# =2QS World University Rankings
234Undergrad & Postgrad Programmes
53 % International students
About Imperial College London
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Ranked 2nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings® 2026, Imperial College London is a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing solely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Imperial offers an education that is research-led, exposing you to real world challenges with no easy answers, teaching that opens everything up to question and opportunities to work across multi-cultural, multi-national teams.
Imperial is based in South Kensington in London, in an area known as ‘Albertopolis’, Prince Albert and Sir Henry Cole’s 19th century vision for an area where science and the arts would come together. As a result, Imperial’s neighbours include a number of world leading cultural organizations including the Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert museums; the Royal Colleges of Art and Music; and the Royal Albert Hall, where all of their students also graduate.
There is plenty of green space too, including two Royal Parks (Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens) within 10 minutes’ walk of campus. Travel to and from the area is also really easy as it’s served by three Tube lines and many bus routes.
One of the most distinctive elements of an Imperial education is that students join a community of world-class researchers. The cutting edge and globally influential nature of this research is what Imperial is best known for. It’s the focus on the practical application of their research – particularly in addressing global challenges – and the high level of interdisciplinary collaboration that makes their research so effective. Read more about their research impact on their research and innovation webpages.
The number of award winners, Nobel Prize holders and prestigious Fellowships (Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences) amongst their staff is a testament to the outstanding contributions they have made in their respective fields.
Imperial is one of the most international universities in the world, with 62% of its student body in 2021-22 being non-UK citizens and more than 140 countries are currently represented on campus. Meanwhile, the College’s staff, like their students, are diverse in their cultural backgrounds, nationalities and experiences.
Follow Imperial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (just search "imperial college").
Upcoming Events
24th October, 2026
London, United Kingdom
About Imperial College London
Join our mailing list to receive useful information about life in our student community including event invites and a download of our latest Study Guides.
Ranked 2nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings® 2026, Imperial College London is a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing solely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Imperial offers an education that is research-led, exposing you to real world challenges with no easy answers, teaching that opens everything up to question and opportunities to work across multi-cultural, multi-national teams.
Imperial is based in South Kensington in London, in an area known as ‘Albertopolis’, Prince Albert and Sir Henry Cole’s 19th century vision for an area where science and the arts would come together. As a result, Imperial’s neighbours include a number of world leading cultural organizations including the Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert museums; the Royal Colleges of Art and Music; and the Royal Albert Hall, where all of their students also graduate.
There is plenty of green space too, including two Royal Parks (Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens) within 10 minutes’ walk of campus. Travel to and from the area is also really easy as it’s served by three Tube lines and many bus routes.
One of the most distinctive elements of an Imperial education is that students join a community of world-class researchers. The cutting edge and globally influential nature of this research is what Imperial is best known for. It’s the focus on the practical application of their research – particularly in addressing global challenges – and the high level of interdisciplinary collaboration that makes their research so effective. Read more about their research impact on their research and innovation webpages.
The number of award winners, Nobel Prize holders and prestigious Fellowships (Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences) amongst their staff is a testament to the outstanding contributions they have made in their respective fields.
Imperial is one of the most international universities in the world, with 62% of its student body in 2021-22 being non-UK citizens and more than 140 countries are currently represented on campus. Meanwhile, the College’s staff, like their students, are diverse in their cultural backgrounds, nationalities and experiences.
Follow Imperial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (just search "imperial college").
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General
Bachelor
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The College has a number of campuses including their South Kensington Campus where their outstanding facilities include:
- Full motion flight simulator used for investigating the handling qualities and performance of existing and future aircraft
- Carbon capture pilot plant – stretching over four floors and built to industrial standards
- Hydrodynamics laboratory for measuring waves and their impact
- KPMG Data Observatory (DO), the largest of its kind in Europe, featuring a circular wall of 64 monitors powered by 32 computers facilitating 313 degrees of surround vision
- Test-flight facilities for hybrid unmanned aerial robots in a lab that is equipped with 16 high-speed 3D cameras capable of tracking the robots in flight, and a further eight for tracking underwater movement
- Wind tunnels, covering speeds from a few meters per second to Mach 9
Student life
Imperial offers a huge range of student activities, including 380+ student-led clubs, societies and projects. Groups range from a drone society and e-sports to a capella and yoga, as well as a variety of music and theatre groups. It’s also easy to find reminders of home through our cultural societies, including the Arabic, Indian, Italian, Japanese, and Korean societies amongst many others. The International Student Support team also offer a range of activities to help international students make the most of their time in the UK.
Chat to our current students and hear more about their experiences at Imperial.
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Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
Looking for a fully-funded scholarship to see you into university? Find out how to boost your chances of getting one.
Scholarships to study abroad
Find scholarships to study abroad with our lists of international scholarships – categorized by country, by subject, and by type of student.
Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all your questions about scholarship applications, including tips on how to find scholarships and chances of success.
Employability
A postgraduate degree from Imperial will provide you with an excellent foundation for your future – and the College offers lots of support to help you prepare for it. The Careers Service is on hand to support your career planning from your very first day and for up to three years after graduation.
Rankings & Ratings
Imperial College London is one of the top Public universities in London, United Kingdom. It is ranked #=2 in QS World University Rankings 2027.
QS World University Rankings
- 2015#=2
- 2016#8
- 2017#9
- 2018#8
- 2019#8
- 2020#9
- 2021#8
- 2022#7
- 2023#=6
- 2024#6
- 2025#2
- 2026#2
- 2027#=2
QS World University Rankings
- 2015#=2
- 2016#8
- 2017#9
- 2018#8
- 2019#8
- 2020#9
- 2021#8
- 2022#7
- 2023#=6
- 2024#6
- 2025#2
- 2026#2
- 2027#=2
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