How to Get Into Imperial College London

‘How do I get into Imperial’ is a question that I run into again and again! Luckily, I know exactly how to answer it. Here at The Profs, 95% of our students applying to their first and second-choice universities get in!

Imperial looks out for completely different characteristics to Oxbridge. Its application questions and interview style often catch unsuspecting students out so it’s imperative that you’re totally familiar with the process. Your academic history is important to Imperial and will strongly influence your chance of an offer. However, most applicants have top grades so a great academic track record does not guarantee your admission, nor will it help you to stand out. We’ll dive into some tips on how to demonstrate the X factor in this article.

One of our founders (Dr Leo) is an Imperial College London alumnus, and plenty of our team has worked in admissions for top-tier universities. So, if anyone has the know-how to make your application as perfect as possible, it’s us. In our experience, we’ve seen that very few students know how to write an undergraduate university application that targets Imperial’s unique admissions criteria. Thankfully, we offer the right support and preparation to aid you in submitting an application that stands out and maximises your chances of an offer.

Read on for insider information from our team of Imperial admissions experts.

Contents:

1. What is Imperial’s acceptance rate?
2. What are Imperial’s entry requirements?
3. Does Imperial give contextual offers?
4. Imperial’s courses and entry requirements
5. What do I do if I don’t meet Imperial’s entry requirements?
6. Insider information on Imperial
7. 7 tips for getting into Imperial
   • Do you actually know your specific requirements?
   • You’ve mentioned a solid 5-year plan, right?
   • Lay the ‘groundwork’ for Acceptance
   • Invest in your personal statement!
   • How to actually go beyond your school syllabus
   • Don’t trip on your admissions test
   • Remember the purpose of your interview
8. Get 1-to-1 guidance from an expert admissions tutor
9. FAQs

What is the Imperial acceptance rate?

In 2021, the Imperial acceptance rate was around 11.5% (based on data by UCAS). The university received 28,700 applications and offered places to 3,305 students. It’s worth noting that Imperial and LSE have particularly low acceptance rates because they offer a lesser variety of courses and thus have fewer spaces for applicants.

Imperial’s acceptance rates for its most competitive courses are also significantly lower than its average acceptance rate. For example, the admissions rate for Computing (Games, Vision and Interaction) is just 5.2%. For extra support in applying for Imperial’s competitive courses, contact the Profs’ admissions experts.

What are the Imperial entry requirements?

Imperial’s entry requirements vary depending on the course you’re applying to study and the country you’re applying from. The table below shows the standard A level requirements and the requirements of some of the most common international qualifications. If your qualifications are not in this table, or if you need information on English language requirements, check Imperial’s guide for international students. You can also get in touch with the Profs for individual support from one of our international admissions experts.

Note that Imperial’s entry requirements differ depending on your chosen course, so make sure you check on the relevant course page before applying. If you’re a UK student and need support in meeting the entry requirements for Imperial, then our A level tutors can help you boost your grades.

Insider tip: If you choose one of Imperial College London’s unique courses, like ‘Aeronautics with Spacecraft Engineering’, ‘Biomedical Technology Ventures’, ‘Economics, Finance and Data Science’ or ‘Biochemistry with Management’ and use your personal statement to demonstrate thorough knowledge of it as well as passion, you can really stand out!

Does Imperial give contextual offers?

Imperial doesn’t offer systematic contextual offers for its courses (unlike UCL and LSE), but it guarantees you an interview and/or offer if you come from a disadvantaged background and your predicted grades meet the minimum college entry standard at A-level or an equivalent level qualification in the relevant subjects. More information on this is available here. If you’re eligible for a guaranteed interview and/or offer, ensure that you pursue this.

Insider tip: If your school has limited resources, it’s good to apply for Oxbridge as well as Imperial (even if Imperial is your first choice or you have little/no intention of attending Oxbridge). This is because schools with limited support are more likely to give their Oxbridge applicants more time, help, skills, and resources. Don’t allow this to stop you from prioritising Imperial, this is purely a method of winning more support and attention on your application. However, obviously, to do this you need to take the time to apply earlier and do whatever Oxbridge is asking from you that might be different to Imperial.

