Imperial College London is one of the world’s leading universities for science, engineering, medicine and business, and it teaches nothing else. Its main campus is in South Kensington, next to London’s big museums, and it’s one of the 24 research-intensive Russell Group universities. Imperial is very competitive: its typical offers are among the highest in the UK, and many courses add an admissions test and an interview.
If you’re reading this in autumn 2026, there’s still time to apply for most Imperial courses for September 2027, as long as you plan your admissions test carefully. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Imperial’s own guidance. If you’re applying for a master’s or PhD instead, see the section near the end.
1. Choose your course with care
At Imperial you apply for one specific degree, such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Computing or Economics, Finance and Data Science, and you’ll study it in depth from the first week. There are fewer optional subjects than at some universities, so make sure you really want to study that subject for three or four years. Read the course page closely, including the modules, the required subjects and whether there’s a test or interview.
2. Aim for top grades in maths and science
Imperial’s offers are high, and most courses need A level Mathematics plus other sciences. For example, for Mathematics BSc for 2027 entry, the typical offer is A*A*A, with A* in both Mathematics and Further Mathematics, or 40 points in the IB with 7 in Higher Level Mathematics (the minimum is 39). Electrical and Electronic Engineering asks for at least A*AA, with A* in Mathematics and A or A* in Physics. Typical offers can be higher than the published minimum, especially for competitive courses. Imperial Mathematics BSc.
3. Book the ESAT or TMUA early
Many Imperial courses require an admissions test as part of your application:
- ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) for courses in Aeronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Design Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Life Sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Physics.
- TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) for courses such as Mathematics and Economics, Finance and Data Science. Imperial no longer uses the MAT.
For 2027 entry, the October 2026 sitting (12 to 16 October) has passed, so your last chance is 4 to 8 January 2027, or 6 January 2027 in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Booking for the January ESAT opens at 3pm UK time on 26 October 2026 and closes on 21 December 2026, and test centres can fill up, so book as soon as you can. Check your course page to see which test you need. Imperial ESAT information.
4. Prepare for an online interview
Many Imperial departments interview shortlisted applicants, usually online. Engineering interviews, for example, are one-to-one conversations of 20 to 25 minutes with academic staff on Microsoft Teams, and Economics, Finance and Data Science interviews last 20 to 30 minutes. Expect to talk about your interest in the subject and to work through problems out loud. Practise explaining your thinking clearly, even when you’re not sure of the answer.
5. Write a personal statement about your subject
Your UCAS personal statement now has three questions: why you want to study the course, how your studies have prepared you, and what else you’ve done to prepare outside education. You have 4,000 characters in total, with at least 350 for each answer. Imperial’s tutors are scientists and engineers, so focus on the subject: the problems you’ve tried, the ideas that excite you and how you’ve gone beyond your school syllabus. Write about what you’ve read, explored or made, and what you think about it, rather than listing achievements. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas on structure, but keep your own voice.
6. Show your problem-solving beyond the classroom
Imperial looks for students who enjoy hard problems. Maths or science olympiads, coding or engineering projects, research placements, online courses and reading beyond the syllabus are all good ways to show this. What matters most is what you learned and how you thought about the challenge, not how many certificates you have.
7. Get a strong reference and apply by 13 January 2027
Your UCAS application includes a reference from your school, which explains your predicted grades and describes you as a student. Ask your teachers early, give them a short summary of your interests and achievements, and tell them about any circumstances that affected your studies so they can mention them.
The UCAS deadline for most Imperial courses starting in September 2027 is 6pm UK time on 13 January 2027. Every application received by then gets equal consideration, so there’s no advantage in rushing: use the time to make your application as strong as possible. If you’re hoping to study medicine or dentistry, note that the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry was 15 October 2026, and you’d also have needed to sit the UCAT, so you’d now be planning for 2028 entry.
8. Meet the English language requirement
If English isn’t your first language and you’re not exempt, you’ll need to meet Imperial’s standard or higher English requirement, depending on your course. In IELTS Academic, the standard level is 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in every part, and the higher level is 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in every part. IELTS scores are valid for two years and must still be valid when your course starts. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests. Imperial English language requirements.
9. Plan for high London costs
Imperial’s overseas fees are among the highest in the UK. For 2027 entry, Mathematics BSc costs £44,850 a year, and several science and bioengineering courses, such as Biological Sciences and Molecular Bioengineering, cost £47,800 a year. London is also one of the most expensive UK cities to live in. Imperial says it doesn’t offer central discounts on undergraduate tuition fees, although some departments run their own schemes, so check your department’s scholarship pages and plan your funding before you apply.
10. Get ready for your Student visa
Most international students need a UK Student visa. Once you’ve accepted Imperial as your firm choice and met your offer conditions, Imperial will issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which you need to apply for the visa. You’ll also need to show that you can pay your fees and living costs. After graduating, you can usually stay in the UK to work under the Graduate Route, which is due to be shortened from two years to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027. Check GOV.UK for the latest rules.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Imperial?
Imperial offers many one-year master’s degrees and PhDs in science, engineering, medicine and business, including well-known programmes at Imperial Business School. Each programme sets its own requirements and deadlines, and popular courses fill up, so apply early. You apply directly to the university, not through UCAS. Most programmes ask for a good first degree (often a UK upper second-class degree or the equivalent), a personal statement, references and, for international applicants, an English test. See our 50 sample SOPs, free GRE and GMAT practice tests, and our guide to the best AI master’s degrees in the UK.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Imperial turns down many strong applicants every year, because there are more excellent students than places. Use your five UCAS choices wisely: apply to Imperial if it’s right for you, and include universities where your chances are good. Read our guides to other Russell Group universities, including UCL, King’s College London, Oxford and Cambridge. Our guide to studying in the UK explains how UK universities work, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Imperial’s official undergraduate course, admissions test, English language and fees pages, and checked in October 2026. Entry requirements, deadlines, tests, fees and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on Imperial’s undergraduate website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Imperial College London.