Inside the medical library with people present

How to choose your undergraduate course

When you apply for undergraduate study at Imperial, you apply to a particular course in an academic department rather than to the university as a whole.

We offer:

  • 130+ undergraduate courses, lasting between 3 and 6 years
  • Courses in 16 academic departments covering science, technology, engineering, medicine and business
  • Options to enhance your course including study and research abroad, years in industry and management years in many departments
  • A for-degree-credit module outside of your chosen subject in all courses through I-Explore

Keep an open mind

Many of our courses require maths at A-level (or equivalent) and often (though not always) one or two science subjects on top. 

If you're studying this combination of subjects at high school or have already achieved qualifications in these areas then we encourage you to keep an open mind when considering your options.

Your skills and experiences can open the door to a range of subjects that play a critical role in our shared mission of creating healthier, smarter, more sustainable and more resilient societies.

There may be subjects you have never heard of and courses that lead to careers which may not even exist yet.

That's one of the great things about studying at Imperial – a place where the work we do is actively shaping the future.


Ways to find out more about our courses


Types of courses

We offer a range of undergraduate qualifications.

Bachelor's level courses

It's usually possible to achieve the following qualifications in three years:

  • Bachelor of Science (BSc)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)

Sometimes courses that lead to these qualifications last longer if they incorporate an additional management year or year in industry (or sometimes both).

Integrated Master's courses

The following qualifications are normally achieved in four years, though they may last longer if they incorporate a year abroad/research/industry:

  • Master of Engineering (MEng)
  • Master of Science (MSci)

These degrees are known as integrated Master’s degrees. This means the Bachelor’s degree with Honours (BEng or BSc) is combined with a final year at Master's (postgraduate) level in a single, continuous course. 

They are still regarded as undergraduate courses so if you are eligible for a Tuition fee loan and Maintenance loan from the UK government, and an Imperial Bursary, this funding will still apply in the final postgraduate year.

Six-year Medicine course

Graduates of our six-year Medicine course achieve two qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc)

This is because they complete a one-year intercalated BSc degree in the fourth year in a subject related to medicine. 


Can I change my course choice after I apply?

You can amend your UCAS application choice in UCAS Hub without letting Imperial know within 14 days of submitting your application. This is referred to as a ‘substitution’.

After this point, you can request a course change by emailing the relevant Imperial Admissions team to let them know.

We will only approve this if you have not received a decision on your original application choice.


Associateships

Graduates of our science and engineering undergraduate degrees usually receive an additional benefit in the award of an Associateship.

These additional awards are a result of the way that Imperial was formed in 1907 when the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines and the City and Guilds College merged to form the Imperial College of Science and Technology:

  • Associateship of the Royal College of Science (ARCS)
  • Associateship of the Royal School of Mines (ARSM)
  • Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI)

Graduates of our Medicine course are awarded:

  • Associateship of the Imperial College School of Medicine (AICSM)

Read more about the history of Imperial.