Imperial’s courses and entry requirements

Please note that the entry requirements for Imperial differ depending on your chosen course, so make sure you check on the relevant course page before applying. Better yet, we’ve synthesised all of Imperial’s most competitive and/or popular courses and laid them out clearly in an undergraduate and postgraduate table. Check them out!

We also have previous guides on how to get into Imperial for Engineering, Medicine, Computing, and/or Physics.

Also, note Imperial’s English language requirements:

• Undergraduate: All students who did not receive their grades from an English-speaking country must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to Imperial, so check Imperial’s English language requirements.
• Postgraduate: All postgraduate courses require that students who did not receive their degree from an English-speaking country achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. The approved qualifications as well as the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement can be found here. However, Imperial College Business School asks these students to achieve the higher college requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. So, if you are applying to a course offered by Imperial College Business School, make sure that you are prepared to meet this requirement.

What do I do if I don’t meet Imperial’s entry requirements?

If you don’t meet Imperial’s entry requirements, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up on your application. A) Our expert A level tutors can help you boost your grades.
B) It might not be too late to improve your student profile. C) There are many alternative ways to stand out and make up for where you lack. In need of advice? We’ve got you covered. Check out our in-depth article on how to get into Imperial if you don’t meet their entry requirements! We offer plenty of recovery tips, including what to do if you have undesirable grades or subject combinations (including what to do if you’re not taking Further Maths when you should be).

Insider information on Imperial

Your referee

A good referee is important. Obviously, you want them to speak highly of you, but ideally, they will highlight your skills and qualities that are relevant to your chosen degree. For this reason, as well as for the general impression of your application, it is best to choose a referee who teaches your chosen subject or within your discipline. It is also a good idea to choose a referee who knows you well enough to write you something of quality.

Get to know your referee so that they can get to know you. Inform them of your extracurriculars and anything important that you’ve done well in. Talk to your referee about your strengths that they might not be aware of: what you have read about your subjects, and your work experiences and non-school achievements. You want your referee to convince Imperial College London that you are good at your chosen subject/s, passionate about them, and committed to your discipline. Beyond that, you want your referee to sell you as a person and your characteristics as you’ll have already covered your academic triumphs. If you get to choose, choose wisely.

Timing: postgraduates

First of all, you should create your application portal before you start writing. Imperial has a long application process with additional sections of career preparation questions as well as demanding quantitative and software skills in addition to the personal statement. Many students discover these sections only when they apply, and rush these answers, giving them a huge disadvantage compared to students who have planned these sections and written them to the same high standard as their personal statement. Also, be careful to avoid duplication between these sections.

Second of all, postgraduate applications (unlike undergraduate applications) are on a rolling basis. Many students think the postgraduate deadline is the time you need to submit your application, but generally, you want to be the first to submit it. Applications are considered from the opening date and courses remain open until they are full. So, your personal deadline should be the opening date for applications.

Bonus tip for postgraduates from Dr Leo (Imperial College London alumnus):

Try to network and build personal bonds with professors if you’re hoping to go on to postgraduate education. Personal introductions and recommendations from trusted people can take you a long way. If you network, you can flag (or ask your contact to flag) your application to the admissions team. If you’ve built contacts and you’re liked it can be what gets your application chosen over somebody else with a very similar CV. For this reason, it is good to consider getting yourself a well-connected referee.

Dr Leo states: “Humble, hungry and well connected is a pretty good formula for university and job applications. Humble (be curious but not a ‘know-it-all’/arrogant), hungry (show legit interest, do your homework and ask the right questions) and well-connected (work out who and how you can speak to the people that make decisions).”

All that said, don’t let a lack of access to Imperial’s alumni put you off. If you come from a background with low privilege and opportunity but you meet the minimum requirements, you are guaranteed an interview.

Stand out

Postgraduate courses that don’t ask for the completion of GMAT/GRE still appreciate students who have taken it. For undergraduates, there are a bunch of tests (TMUA, STEP) and competitions (the UK Maths Challenge) out there that you can get involved with. Imperial College London offers many courses at their Summer Schools, which could drastically improve your application e.g. Imperial’s Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer School and their Summer Schools for Undergraduates. So, if you want to wow Imperial, you might want to consider collecting some extra achievements such as the aforementioned. Most Imperial applicants will have exceptional grades in their required subjects, so it’s great if you can pull out some other relevant qualifications to maximise your chances.

