Imperial College London is a renowned university of science, technology and medicine, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world with a selective acceptance rate.
The Imperial College of science, technology and medicine is a top research institution. The London-based university is greatly admired by students across the U.K and other countries.
Imperial receives thousands of applications each year from students seeking admission into undergraduate and graduate studies. But the truth is, admission to Imperial College London is very competitive.
Looking at the previous admission statistics, only a few of those who applied to Imperial College London were offered admission. This raises several questions about the selectivity at Imperial College London.
If you aspire to study at this university, then your academic qualifications should be up to the standards required at Imperial College.
This article will be a guide to explain the admission process at Imperial College London and all you need to know about application, admission requirements, tuition and more.
About Imperial College London
The establishment of Imperial College London dates traces back to the early 20th century. Located in London, United Kingdom, Imperial College is a renowned research institution mainly focused on science, technology, business, and medicine.
The university’s main campus is located in South Kensington, with a satellite campus in White City. The Imperial College School of Medicine was established by merging St Mary’s Hospital Medical School.
Imperial College London facilities include a research field station in Silwood Park and several teaching hospitals across London. The Imperial College Business School was officially opened in 2004 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Imperial College London is immersed in intensive scientific, medical and technological research. An institution that shares a diverse community with over 50% of its students from outside the United Kingdom.
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Faculties, School and Department at Imperial College London
There are three faculties at Imperial College London with a business school and several departments.
The faculties at Imperial College London include the Faculty of Engineering with departments such as Aeronautics, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computing, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Earth Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Material, and Mechanical Engineering.
The Faculty of Medicine departments include Brain Sciences, Immunology and Inflammation, Infectious Disease, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, National Heart and Lung Institute, School of Public Health, and Surgery and Cancer.
Departments at the Faculty of Natural Sciences include Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Life Sciences, and the Centre for Environmental Policy.
The Business School departments are Finance, Management and Entrepreneurship, Economics and Public Policy, Marketing, and Analytical and Operations.
Imperial College London Ranking
According to the recent rankings by U.S. News and World Report, Imperial College London is ranked 4th as the best global university in the United Kingdom and Europe. Imperial College London is ranked 13th as the best global university.
Times Higher Education’s latest rankings place Imperial College London in 10th position in World University Rankings. Imperial College London is currently ranked at #6 on the list of the world’s top 100 universities according to QS World University Rankings.
Why You Should Study at Imperial College London
We are talking about one of the most prestigious universities in the world dedicated to thriving in science, medicine, business, and technology. Imperial College London is recognized as a top research institution.
There are several reasons you should study at Imperial College London.
Firstly, Imperial College London offers a conducive and relaxed atmosphere for learning. The university is more focused on science, technology, business and medical courses.
There is no better place to study than Imperial College if you are a student who desires to build a future career in engineering or health sciences.They have the best facilities for academic research, with qualified faculty members and professors ready to nurture students into professionals.
At Imperial College London, it is not just about studying in classes. The university has over 380 student organizations and clubs for students who are passionate to socialize with others. Imperial College also has world-class sports facilities on campus for students to participate and stay active.
Imperial College London has a high graduate employment rate, one of the best in the United Kingdom. Graduating from Imperial College London sets you on the right path for employment within a few months of graduation.
At Imperial, you will receive all the support you need to succeed at the top level. The university’s career services offer supportive and sustainable resources to assist students in making career decisions.
Imperial College London Admissions
Admission to Imperial College London is very challenging. The acceptance rate at Imperial College London makes it one of the most selective in the world.
The application readers at this university consider several factors before admitting students.
Firstly, the admission officers at Imperial College will assess your application by reading it thoroughly. What are the admission officers looking for in applications received?
The admission officers will review your application, checking if it meets the standards for admission to the course you have selected.
Once the admission officers at the university are done accessing your application, it will be sent to the appropriate department for more evaluation.
Application that arrives in the department will be reviewed holistically by qualified and experienced admission tutors. They will determine if your application is worth considering for admission.
