Imperial Admissions Statistics: What You Need to Know

Are you thinking of applying to Imperial College London? You're probably wondering just how tough it really is to get in.

Imperial is world-famous for science, engineering, and medicine, and the acceptance rates can feel intimidatingly low. You may have seen the numbers floating around online, but what do they actually mean for your application? And more importantly, do you stand a chance?

At Save My Exams, we've done the hard work for you. In this guide, we'll break down Imperial's admissions statistics in plain English, show you which courses are most competitive, and explain exactly what you need to know before you apply. Read on to find out more.

Top 3 Imperial Admissions Statistics 

• Overall in 2024, 32,887 students applied to Imperial for an undergraduate course.

• Of those, 8,264 students received an offer.

• Out of the students who were made offers, 3,474 had their places confirmed after they had achieved the grades needed for their chosen course.

Imperial Admissions Statistics: By Department

Below is a table of the number of 2024 applicants, offers made, and places confirmed for each of the departments at Imperial College, London. 

Statistics are from Imperial’s own undergraduate admissions data (opens in a new tab):

Key Trends from 2024

1. The most competitive department is the Business School

With 3,036 applications and 226 offers, the Business School is a highly competitive department. The data shows that only 1 in 13 students receive offers. Don’t let this put you off, but exceptional grades won’t be enough to secure a spot.

You’ll need to make your application really stand out. Think about securing real-life financial work experience that links to your chosen course. This could be:

• A week shadowing a local accountant

• A formal summer internship

• Fundraising with a charity

• Virtual programmes

2. The least competitive department is Earth Science and Engineering

The Earth Science and Engineering department had 474 applicants in 2024, and 298 offers were made. That’s around 63% of applicants getting an offer (nearly 2 out of every 3).

The academic standards for this course are still incredibly high, but there are fewer applicants for the places on offer.

3. Engineering has a clear competitive split

Engineering isn’t “one thing” in terms of competition.

Highly competitive engineering departments:

• Computing (16% offer rate)

• Design Engineering (24% offer rate)

• Electrical and Electronic Engineering (29% offer rate)

Less competitive engineering departments:

• Earth Science & Engineering (63% offer rate)

• Civil & Environmental Engineering (60% offer rate)

Engineering that is software, electronics, or design-based is more competitive than environmental-based engineering.

Knowing that you want to study engineering isn’t specific enough. Two engineering applicants with the same grades could have very different chances depending on the branch they choose.

Offer Rate vs Acceptance Rate: What's the Difference?

These two terms get confused all the time, but they mean very different things.

Offer rate is the percentage of applicants who receive an offer from Imperial. For example, if 100 students apply and 25 get offers, the offer rate is 25%.

Acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who actually end up studying at Imperial. This includes students who accepted their offer and met all the conditions.

The acceptance rate is so much lower because not everyone who gets an offer ends up at Imperial. Some students don't meet their grade conditions and others choose to go to another university instead.

What Grades Do You Need to Get In?

Imperial sets high academic standards. Here are the minimum entry requirements:

A Levels

Most courses require grades between (opens in a new tab)AAA and A*A*A (opens in a new tab), with some of the most competitive programmes asking for A*A*A*.

For STEM courses, you'll need specific subjects and grades. For example, Maths courses require A*s in Maths and Further Maths at A Level (opens in a new tab).

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Imperial requires 38-42 points overall, with scores of 6-7 in relevant Higher Level subjects.

The specific requirements depend on your chosen course. Make sure you check the (opens in a new tab)official Imperial course pages (opens in a new tab) for specific grade requirements.

Remember, meeting the minimum entry requirements doesn't guarantee an offer. This is because competition is so fierce. You need to go above and beyond to make your application stand out. 

• Focus on your personal statement

• Demonstrate your passion for your subject/course

• Highlight extracurricular activities

• Try to get relevant work experience 

• Detail how your chosen course links to your future plans

Other Factors That Affect Admission

While perhaps the most important thing, grades aren't everything. Imperial looks at your whole application.

Interview performance

Competitive courses often require interviews. Your interviewers will delve deeper into your personal statement and try to get a feel for your motivation.

At the same time, interviews assess your: 

• Subject knowledge

• Problem-solving abilities

• Genuine interest in the field

Personal statement

Your personal statement needs to demonstrate a real passion for your subject. Imperial wants to see evidence of:

• Independent reading

• Relevant work experience

• Projects that show your commitment

Generic statements won't cut it. Be specific about why you're interested in your chosen subject and what you've done to explore it.

International vs UK applicants

In 2024, Imperial received over 20,000 applications from international students (opens in a new tab)for undergraduate programmes. 

International applicants face additional challenges, including meeting English language requirements (IELTS 7.0+) and working out the equivalent grades of different qualification systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Imperial’s acceptance rate?

In 2024, the offer rate was 25%. However, the acceptance rate was 11%. This means that only 11% of Imperial applicants ended up enrolling onto their chosen course.

What Percentage of Imperial Students Drop Out?

According to The Guardian (opens in a new tab), Imperial has a drop out rate of 4.4%. This accounts for students who drop out of their course during the first year only.

Do you need all A*s to get into Imperial?

Not necessarily, but you do need exceptional grades. The most competitive courses will have applicants with straight A*s, so while it's not always a formal requirement, top grades significantly strengthen your application.

Get Into Imperial with Save My Exams

Imperial College London is one of the world's most competitive universities, with some daunting admissions statistics. Don't let these statistics scare you. Over 3,000 students start at Imperial as undergraduates every year. In the future, one of these students could be you. 

Are you ready to apply to Imperial? Maximise your chances of getting an offer by using Save My Exams examiner-written revision resources. They’re built around what actually comes up in exams, helping you boost your grades and stay in control of your revision - without the overwhelm.

Explore our A Level revision resources and dedicated university guidance.

References

Imperial Undergraduate Admissions Data (opens in a new tab)

Imperial Accepted Qualifications (opens in a new tab)

Imperial Mathematics (opens in a new tab)

Imperial Course Search (opens in a new tab)

The Guardian - University Rankings 2025 (opens in a new tab)