

Imperial College London Ranking 2026
The Imperial College London Ranking is #3 in the UK, as given by Shiksha Popularity Rankings, which further cements its status as one of the best colleges in the United Kingdom. Shiksha has also ranked the college for some of its popular courses on a national level. Here's how it fares in the UK:
| Course | Rank in the UK |
|---|---|
| BE or BTech | #2 |
| MBBS | #2 |
| MS | #3 |
| MIM | #3 |
| MBA or PGDM | #6 |
The college also ranks highly in rankings given by other prominent publications like QS World.
What is the Imperial College London World Ranking?
- The Imperial College London Global Ranking is #6, as given by Shiksha
- QS World ranks it #2 in the world for 2026
- The Complete University Guide ranks it #6 in the UK for 2026.
- US News ranks it #11 in the world for 2025
- THE ranks it #9 globally for 2025.
#6
#3
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Most Imperial London courses are considered among the best in the country. However, it really stands out in the UK for the streams given below, per the latest Shiksha Rankings.
| Course or Stream | Rank in the UK |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | #1 |
| Aeronautical Engineering | #1 |
Note: The rankings are subject to vary over time. For the latest rankings, students are advised to check out the rankings page.
The Imperial College ranks as the #1 university in London as part of the latest Shiksha Rankings. QS World also ranks it the best in the city for 2026.
The University College London is in second place with a global rank of #9, while King's College London, makes up the top 3, with a global rank #31, per QS World.
Both Imperial College London and Cambridge University offer a world-class MBA program. University of Cambridge is more popular for Digital Marketing, Strategy, and Energy, and Sustainability. Imperial College UK stands out for Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Busines Analytics.
Cambridge is among the top 3 universities in the UK for an MBA. Imperial College London ranks below it at #6, in the latest Shiksha rankings.
Imperial College London Courses
You can choose from more than 110 undergraduate and 200 graduate programs when it comes to Imperial College London Courses. Most of these are delivered by the college's four faculties, namely, Medicine, Engineering, Natural Science, and Business.
What are the most popular courses at Imperial College London?
The most popular courses you can pursue are Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical Engineering, Business Analytics, Management, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Medicine, among others.
Popular Undergraduate Courses
The following courses stand out when it comes to popular UG courses at Imperial College:
- Engineering: Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are the most in-demand.
- Science: Computer Science, Data Science, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, and MBBS stand out.
- Business and Management: Economics and Finance are the ones that see the highest number of applications.
- Other Popular Options: Mathematics and Physics are alternative options considered by Indian students.
Popular Graduate Courses
STEMB courses are hotly pursued. Some popular options you can choose from are:
- Computing: An MSc in Computing is very popular among students with a Bachelor's in Computer Science.
- Engineering: Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, see lots of competition.
- Business: Risk Management and Financial Engineering are popular among those seeking a Master's in Business.
- Other Popular Courses: MRes programs in Materials Science and Clinical Research, and Design courses are some other popular options.
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Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Both Imperial and Harvard are world-class global institutions. They are both better than each other in certain aspects. Imperial stands out for its STEM and Business courses, as does Harvard, however, Harvard does have a better reputation for courses in other streams.
ICL London maintains a much stronger reputation in the European and Asian markets. Harvard has better connections in North America.
Harvard has a better global reputation and is better for students interested in liberal arts or other areas of studies. Imperial is a better choice for STEMB courses.
Yes, students can switch courses at the Imperial College UK. Switching courses within the same department is much easier than doing so between different departments. The conditions of the switch may vary for different courses. This can also have an effect on the student visa.
Students are advised to consult their interested department's admin. They can guide students on the steps involved in the process.
Yes, ICL is considered very good for a CS program. The university has some of the best researchers in the world. They guide students during their studies, helping them build projects in fields like AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
CS graduates of ICL are always in high demand, and the university is located close to popular tech companies. This helps provide better future career opportunities.
Shiksha ranks it in the top 3 universities in the UK for Computer Science, in its the latest rankings.
Imperial College London Admissions 2026
Getting admission to Imperial College London is competitive. The university receives thousands of applications for its courses from around the globe every year. Indian students seeking ICL London Admissions would have to perform really well in their studies to get in. The university advises students to apply before Jun 30 of the year in which the course is supposed to begin.