7 tips for getting into Imperial College London

Imperial College London states that they consider an applicant’s examination results (already gained and predicted), their motivation and understanding of their course as a career, their potential for leadership and teamwork, their interests, their referee’s report, their admissions tests (if applicable) and their interview (if applicable). Consequently, Imperial does not appear to prioritise a particular aspect and each application is considered on its individual merits. So, it’s important to make your application well-rounded.

1. Do you actually know your specific requirements?

Imperial states that the majority of their student intake has 7-9 grades (A-A*) at GCSE level or the international equivalent, with a minimum of grade 7 (A) in maths and science subjects.

Most of Imperial College London’s courses require AAA-A*A*A. It is highly recommended that you meet these requirements, or better yet exceed them. It is definitely recommended that you achieve an A*-A in your chosen subject.

Although Imperial has generic requirements that apply to many of its courses, for some courses there are additional requirements you need to meet. For example, in order to study Aeronautical Engineering, you must typically achieve an A* in Mathematics, an A* in Physics, and at least one further A grade. Our A level tutors have a proven track record of helping students achieve A*s, so if you’re finding yourself slipping behind the grades required for entry, reach out to the Profs for support.

Insider tip: Oxbridge much prefers three amazing A levels over four less high A levels. However, Imperial differs to this because they are happy to accept one grade lower than their requirements if you’re taking four A levels instead of three e.g. A*A*A or A*AAA. So, it is always worth checking this with your department and considering whether three or four A levels would impress Imperial best.

Remember to ensure that you know you know your subject requirements and recommendations because fulfilling these will give you the best chance of admittance. Generally speaking, Imperial values STEM subjects like Science and Maths, and many applicants take four A levels to include Further Maths. Check your chosen course’s preferred subject combinations on their official page! Get involved with required/recommended subjects outside of your curriculum too e.g. competitions and teams.

Postgraduates: The majority of Imperial’s courses require a 2:1 or a First Class Honours degree.

2. You’ve mentioned a solid 5-year plan, right?

Imperial College London is a particularly career-focused university, boasting one of the best careers departments in the UK. Many of its courses rely less on textbooks and more on case studies and practical applications. As such, Imperial likes to see that you have a serious career plan after you graduate and this is best explained at the end of your personal statement. Any links you can make to your work experience or Imperial’s case-based study approach can also help you to stand out from the crowd.

Imperial College London also values applicants with a clear and ambitious career plan because they want their students to continue on to get good jobs after university and maintain a strong Imperial College London alumni network. Imperial wants to know what you intend on doing after your degree, and if you have work experience, how this will help you in your degree as well as your future career and other goals. Imperial wants to know why you need this degree. So, mention your career aspirations in your application and be specific. What institution or company do you want to work for, and what do you want to specialise in? If you’re not sure, educate yourself.

If you’re applying for a postgraduate degree, this is even more important. Why do you need to extend your studies and how will this postgraduate course help you to reach your goals in ways that your undergraduate course couldn’t? Imperial’s focus on careers cannot be overlooked, especially for postgraduate study. At MSc level, Imperial even has an additional career planning section. So, you will need to present a very clear objective behind this course: what do you hope to achieve with this and what makes your research proposal special?

3. Lay the ‘groundwork’ for acceptance

To help further prove your commitment to these long-term goals and make your application stand out from the thousands of other Imperial applicants, you should look to gain relevant work experience in your field. Whether paid or unpaid, having experience working in your desired field will provide you with invaluable real-world insights that you can use throughout your application.

If you can’t secure work experience, try to engage in as many extracurricular activities related to your chosen subject area as you can. For instance, if you’re applying for Computing, you could join a school Computing club or learn a new programming language in your free time. This will give you valuable extra skills to add to your application.

Undergraduates:

To stand out, consider taking part in Imperial’s Year 12 Work Experience Programme.

Insider tip 1: Get work experience at a prestigious institution/company and highlight that you are looking forward to working there or in the same field after university. This will show Imperial College London that you have a career lined up after your degree to support their employment survey and alumni network.

Insider tip 2: Show that you have the X factor by demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit. Being able to say that you started your own business, even if it was a small side hustle, will give you an edge.