The holistic process of evaluating your application is not just looking at numbers that describe your academic performance in high school. The admission tutors will look into other factors in your application.
For instance, they will look at your references letter, personal statement and experiences outside the classroom.
To stay ahead of other applicants in the race to get into Imperial College, get a good reference letter, write uniquely in your personal statement and include your extracurricular activities in the application.
The Acceptance Rate at Imperial College London
Imperial College London is very selective in its admission process. The admission rate at this university is almost in the single-digit.
About two years ago, Imperial College London received 25,650 applications. Despite receiving that number of applications in an admission cycle, Imperial College London offered admission to 3,450 students.
The acceptance rate at Imperial College London in that particular admission cycle was 13.5%. Getting into this university is very challenging for most applicants with the ambition to achieve academic excellence.
Imperial is highly competitive because it offers few courses and has to maintain the number of students admitted annually.
The recent undergraduate admission rate at Imperial College London is 11%. This was after 3,191 were offered admission to undergraduate studies out of the 28,866 applications submitted.
Admission Requirement for Undergraduate
Imperial College London is challenging to get into, with an admission rate below 15%. Spots are earned at this university by presenting an application with excellent academic records and a convincing reference letter and personal statement.
Each course offered at Imperial has its specific requirement. Students are strongly advised to review course-specific requirements before applying to Imperial.
The course-specific requirement varies based on preferences. Here, we want to look at the course-specific requirement for mechanical engineering.
Course Specific Requirements for Mechanical Engineering
Imperial College London requires A-levels, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement for admission to any course.
A-Levels
- Applicants must present grades of high standards (A*A*A* or A*AAA overall) to include;
- A* in Mathematics
- A/A* in Physics
- A in third or fourth academic subject
- Imperial College London requires an A* if you are applying with three A-levels, while an A is required if you are applying with four A-levels.
International Baccalaureate
- A minimum of 40 points overall is required with;
- 7 in Mathematics at higher level
- 7 in Physics at higher level
Advanced Placement
- Applicants to mechanical engineering must present grades 5,5,5,5 with;
- 5 in Physics C (mechanics)
- 5 in two further academic subjects
- 5 in Calculus BC
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English Language Requirement
Imperial College London requires English language proficiency for admission into the university. To gain entry to the mechanical engineering course, applicants must achieve the standard college requirement in any of these English language tests.
- Duolingo English Test
- IELTS – Academic (Test-Centre/UKVI SELT/Online)
- LanguageCert International ESOL
- Occupational English Test
- PTE – Academic (Test-Centre/UKVI SELT/Online)
- TOEFL (iBT) and (iBT Paper)
How to Apply to Imperial College London
Just like other universities in the United Kingdom, Imperial College London uses the UCAS application. It is strongly recommended that you apply early to Imperial College.
To complete an application to Imperial, kindly follow these simple steps.
Step 1. Select a Course
As a college of sciences, technology, and medicine, Imperial offers a variety of courses in engineering, health sciences, business and natural sciences.
Imperial allows you to select up to five courses as an applicant.
Step 2. Check Admission Requirement
The course-specific requirement at Imperial varies depending on an applicant’s choice. The college entry requirement includes meeting the standards for English language qualification. Some departments at the college require applicants to take an admission test.
Step 3. Register on UCAS Hub
As we said earlier, Imperial College uses the UCAS application. All you have to do is register with UCAS and complete the required details on the application.
Next, add your educational background and complete your employment history if it applies to you. Choose the courses you want to study at Imperial College. Make sure you review every detail before you proceed to the next stage of the application.
Write a personal statement, one that would convince the application readers at Imperial of your candidacy.
Get a good reference letter and pay your application fee, which should not be more than £27. Lastly, submit your application to Imperial College London.
Admission Requirement for International Students
The admission requirement for international students at Imperial varies. For international students from the United States, Imperial requires Advanced Placement tests.
Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
- Applicants must have an average of 3-4 Advanced Placement tests with standard grades of 5.
- Advanced Placement tests must be taken with a high school diploma.
English Language Proficiency
International applicants to Imperial College London must demonstrate proficiency in English.
Imperial College London will accept any of these English proficiency test scores.
Duolingo English Test
- Standard Level- 115 overall
- Higher Level- 125 overall
IELTS Academic (Test-Centre/UKVI SELT/Online)
- Standard Level-6.5 overall
- Higher Level- 7.0 overall
LanguageCert International ESOL
- Standard Level- ESOL B2 Test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) with a grade of High Pass
- Higher Level- ESOL B2 Test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) with a grade of High Pass
Occupational English Test
- Standard Level- Grade C+/300 in all elements
- Higher Level- Grade B/350 in all elements
PTE – Academic (Test-Centre/UKVI SELT/Online)
- Standard Level- 62 overall
- Higher Level- 69 overall
TOEFL (iBT) and (iBT Paper)
- Standard Level- 92 overall
- Higher Level- 100 overall
Also Read: List of Top 100 Universities in the UK
What Is the Acceptance Rate for International Students at Imperial College London?
Imperial College London receives applications from international students during its annual admission cycle.
According to admission statistics, 16% of the student body at Imperial are from EU countries, while 34% are international students from outside the United Kingdom and the EU.
Over the past few years, the average acceptance rate for international students at Imperial College London is 41%. However, Imperial College London is very competitive for international undergraduate and graduate students.
What Is Imperial College London’s Acceptance Rate for Masters?
Imperial College London has a less selective acceptance rate for master’s programs than undergraduate programs. As a leading research institution in medical, business, and engineering courses, Imperial receive thousands of visitors each year, yet only a few are offered admission.
The acceptance rate for master’s programs offered at Imperial College is approximately 28%. The most competitive graduate program at the college is MSc Statistics with an admit rate of 2.6%.
What Is Imperial College London Business School Acceptance Rate?
Imperial College Business School offers a decorative MBA program and Masters in Global Executive Management. The Business School at Imperial attracts inquisitive students to seek admission to several courses.
Imperial College London Business School has an acceptance rate of 15%.
Important Dates at Imperial College London
Here are very important dates for applicants to Imperial remember.
| Dates | |
| Mid-April | Start searching for courses on the UCAS application |
| Mid-May | Begin your application on UCAS Hub |
| September | Submit your complete application to UCAS |
| Mid- October | Application deadline |
Imperial College London Tuition and Fees
Here is the estimated cost of attendance at Imperial College by faculty.
Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering Department)
| Domestic | International |
| £ 9,250.00 | £ 35,100.00 |
Faculty of Medicine
| Domestic | International |
| £ 9,250.00 | £ 35,100.00 |
Imperial College London Contact Address
- School Address: South Kensington Campus London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
Visit the official website of Imperial Collegeb London for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked questions about the acceptance rate at Imperial College London.
Is it difficult to get into Imperial College London?
Yes, Imperial College London is very challenging to get into due to its low acceptance rate. The admission rate at Imperial is 11% for undergraduate admission.
What GPA is needed for Imperial College London?
The average requirement at Imperial College London is an overall mark of 6.8/10 to 6.9/10. Most courses at Imperial College London will require at least an overall mark of 7.2/10.
How competitive is Imperial College London?
More competitive than the University of Cambridge with an acceptance rate of 13.5%. This means that 14 out of 100 students are offered admission at Imperial College London.
Conclusion
Imperial College London is a research university every student would love to attend. But the admission rate at the college makes it more challenging for many students with ambition.
It is not impossible to gain entry into Imperial College London. If you have suitable academic qualifications worthy of admission to the college, you have a better chance of getting into Imperial.
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References
- Imperial: About Imperial College London
- U.S News & World Report: Imperial College London
- Times Higher Education: Imperial College London
- Top Universities: Imperial College London