Application Deadline 2026
The UCAS deadline is for students who wish to apply to UG programs, while the deadlines for PG courses vary by program. The upcoming deadlines for Indian students are mentioned below:
| Application Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| UCAS Equal Consideration - UG | Jan 14, 2026 |
| UCAS General - UG | Jun 30, 2026 |
| UCAS Final - UG | Sep 24, 2026 |
| PG Courses | Varies by Program |
How can I apply to Imperial College London?
You would have to submit a UCAS application if you're interested in Imperial College Admission to a UG course. For PG courses, you'd have to register on the My Imperial portal and submit an application from there. As part of the process, you'd be required to submit the Imperial College London application fee mentioned below:
| Course Level | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Master's |
MBA: GBP 150 (INR 17.5 K) MSc: GBP 125 (INR 14.5 K) Other Courses: GBP 90 (INR 10.5 K) |
| Undergraduate | GBP 80 (INR 9.3 K) |
What is the Eligibility Criteria?
The eligibility criteria are different for both UG and PG courses. The general criteria for both is mentioned below:
UG Eligibility
- Completed high-school level education with a minimum 90-92% overall across five subjects, with a minimum 90 to 95% in each
- Proficiency in English
- Valid scores in the SAT or ACT
PG Eligibility
- Completed the equivalent of a UK Second Class Honours
- Prior Work Experience in Relevant Field
- Good scores in the GRE or GMAT
- Up-to-date CV
- Two LOR
- Application fees :Pound 22 - 150
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Imperial College London accepts country-specific qualifications from students all over the globe. Listed below are the requirements for Indian students aiming to pursue UG courses at Imperial College:
Qualifications
ONE of the following
- CISCE - ISC (Council for Indian School Certificate Examination - Indian School Certificate) Class XII
- CBSE – AISSE (Central Board of Secondary Education – All India Senior School Examination) Class XII
Grades Required
Candidates must obtain the minimum scores listed below in 12th grade examinations:
- Overall score of 90-92% across five subject
- Score of 90-95% in relevant subjects
Transfers are not that common at Imperial College UK. Indian students enrolled at a different college or university can apply either as a visiting student or contact the Admisison team to know more about any transfer opportunities.
Transfers may be possible to a course offered by the department of Life Sciences, Physics, or Mathematics. It is not possible to transfer to a UG Engineering course.
The Imperial College acceptance rate of 15%, places it among the most selective higher educational institutes in the region. IC London is only known to accept about 15 applications of every 100 it receives which makes it very competitive to get into.
University College London in comparison, is slightly less picky, with an acceptance rate of 30%, UC London is twice as easier to secure admissions at than Imperial College.
Imperial College LondonImperial College London Scholarships
To make up for the high cost of studies, you can apply for Imperial College London Scholarships that are awarded based on need and merit. You have more than 200 options to choose from across the UG, PG, and Doctoral levels of studies.
Some of the popular options you can apply to are mentioned below:
| Type of Scholarship | Scholarship Name | Financial Award | Course Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merit-based | India Future Leaders Scholarship | Discount on tuition worth GBP 10,000 (INR 11.67 L) | PG, Research |
| Merit-based | Business School Excellence Award |
Covers 50% Tuition for up to 3 years |
UG |
| Merit-based | DAAD Scholarship | Covers 100% Tuition, and an annual stipend | PG, Research |
How can I get a Scholarship at Imperial College London?
The eligibility requirements are different for each scholarship. The general requirements remain the same for all scholarships, and are mentioned below:
- General Requirements: You should be a domicile of India, and submit your application on time. You should also have an admission offer from the college, and be available to begin your studies on time.
The college automatically considers you for scholarships based on your admission application itself. However, some scholarships require you to submit a separate application. The process for the same is given below:
- Process: Just apply normally to a program. The college would then assess your application and will contact you via email to fill out a scholarship form.
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
The college, in collaboration with the Formula 1, offers 3 scholarships to female students and to those from minority ethnic backgrounds to encourage participation of students in motorsports. The scholarships covers the full cost of studies including tuition and living costs for students for the full duration. To be eligible, students need to meet the conditions given below.
- Be a female student or from a minority ethnic background
- Should be enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering program
- Demonstrate academic excellence
- Only one F1 scholarship to be awarded each year
For more information, check out the scholarship page.
