Imperial College London
Ranked #2 in the world in QS 2026, the highest-placed university in the UK. Exclusively focused on STEM, Medicine and Business (NOT Humanities). Founded in 1907 by Royal Charter, in South Kensington, London. Acceptance ~14% for international students, very selective. For Romanians aiming for Engineering, AI, Medicine or Finance: the strongest UK option after Brexit.
About Imperial College London
Imperial College London was founded in 1907 by Royal Charter from King Edward VII, through the merger of the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines and the City and Guilds College. In 2007, at its centenary, it formally separated from the University of London and became an independent university. Location: South Kensington, next to Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum, one of the most prestigious districts in London.
What makes Imperial unique: an exclusive focus on STEM, Medicine and Business. It does NOT offer Humanities, Social Sciences or Liberal Arts like other universities. Its 4 faculties are: Faculty of Engineering (the largest, world-leading for Aeronautics, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Faculty of Medicine (a top UK medical school), Faculty of Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology) and the Imperial College Business School (the 1-year MSc Finance is iconic for international students).
For Romanian students, Imperial is the best UK option if you want careers in Engineering, AI, Quantum Computing, Finance in the City of London, Big Tech or Medicine. Imperial graduates are actively recruited by Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, BCG, Amazon and Big Pharma. Imperial was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026 by The Times. Caveat: if you are interested in Humanities, Politics, Law or Liberal Arts, it is NOT for you, choose UCL, LSE or Oxbridge.
How to apply to Imperial
UCAS application (5 choices max)
You apply through UCAS, a maximum of 5 choices in total. Imperial uses the institution code I50. Application fee: £28.50 for 5 choices. You apply with predicted grades from your form teacher. Strategy for Romanians: put Imperial as a reach, plus 2-3 Russell Group targets (Manchester, Edinburgh, Warwick), plus safety options.
Deadline 14 January 2026 (Medicine 15 Oct)
Standard UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026, 18:00 UK time for all Imperial NON-Medicine courses. Exception: Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary have a 15 October deadline (same as Oxbridge). UCAS Apply opens in September. Apply EARLY (October-November) to receive conditional offers by Christmas.
ESAT, TMUA or UCAT (per course)
MANDATORY tests per course: ESAT for Aeronautics, Chemical/Civil/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Design Engineering (sittings in October + January); TMUA for Computing, Mathematics, Economics/Finance & Data Science; UCAT for Medicine (replaced BMAT in 2024). For Romanians: at Pearson VUE centres in Bucharest or online. A serious 4-6 months of preparation is required.
Personal Statement (NEW 2026 FORMAT)
Note: for 2026 entry, the UCAS Personal Statement has been REFORMED. It is now structured into 3 sections with specific questions (it is no longer free-form as before). A total of ~4,000 characters distributed across the 3 sections. STRICTLY ACADEMIC focus: motivation for the course, books read, your own research, personal projects.
Online interview (select courses)
Many Imperial courses require an interview after ESAT/TMUA and UCAS, especially Engineering and Medicine. Format: online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, ~20-30 minutes. They are intensely academic: problems to solve in real time, "why" questions that deconstruct your logic. Held: November-December (autumn) or February (spring).
Conditional offer + Baccalaureate
Conditional offers based on predicted grades. For the Romanian Baccalaureate, Imperial's typical threshold: a Bac average of 9.5+ and 9.5+ on your specialisation profile (equivalent to A*AA-A*A*A at A-Levels). Plus IELTS 6.5+ (none below 6.0 per component) or TOEFL 92+. After the Bac in June-July, you confirm you have met the conditions. Final answer: August, you start in September.
Costs for Romanians
International tuition 2026-27 (per year, depends on the course)
Total cost 3-year BSc / 4-year MEng
Full cost
Imperial does NOT offer need-blind/need-aware admissions like the US Ivies. For international undergraduates, scholarships are very limited and competitive. There is no need-based financial aid for international students like at Harvard or Yale. You must plan for the full cost.