Postgraduates:

Some of Imperial’s courses are even willing to overlook grades falling below entry requirements where students have substantial relevant industry experience!

All that said, some courses do not accept students with over two or three years of work experience. So, ensure that you check your course’s requirements. More isn’t always better.

Don’t forget to mention the experience you might have picked up during your undergraduate course. Imperial College London offers ‘Sector Weeks’, ‘Employer-Led Skills Workshops’, ‘Career Forums’ and ‘Networking Events’. It is great if you are able to say you’ve done this as it proves you have some niche experience, but more importantly, it shows that you have initiative, motivation and passion.

If you were a part of any university society, especially if you had a position such as president or treasurer, it could be advantageous to mention this.

Insider tip: If you completed an internship, it’s extremely valuable to highlight this and demonstrate an understanding of the industry. Take a look at LinkedIn. You can search there for seniors from the same school, country, or subject as you who completed a postgraduate course at Imperial. Have a look to get an idea of their background. This will give you an idea of what kind of experience to pursue. Not to mention, you can reach out to them directly, network, and ask for an opportunity. Searching through Imperial alumni is especially important if you are not applying with ideal grades as you can find graduates with similar grades to you and deduce from their profile what they might have done additionally to get in. However, minimum entrance requirements can vary year-to-year and Imperial is far more competitive than it was a decade ago, so some profiles of Imperial alumni could be misleading. Plus, people with subpar grades might opt out of sharing them on their profiles.

Extracurriculars:

Don’t underestimate the power of extracurriculars. They can prove you are committed to your subject and passionate about it outside of academia, and shape you as a candidate. You can also show you have the characteristics that Imperial values through your extracurricular activities.

Here is a quick list of tips when it comes to extracurriculars:

• Imperial is research intensive, so any extracurricular that is entrenched in this or demonstrates research skills will be advantageous e.g. conducting research for a teacher or department and/or getting involved with your local library (preferably with their archives).
• Joining clubs such as Robotics Club or Science Club demonstrates that you have a keen interest in Engineering and/or Science. You could use an example like this to illustrate that you enjoy investigation into deeper scientific knowledge.
• Imperial values innovation and open-mindedness so try to frame your extracurriculars through this lens. This should be easy with anything creative, against the grain, experimental, or led by the motivation of discovery.
• One characteristic that Imperial is looking for is leadership. Any examples of this, such as being captain of a team or society or head student can go a long way.
• Imperial’s motto is “together we are imperial”. Beyond this, they mention the value of teamwork and collaboration a lot. Many of their interviews are in groups and demand collective effort. Hence, it is imperative for you to demonstrate that you’re a team player – which can certainly be proven through extracurriculars.
• Imperial believes that your whole life shapes you as a candidate. Travel and volunteering could be worth mentioning if you can relate the roles or skills they taught you to your chosen course.
• The power of extracurriculars is their ability to prove genuine passion. Watch a lot of documentaries or attend a lot of museum exhibitions on X subject? Mention it! Just be ready to answer any questions on this.

4. Invest in your personal statement

For Imperial’s many competitive subjects, many applicants will achieve the grades required for entry. This means that the university will use applicants’ personal statements (plus the results of any admissions tests or interviews) to decide who to offer places to. Ensuring that your personal statement stands out is really important, as it gives you a potential edge over your competition.

Your personal statement is supposed to demonstrate passion. However, it is best to do this without saying “I am passionate about X” like most other students. Why would you like to study this subject, why do you love this subject, and why should this department as well as Imperial take you on as a student? Speak from the heart and talk with motivation. Remain focused and concise: you should constantly be talking about your course. Your subject is the only thing your personal statement should be about so allow this to structure your writing. Any achievements, activities, and/or soft skills should only be mentioned in the context of your subject.

Convince Imperial that you’ll be a good student for the next 3-4 years by showing that you’re willing to learn and that you have strong work ethic and time-management skills (these are characteristics specifically mentioned by Imperial). Most departments also value strong communication skills so try to showcase this in your experiences and writing.

Bonus tip from Dr Leo (Imperial College London alumnus): “Imperial proudly adopts a case-based approach. Imperial relies less on textbooks and more on real-world examples which results in very high teaching scores. Hinting that you are looking for a university with a case-based approach to learning can be a hint to their admissions team that Imperial is your first choice.”