The Chevening Scholarship is a fully funded financial aid offered by the UK government to Indian students interested in a 1-year PG program. It covers the full tuition costs, offers a monthly stipend (varies), covers visa fees, and provides a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the country. Students also get an air ticket to travel to home country, every year.
To be eligible, students need to meet the below conditions:
- Be an Indian student
- Agree to return to home country for at-least two years after scholarship ends
- Have prior full-time work experience of 2 years
- A UG degree with great scores
- Have an unconditional admission offer
Yes, students can bring their families to study at Imperial College London. However, this does not apply to everyone. Given below are the conditions students need to meet to be eligible to bring their dependants with them.
- Should be enrolled in a PhD or MRes course OR
- Get a financial award from the UK government that covers some or all living costs for a full-time programme (atleast 6 months long) OR
- dependant already has a student dependant immigration permit OR
- have a child who was born after the last renewal of immigration permit OR
- applied same time for an immigration permit as the dependant
Imperial College LondonStudents Ratings & Reviews
- 57% students never faced discrimination in this university
Imperial College London Placements
A key reason why students wish to study at Imperial College London is down to the quality of its placements. The college maintains and leverages its connections with some of the best companies across industries to provide its students some important job roles.
What is the placement rate at Imperial College London?
The Imperial College London has not released an official figure yet, but around 64% of Class of 2024 MBA graduates were employed in the UK, while around 8% started their own business.
ROI After Education from Imperial College London
MBA graduates saw an increase of 45% in their average salaries, and were paid handsomely as part of the latest Imperial College London Placements.
What is the average salary earned by MBA graduates at Imperial College London?
The overall average salary figure stood at USD 119,230 (INR 1.05 Cr) per annum. Mentioned below is how the average salary compares to the tuition costs:
| Tuition Cost (Investment) | GBP 73,000 (INR 85 L) |
| Average MBA Salary (ROI) | USD 119,230 (INR 1.05 Cr) |
Source: ICL London
Top Recruiters
Commonly asked questions On Placements
Indian students can work 20 hrs/week during the semester in the UK. They can work 40 hrs/week (or full-time) during semester breaks. To be eligible to work part-time in the UK, students would need to meet the conditions given below.
- Should be enrolled in a full-time, degree-level or higher course at a UKVI licnesed college or university
- Can only work 10 hrs/week for below-degree courses
- Must have a UK student visa with work conditions clearly mentioned on the BRP
- The college or university should have a track record of compliance
Students earn INR 1.2 K-INR 1.8 K per hour on average. The wages depend on age, type of job, and location. Mentioned below are the minimum living wages for international students working part-time.
| Age | 21+ | 18-20 | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage per hour | INR 1.5 K | INR 1.3 K | INR 970 |
Source: GOV.uk
Yes, students get the access to world-class placements at Imperial College London. According to the reviews posted by students on Shiksha, the university ranks -
- 3.9 for post-study work jobs
- 3.9 stars for internships
- 3.6 stars for part-time work
With the help of the above-mentioned rankings it can be concluded that university offers very decent placements.
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Student Forum
Answered a week ago
I've seen this kind of Imperial vs Oxford question come up a lot, and I think the confusion is understandable. On paper, both look exceptional, so it's tempting to search for a single “better” answer. In reality, that framing usually causes more stress than clarity.
What helped me when comparing top-
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
Imperial College London MSc graduate average salary is around GBP 60,000 - GBP 75,000 (INR 71.98 L – INR 89.97 L), annually. Top companies such as UCL, NHS, and University of Oxford employ the college graduates.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Imperial College London is regarded for offering high placement rate all over the world. Imperial College London MSc graduates work for leading organisation such as-
Top Employers | ||
|---|---|---|
Accenture | Amazon | BCG |
Bloomberg | Deoitte | EY |
FT | KPMG | |
McKinsey & Company | P&G | PwC |
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Imperial College London MSc placement rate stands at 90%, and the graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation. Imperial College London MSc graduate average salary is around GBP 60,000 - GBP 75,000 (INR 71.98 L – INR 89.97 L), annually.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Similar to the Ivy League in the US, 24 of the best universities are part of the Russell Group in the UK. The main difference between RG universities and others comes in research, teaching, and overall standing. RG university faculty members are usually Nobel Prize winners or world-class researchers
A
Contributor-Level 10
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