IELTS score requirement for Imperial College London
Imperial College London based in London, England publishes 2 named IELTS levels (Standard level, Higher level). The level that applies to your application depends on the specific course you intend to study, not on whether you are applying at undergraduate or graduate level. The cards below show the institutional starting points; the tier table further down explains which level each cluster of courses uses.
Most undergraduate science and engineering courses accept the Standard level (overall 6.5 with at least 6.0 in every element). Medicine and certain business programmes require the Higher level (7.0 / 6.5).
Most science and engineering graduate programmes accept the Standard level. Business and medicine programmes apply the Higher level. Each programme listing on the Imperial site states which level is required.
Last verified 2026-05-12. The figures on this page are taken from Imperial College London's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About Imperial and its IELTS requirement
Imperial sets a comparatively achievable Standard level of 6.5 / 6.0 for most of its science and engineering courses. The Higher level (7.0 / 6.5) applies to medicine, the business school, and a handful of clinical programmes.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to Imperial need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Most undergraduate science and engineering courses accept the Standard level (overall 6.5 with at least 6.0 in every element). Medicine and certain business programmes require the Higher level (7.0 / 6.5).
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (CEFR B2). Most science and engineering graduate programmes accept the Standard level. Business and medicine programmes apply the Higher level. Each programme listing on the Imperial site states which level is required.
Imperial uses multiple named IELTS levels
Imperial College London publishes 2 named English-language levels and applies a different one depending on the course you are applying to. The right target is the level the specific programme requires, not the lowest published level. Confirming the level on the programme page before you sit the test saves a retake.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several Imperial programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes Medicine (MBBS) (overall 7.0), MBA (Imperial College Business School) (overall 7.0), MSc Computing (specialism) (overall 6.5). Treat these as the target if you are applying to one of them; the institutional minimum does not over-ride a programme-level publication.
How to prepare for the Imperial IELTS minimum
A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.
Named IELTS levels at this university
This university publishes more than one named level. The correct target depends on the course you apply to — confirm against the programme page.
Most science and engineering courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels
Imperial College Business School degrees, Medicine, and selected joint programmes
Programme-specific IELTS minimums
These programmes publish IELTS thresholds that differ from the institutional minimum above. Verify the programme page for the most current value before you apply.
| Programme | Overall | Per-section |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine (MBBS) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| MBA (Imperial College Business School) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| MSc Computing (specialism) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Other English tests Imperial accepts
TOEFL iBT Standard 92 (R 20, L 20, W 22, S 20) or Higher 100 (R 22, L 22, W 24, S 22). Duolingo English Test 125+ accepted for many programmes.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Common questions
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See where you stand against the Imperial minimum
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