Photo: Wikimedia Commons
About the university
A STEM specialist through and through — Imperial doesn't teach humanities degrees, and that focus shows in its consistent world rankings for engineering, medicine and natural sciences, all inside a South Kensington campus surrounded by London's museum district.
Country
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
City
London, England
Founded
1907
Study levels
Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Postgraduate Research
Intakes
September, January (selected courses)
Approx. tuition
GBP 20k–38k/yr
Popular courses
What people actually study here.
Entry requirements & approximate costs
What it takes to get in, and to fund it.
Academic entry
Completed GCE A/Levels (or equivalent), with grades matched against the university's published entry tariff for your course. A foundation year is common where results fall short of direct entry.
English proficiency
IELTS Academic 6.0–7.0 overall is typical, with higher requirements for competitive courses. UKVI-approved tests are required where a Student visa is involved.
Approximate tuition
Roughly GBP 20,000–38,000 a year for most undergraduate and master's programmes; medicine and some specialist courses run considerably higher. Confirm current fees directly with the university.
These figures apply broadly across United Kingdom's higher-education system, not just Imperial College London, always confirm your specific course's exact requirements and fees on the university's own site.
Scholarships
Ways to lower the cost.
President's Undergraduate Scholarships and other merit awards are available for international applicants in STEM fields.
The vibe
What it actually feels like.
- A pure STEM culture — every student on campus is doing science, medicine or engineering.
- South Kensington's museum row (Natural History, Science, V&A) is Imperial's literal front yard.
- Fast-paced and research-intensive, with strong ties into London's tech and biotech industries.
For Sri Lankan applicants
Why Sri Lankan students consider it.
For Sri Lankan students committed to engineering, medicine or the sciences, Imperial's pure-STEM focus and direct pipelines into London's biotech and engineering employers are hard to match elsewhere in the UK.
Fun things to do
Life outside the lecture hall.
Visit the Natural History or Science Museum, both directly across the road from campus, both free.
Explore Hyde Park, a short walk north, for a green break between labs.
Catch a talanta at Imperial's own student union — one of the most active in London.
Opportunities for international students
What's on offer if you're coming from abroad.
Application guidance
From application to visa-ready file.
- 1
Apply through UCAS (undergraduate) or directly to the university (postgraduate)
- 2
Submit certified transcripts and English test results
- 3
Receive an offer, followed by a CAS once academic and financial conditions are met
- 4
Begin your CAS shield and Student visa documentation
Once you have an offer, the documentation process covers exactly what identification, academic and financial evidence your visa file will need next.
Related guides
Documentation, explained.
Student Visa Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Students
The short version. For the full explanation of each item, see our complete documentation process guide.
Student Visa Proof of Funds Explained
The single most common reason a student visa file stalls, explained in plain English.
Common Student Visa Documentation Mistakes
Most refused or delayed files aren't refused for one big reason. They're delayed by three or four small, avoidable ones.
Also in United Kingdom
Other top United Kingdom universities.
References & sources
Where this page comes from.
- Imperial College London · official websiteVisit ↗
- International admissions pageVisit ↗
- Hero photograph · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- The Queen's Tower · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- Crest / coat of arms · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
Course lists, scholarships and admissions details summarised here are illustrative. Always confirm the current, exact terms on the university's own official website before applying. Photography is freely licensed via Wikimedia Commons, not sourced from the university's own site.
Aiming for Imperial College London? Let's make the money story match.
Campus photography & crest via Wikimedia Commons contributors. Course, admissions and scholarship details change. Always confirm current terms on the official site above before applying.