Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

Address and Location

The main Imperial campus is situated in South Kensington - London's Albertopolis', which includes the Natural History Museum and Royal Albert Hall. The college also has lecture halls and classrooms in Paddington, Chelsea and Hammersmith. Outside of the capital, Imperial has facilities in Wye, Kent and Ascot, Berkshire.

 

Background and History

The foundation of the Wye campus dates back to 1447, while the university medical schools were opened in the mid-nineteenth century. Imperial College in its current form was created in 1907 by the merger of City and Guilds College, the Royal School of Mines and the Royal Science College. Although originally part of the University of London, Imperial became independent in 2007 and now awards its own degrees.

Location and Accessibility

By Rail: All of the university's London campuses are served by the Underground network. National Rail services are available at Paddington and Victoria stations.

By Road: Driving to Imperial is not advisable as the London campuses are within the congestion charging zone and parking is limited. Each site is serviced by buses at all hours of the day and night. If travelling from outside London, Victoria bus station is nearby and has connecting services to South Kensington.

Accessibility: Most Imperial facilities are wheelchair-friendly and accommodation is available for students with disabilities.

What's on Offer

BSc, MSc, MEng, MSci, MBA, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, MPhil, PhD, EngD

Entry Requirements

Entrance requirements for all courses are high - typically AAA at A-Level or 38 points for those studying IB.

University Accommodation

Imperial runs 20 housing facilities across the capital, all within a short walk of the South Kensington campus. The university guarantees accommodation in halls for first-year students

Private Accommodation

Surrounding the campuses are some of the most expensive housing areas in the country, so few students stay there in their second and third years. A number of private companies provide halls of residence. These offer flexible terms but can be more expensive than a normal landlord.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Imperial specialises in scientific study and has a world-class reputation for all of its offered subjects. The university boasts the largest medical faculty in the country and the Engineering and Natural Science Departments score highly in international rankings.  

Tuition Fees

Undergraduate courses currently cost £9,000 per year. Fees for international students and postgraduates vary according to course.

Financial Support: A variety of scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to undergraduates and postgraduates. Check the university website for more details.

Academic Facilities

Science facilities and laboratories at Imperial are world-class, and complemented by modern lecture halls and classrooms. The university is also home to a newly-renovated business school. The university medical faculty operates six teaching hospitals across London and also provides first-rate study facilities for biomedical researchers.  

Other on-site Amenities

Sports at Imperial have been given a boost following renovation of the Ethos sports centre. The range of facilities available to students is excellent, and include a Thames boathouse and mountain hut in Snowdonia. A number of affordable bars and eateries are available on-site. Arts and music spaces are also available for student use.  

Medical and Social Care

A dental and medical practice are available on campus. A chaplaincy offers pastoral care, while the college has numerous faith societies offering religious support and counselling. Two multi-faith prayer rooms are available for students.  

What's on in the Area

South Kensington boasts a wealth of cultural sites, including the Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, VA and the Natural History Museum. Hyde Park sits next to the campus. South Kensington nightlife is known for being upmarket and may be beyond the budget of most students!      

Moving On

The employability of Imperial graduates is high and the average starting salary is the highest in the country. Opportunities exist for students to stay in research positions at the university, and Imperial has a dedicated department to help spin research ideas into commercial businesses.

Notable Imperial alumni include H.G. Wells, Sir Alexander Fleming and Sir Tom Higgle, co-discoverer of the Higgs-Boson particle. The Queen's Tower belfry on campus has ten bells, each named after a member of Queen Victoria's family.  

Is Imperial the place for you?

Imperial offers the best facilities in the UK and some of the best in the world for those wanting to study science. Students benefit from living and working in a quiet, upmarket part of London, being away from the urban sprawl does make living near the university very expensive, however. If living in the capital does it for you, UCL and King's College are two other excellent universities worth considering for science and medicine.