Engineering applicants: Don’t write a personal statement about studying “Engineering” generally. Tailor your personal statement to the type of engineering course that you’re applying for. This will make your application stand out from the crowd.

Medicine applicants: Your personal statement should highlight that you have a mature character, can deal with stress, multitask, participate in teamwork, and be a leader.

Postgraduate applicants should check out our previous blog on how to write a PhD research proposal which includes more of Dr Leo’s insider tips.

Remember, Imperial does not systematically offer an interview component. Hence, you might not get the opportunity for an interview so there is A LOT of emphasis on your personal statement!
The Profs offer advice on crafting the perfect personal statement, just watch our video or read our previous blog on this subject.

The Profs’ personal statement tutors can provide tailored guidance on what exactly Imperial is looking for in students’ statements, and help you make sure you stand out.

Please note that all students applying for university in 2023 for courses beginning in 2024 will be required to submit a UCAS personal statement as normal. However, from 2024/25 onwards, there will be changes to the UCAS application process and students will no longer be required to write a personal statement. Instead, all applicants will answer a series of shorter, more tailored questions provided by UCAS. This advice can still be applied to the new structure.

5. How to ACTUALLY go beyond your school syllabus

Show that your understanding of the course is beyond comprehensive by talking about very specific and complex concepts. The best way to do this is to do your research and go beyond the curriculum and A level understanding. If you take the time to read a large breadth of quality literature around your subject, you can reference academic texts or textbooks and analyse them to demonstrate that you are an independent knowledge hunter and are able to work at university level. Be careful not to read the most popular texts that most students in your field might point to. Express something unique to your personal interests. Or find something unknown, underrated, niche, and/or peculiar to talk about. It’s important to demonstrate passion and knowledge for sub-subjects within your main subject.

Better yet, research your specific department, and discuss how you would contribute to their existing published research or accomplishments. Imperial College London favours students whose research will diversify that of their departments, or complement their interests. If you really want to impress Imperial College London, you could study the first 2-3 weeks of a first-year module for your chosen course and talk about this in your application to show that you are ahead of the competition.

Insider tip 1: Imperial’s excellent research has placed it at the forefront of Coronavirus epidemiology, virology, vaccine development and diagnostics in recent years. Hence, as a Medicine/Science student, it could bolster your application to show awareness and interest in this. Generally, you should research facts about imperial to do with your course and utilise them.

Insider tip 2: Keep up to date with national and international current affairs relevant to your field. It can boost your application to link the outside world to your discipline. For example, an Economics applicant might mention developments within FinTech and Cryptocurrency as these concepts tie the subject into digital developments that are current and relevant.

When conducting your extra reading and research in your subject check out the variety of free online courses that Imperial offers. You can demonstrate a genuine interest in Imperial by mentioning that you took one of their courses.

6. Don’t trip on your admissions tests

Your admissions test should not be neglected. Imperial considers every aspect of your application so there is no exception here. Your A level grades are not more important than your admissions test score. Those that study hard for both have a better chance of getting in!

Imperial also requires you to take an admissions test for Medicine (the BMAT), Mechanical Engineering (the IMAT), Physics (the IPAT) and all Mathematics courses (the MAT), which you’ll need to register for in advance. Preparing for your admissions test is essential to achieving a high score, which could be the difference between receiving an offer or not.

There is sometimes flexibility. For example, some courses include a MAT and/or STEP condition. Usually, you only need to meet a MAT condition unless your grades or MAT score is lacking, then you might need to complete the STEP as well. For the STEP, there are 3 step papers but Imperial will tell you which ones they want you to sit.

Postgraduates might be required or encouraged to complete the GMAT or GRE. In this case, they would be expected to achieve 650 at a minimum.

Imperial usually makes offers to students with higher grades/results than what is stated in their requirements for the course. So it’s important to get the best marks possible in every area.
It is recommended to start revising early, practise a lot, and ensure that you perform especially strong on any logic tests.

If you need help preparing for your admissions test, get in touch with the Profs’ experienced admissions consultants.

For more advice, check out our previous articles on the IMAT: ‘What is the Imperial Mechanical Engineering Admissions Test?’ and the IPAT: ‘What is the Imperial Physics Admissions Test?’

