Welcome to Imperial Thrive
At Imperial, we are committed to student success and creating a positive, engaging experience for every student who chooses to study with us.
Every September, as part of our ‘Imperial Thrive’ programme, we run pre-arrival residentials, giving students who meet our contextual admissions criteria the opportunity to experience life on campus before term starts.
Our Imperial Thrive community is made up of students who may be the first in their family to go to university, went to a state school, or are from backgrounds that are typically underrepresented.
Students will have the chance to make connections with others from similar backgrounds, meet their tutors, and take part in a range of academic and social activities to help transition smoothly into university.
Following this, Imperial Thrive students will be supported throughout their time with us through regular events, insightful workshops, and tailored support from a dedicated team from the university.
To learn more about Imperial Thrive get in touch with the team at thrive@imperial.ac.uk.
Residentials in September 2025
In September 2025, we ran four Imperial Thrive residentials. You can see the residential dates for each department below.
Find out about what to expect on the residentials.
Residential 1 - Thurs 4 September - Sun 7 September 2025
- Medicine (MBBS)
- Life Sciences
Residential 2 - Mon 8 September - Thurs 11 September 2025
- Physics
- Medical Biosciences (BMB)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Materials
- Bioengineering
- Earth Sciences and Engineering
- Design Engineering
Residential 3 - Sun 14 September - Wed 17 September 2025
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Economics, Finance and Data Science (Business School)
Residential 4 - Thurs 18 September - Sun 21 September 2025
- Computing
- Aeronautics
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Support after the residential
.jpg)
Support after the residential
The Imperial Thrive programme provides support for students throughout their time at Imperial. All Thrive students receive a regular newsletter with details of upcoming events and workshops. The Thrive team is also on hand to provide additional tailored support throughout the academic year.
Upcoming events
To be announced via the Thrive newsletter.
Frequently asked questions
- Am I eligible for the Thrive initiative?
- What does it cost to take part?
- What is a residential?
- How do I apply for the residential?
- Is the residential part of Welcome Week?
If you are a UK student (with a Home fee status), and have applied to Imperial through the contextual admissions process , you will be invited to take part in Thrive once your offer has been confirmed. You should receive an invitation to apply for the Thrive residential in August.
Thrive is completely free. Imperial will cover all costs related to all activities, accommodation, and meals throughout the programme. Imperial will also reimburse your travel costs.
The residential is a week before the academic year starts where students are invited to come and stay at Imperial and take part in activities designed to make the transition from school to university as smooth as possible. Find out more on the residential page.
If you are eligible you should receive an invitation to apply for the Thrive residential programme once your place at Imperial is confirmed after A-Level results day.
No, the residential takes place before Welcome Week, and you will be able to attend both.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Thrive team: thrive@imperial.ac.uk
