🔬Imperial College London

London, UK

QS World 2026 · #2

London's dedicated STEM powerhouse — pure science, engineering, medicine and business.

About Imperial

Imperial College London split from the University of London in 2007 to focus exclusively on science, engineering, medicine and business — it doesn't offer humanities or social science degrees at all. Its central London campus in South Kensington sits alongside the Natural History and Science Museums.

Why students choose it

  • 100% STEM/medicine/business focus — no humanities dilution
  • Consistently ranked among the world's top 3 for engineering
  • South Kensington campus in the heart of London's museum district

🎓 Free application support for Imperial

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Imperial — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation.

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Typical entry grades

A*A*A (A Level)  ·  IB 40

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£38,000+/yr

premium tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, London

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Imperial's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology · UCAT · Interview (MMI)

Aeronautical Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Computing

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · TMUA / ESAT (top universities)

Mathematics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · STEP / TMUA (top universities)

Physics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Chemical Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

See where Imperial ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether Imperial is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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More UK universities

Imperial FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Imperial as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Imperial?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Imperial expects around A*A*A at A Level or 40 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Imperial's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Imperial's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Imperial cost for international students?

International tuition at Imperial typically falls in the £38,000+/yr range (premium tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Imperial's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Imperial?

Imperial follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on Imperial's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Imperial?

UK universities, including Imperial, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is Imperial known for?

London's dedicated STEM powerhouse — pure science, engineering, medicine and business. Imperial College London split from the University of London in 2007 to focus exclusively on science, engineering, medicine and business — it doesn't offer humanities or social science degrees at all. Its central London campus in South Kensington sits alongside the Natural History and Science Museums.

Can I apply to Imperial with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Imperial accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Imperial and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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