7. Remember the purpose of your interview

The majority of Imperial’s departments interview applicants who demonstrate potential in the application process.

Unlike Oxbridge, Imperial’s interview process is not routine or systematic. You may or may not be interviewed and the structure totally depends on your course. Check out our table of courses and application information for a clearer idea regarding what to expect interview-wise.

Generally, you will almost certainly be interviewed if you are applying to Imperial’s business school or for a postgraduate research course.

You will be informed of what’s required of you if you get through to this stage to give you the opportunity to prepare, but it’s recommended that you do your research beforehand.

Familiar with Imperial’s interview style?

Imperial’s interview style is extremely different to Oxbridge. Imperial can facilitate interviews more like a test centre. Though, they offer a variety of styles. Here are a few of Imperial’s interviewing styles that are good to be aware of:

• Some undergraduate Imperial interviews form part of a wider recruitment day, which will consist of other activities such as group tasks and written tests. Make sure you find out if this will be the case for your particular course so that you can prepare for any potential subject-specific tests or activities involved in a recruitment day beforehand.
• Many Imperial MSc courses hold Kira prep interviews which are online pre-recorded questions. For a large question bank of past questions as well as expert tips on how to impress in this unusual interview, contact our team of admissions experts.
• Some of the online interviews for undergraduates split the Q/A into sections: personal (e.g. strengths and weaknesses), technical (e.g. situational or key strengths in coding), and academic questions (e.g. solving a Maths question on the spot). Sometimes you are not able to prepare an answer and your answer is timed.
• Civil Engineering interviews can often consist of one lecturer and a group of students. You are judged on your interaction with the group. Hence it’s important that you speak up but your active listening skills are just as important as your communication skills. It’s beneficial to show enthusiasm, share ideas and demonstrate your ability to collaborate. You might be asked to complete a practical test and experiment. Bigger groups might later be split into smaller groups for a chat where there will be questions aimed at individuals. At this point, you could be asked to share a personal reason for why you want to study Civil Engineering.
• Medicine interviews follow a different format to all other interviews at Imperial. There are two main types of Medicine interviews: MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews) and traditional panel interviews. Imperial uses MMIs, which are designed to assess a range of both academic abilities and practical skills required for Medicine via multiple interviewing ‘stations’. Due to this unique format, MMIs require specific preparation. Find out more about how to prepare for an MMI in our helpful guide to preparing for Medicine interviews. For more university-specific guidance, read our guide on how to get into Imperial for Medicine.

Insider tips: Imperial interviews

As mentioned, the structure of the interview can totally depend on the course you’re applying to, however, there are some general rules of thumb. We have compiled a list below of interview tips that are specific to Imperial:

• Be thoroughly prepared to talk about your personal statement, including any reading or research that you mentioned in your application, or that might have been included in your curriculum.
• Refer to examples in your answers e.g. lived experience, grades, work experience and/or extracurriculars. It’s good to have an idea of some things that you can link back to. Unique stories as to how you fell in love with this subject or why you want a career in X are especially beneficial.
• Practice skills around your subject and learn as much as you can about it in case your interview includes technical questions or a test. Apply knowledge to the real world e.g. how does your knowledge on biomedical science relate to the covid virus?
• Interviews can often be online and won’t follow a typical structure. So, if this is the case for your course, get to know the online platforms and structure by completing mocks e.g. Imperial often utilises Kira Talent.
• Interviews can vary in terms of how many interviewers and how many interviewees there are, so always check. You could be speaking to an online system, one interviewer or a panel. Similarly, you could be solo or placed in a group, again online or in person. So, it’s important to practise the scenario relevant to your chosen course.
• If your interview is a group situation it is imperative that you demonstrate your ability to collaborate and function as a collective. Whilst Cambridge deems whether you are right for the university, Imperial deems whether you are part of their team.
• Generally, Imperial is checking whether you think independently and are excited about your course.
• When they ask you a question, they are watching how you answer it, rather than your answer itself. If you don’t know an answer, talk through your thought process. Imperial wants to know how you work through problems and approach problem-solving. If you are applying for a scientific course, they might want to see your curiosity about why something works or not, and the possibilities of how it could. Don’t be afraid to bring a piece of paper and write things down so that you can talk through your thoughts. This could go a long way to show how you think.
• Be real! Don’t memorise things to say and try to look intelligent. It’s better to be actively engaged and present.
• Showing curiosity and asking questions are encouraged.
• Start preparing and practising early!

