South Kensington campus and Imperial College Union, whose clubs range from hackathons to music. Because the university has no humanities faculties, social life mixes scientists, engineers and medics, and many students take advantage of central London's museums, parks and concerts, including events on Queen's Lawn.
- Around 90% of first-year undergraduates live in halls, with rooms for about 2,900 students.
- Student-run hackathons such as IC Hack take over the campus common rooms.
- Brian May was studying at Imperial when he placed an advertisement at the college union that led to the formation of Queen.
- Queen's Lawn, framed by the Central Library and the Sherfield Building, is the campus's main open space and hosts outdoor events.
Housing. First-year undergraduates who firmly accept Imperial and apply for accommodation by the July deadline are guaranteed a place in Imperial halls, though not a particular hall.
Location
South Kensington is one of London's museum districts: the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A and Royal Albert Hall are all on the campus's doorstep, and Hyde Park is a few minutes' walk north. The area is expensive, so many students live in halls further west, such as in Hammersmith, and commute by Tube. Imperial's own estimate puts average living costs for a nine-month year at around £16,400-£17,000.
Nearest airport: London Heathrow (LHR)
Notable alumni
- SA Sir Alexander FlemingDiscovered penicillin; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (studied at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, now part of Imperial)
- HG H. G. WellsAuthor of The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds
- SB Sir Brian MayGuitarist of Queen and astrophysicist
- SR Sir Roger BannisterFirst person to run a mile in under four minutes
- MG Marc GarneauFirst Canadian in space and later a Canadian government minister
- SS Simon SinghScience writer, author of Fermat's Last Theorem
- AM Andreas MogensenFirst Danish astronaut
Frequently asked questions
What is Imperial College London's acceptance rate?
Imperial publishes offer rates rather than an acceptance rate: in the 2025 UCAS cycle it received 33,923 applications and made 8,143 offers, an offer rate of about 24%. Competition varies a lot by course.
What A-levels do you need for Imperial?
Standard offers range from AAA to A*A*A depending on the course, and IB offers are typically 38-42 points with 6-7 in relevant Higher Level subjects. Many courses also require an admissions test.
Does Imperial require an admissions test?
It depends on the course: Computing requires the TMUA, many engineering and science courses use the ESAT, and Medicine uses the UCAT. There is no single university-wide test.
How much are Imperial's tuition fees for international students?
Overseas fees for 2027 entry have not yet been set; as a guide, 2026-27 entrants pay £42,700 a year for Mathematics, £45,500 for most science and engineering courses and £58,600 for Medicine. The Home fee for 2027 entry is £10,050 a year (£9,790 in 2026-27).
Does Imperial interview applicants?
Yes, most departments interview applicants who show potential in their application and any admissions test, usually between November and February. Medicine uses Multiple Mini Interviews.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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