Imperial College London

Imperial College London is placed 15th in the world for computer science in the QS 2026 subject rankings, which puts it among the top few in the United Kingdom and inside the global top 25. Founded in 1907, Imperial is unusual among British universities in focusing entirely on science, engineering, medicine and business, and computing sits comfortably at its centre.

The Department of Computing is strong in artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with software reliability, security, and the theory that underpins them. Its position in London gives students close access to the technology and finance industries that recruit heavily from the department.

Imperial teaches a large, conventional degree rather than the small-group tutorial model of Oxford and Cambridge. Entry is highly competitive, with strong mathematics expected of applicants.

Admissions

Computing is one of Imperial’s most oversubscribed courses, drawing far more strong applicants than there are places. The typical offer is AAA with the A* in mathematics, rising to AAAA for anyone taking four A-levels, and every applicant must sit the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). The older Maths Admissions Test is no longer used here. Where a school offers further mathematics, Imperial prefers to see it.