Check out our previous article on Imperial College London Interviews for more advice! Also, further information provided by Imperial about their interview process can be found here.

Practising with an expert Profs interview tutor who understands the unique Imperial interview process is also a surefire way to improve your chances of success.

Please note: Don’t despair prematurely if you’re waiting to hear back about an offer. Imperial can be as late as March in getting back to candidates.

Get 1-to-1 guidance from an expert admissions tutor

At the Profs, we have many admissions consultants who can guide you through the process of applying to Imperial, as well as Oxbridge, UCL and other top universities. In fact, over 90% of our applicants receive an offer from their first or second choice universities. We can even support you in your wider degree-level education, helping you with everything from writing your dissertation to applying for postgraduate courses. Get in touch with our friendly team today to access our dedicated support.

FAQs

What subjects are Imperial known for? What subjects should I take?

Imperial College London specialises in Science and Technology based subjects. Hence, most of their courses are Engineering-related and they offer prestigious courses in Sciences, Maths, Medicine and Business.

So, generally speaking, Imperial values STEM subjects, and many applicants take four A levels to include Further Maths. It is good to be aware of this when considering whether Imperial is the right fit for you and whether you have a combination of subjects that Imperial would deem attractive.
If you are hoping to take a STEM degree, Imperial values applicants taking Sciences and Maths – this is because they are best suited to courses of this nature and more likely to keep up with the work. That said, if you are taking four A levels rather than three, your fourth A level could be in a subject far outside of Maths/Science as long as you can explain how it has taught you transferable skills for your chosen degree.

Is Imperial a Russell Group university?

Imperial College London is a member of the Russell Group of universities. It has a worldwide reputation for its quality of research and teaching, exceptional entrepreneurial culture, and connections to the wider industry. Imperial’s research has also placed it at the forefront of coronavirus epidemiology, virology, vaccine development and diagnostics in recent years. The Complete University Guide ranks Imperial as the fourth best Russell Group university behind only Oxford, Cambridge and LSE.

Is Imperial College London good?

Imperial College London is one of the best universities in the world. It consistently ranks in the top five UK universities and closely follows Oxford and Cambridge in the QS World University Rankings. Due to this outstanding reputation, and its specialism in Science and Technology-based subjects, places at Imperial are extremely competitive.
However, with the right support and expert preparation, the Profs have helped many students secure a much sought-after offer to study at Imperial. Read on to learn our top tips for standing out in your undergraduate application and how to maximise your chances of success.

Where is Imperial College London?

Imperial College London has a number of campuses across central and west London. Its main campus is located in South Kensington, however it also has campuses in White City, Hammersmith, Charing Cross, Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Brompton, and St Mary’s. Its London campuses are easily accessible by tube and bus, and the university also runs its own campus shuttle which stops at South Kensington, White City, and Hammersmith.

How hard is it to get into Imperial College London?

Imperial College London is one of the most competitive universities in the UK. In 2021, the Imperial acceptance rate was around 11.5%, and you will need top A level grades (or equivalent) and outstanding academic performance in order to be considered. Nevertheless, if you have a strong track record of high academic achievement, a real passion for your chosen subject, and a strong personal statement, you will be in a strong position to be considered for a place.

What is Imperial College London known for?

Imperial College London is known for its specialism in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Business subjects, including Engineering, Biological Sciences, Medicine, Finance, and Computing. It is also renowned for its extremely high quality of research; according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), it has a greater proportion of world-leading research than any other UK university.

Does Imperial give contextual offers?

Imperial doesn’t offer systematic contextual offers for its courses (unlike UCL and LSE), but it may guarantee you an interview or offer if you come from a disadvantaged background and show potential. Its admissions scheme is used to look beyond purely academic achievements and consider your performance in context, considering factors such as your economic, social and educational background.

Does Imperial College London accept BTEC?

Imperial College London does not accept BTEC qualifications. If you are unsure if your qualifications will be accepted, check on your chosen course page or contact Imperial directly.

Does Imperial College London do Law?

Imperial College London does not offer undergraduate or postgraduate Law courses. The university exclusively specialises in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and Business courses.