Limited
President's Undergraduate Scholarship: ~£10,000/year, very competitive. City and Guilds College Association Scholarships: for Engineering, variable value. Department-specific awards: in Engineering, Physics. Apply separately, deadlines vary.
Cheaper, no aid
The Imperial 3-year BSc is ~£100k cheaper than a 4-year US Ivy, but without the need-based aid option you would have at an Ivy. Do not rely on scholarships to afford Imperial.
Want to apply to Imperial?
Imperial is among the toughest UK applications for Romanians. ESAT/TMUA preparation of 4-6 months, the new 2026 Personal Statement format with 3 structured sections, technical interviews, a Bac of 9.5+ predicted grades, IELTS 6.5+, plus full-cost financial planning. Your first mentoring session is 100% free.
Talk to a mentorFrequently asked questions
Imperial vs Oxbridge, which do we choose for a Romanian?
It depends on your profile. Imperial is better if you want hardcore STEM, Engineering, AI, Quantum Computing, with immediate specialisation from year 1 (no Oxbridge college system). Oxbridge is better if you want Humanities, PPE (Oxford only), combined Natural Sciences (Cambridge only), a one-to-one tutorial system and historic prestige. For Romanians: Imperial is QS #2 vs Oxford #4 / Cambridge #5, so on ranking Imperial dominates. On historic brand, Oxbridge dominates. Also: you can apply to Imperial AND to Cambridge (or Oxford) through UCAS in the same year, so it is not mutually exclusive.
How many Romanians study at Imperial?
Imperial has ~60% international students (the most diverse university in the UK), with students from over 140 countries. The Romanian community is active: the Imperial Romanian Society organises events, networking events and mentoring for new students. Estimate: ~50-80 Romanian undergraduate students at any given time (varies by year). Typical profile: 1st gen, intensive science-track Bac of 9.5+, ICHB, Mihai Viteazul, or international schools.
Which ESAT do I need to take and how do I prepare?
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is mandatory for all Engineering courses plus Physics. Structure: 1 mandatory Mathematics 1 section, plus 1-2 optional ones (Mathematics 2 / Physics / Chemistry / Biology) depending on the chosen course. Sittings for 2027 entry: October 2026 (registration 28 Sept) and January 2027 (registration 21 Dec). Preparation for Romanians: 4-6 months intensive. Free material on the UAT-UK website (sample papers, practice tests). Recommendation: focus on Math 1 (mandatory) + Physics, plus timed mock tests. Test fee: ~£75 in the EU.
Can I get into Imperial with the Romanian Baccalaureate?
Yes, the Romanian Baccalaureate is accepted. Equivalence: a Bac average of 9.5+ and 9.5+ on your profile (specialisation) is typical, equivalent to A*AA-A*A*A at A-Levels. For very competitive courses (top Computing, Engineering): it may require even higher. Predicted grades: your form teacher enters them in UCAS. Specific subjects: for Engineering, a science-track Bac with Maths-Computer Science or Maths-Physics is standard. For Medicine: a Bac with Maths-Computer Science plus Biology-Chemistry is needed. After the Bac: you confirm you have met the conditions in July and receive an unconditional offer.
What IELTS do I need for Imperial?
Imperial's minimum IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0 per component (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking). The TOEFL iBT alternative: 92+ overall, min 20 per component. PTE Academic: 62+ overall, min 56 per component. Recommendation for Romanians: aim for IELTS 7.0+ for a more competitive profile. Exception: if you attended an international high school taught in English (or have citizenship of a native-English country), IELTS may be waived. Validity: 2 years from the test date.
What is the total cost of 3-4 years of study at Imperial for a Romanian?
3-year BSc (Engineering, Math, Physics, CS, etc.): ~£165,000-£200,000 total all-in (tuition + accommodation + living costs). 4-year integrated MEng: ~£220,000-£270,000. For 6-year Medicine: ~£380,000-£430,000. Annual breakdown: tuition £37-56k + accommodation £15-18k + food/transport/extras £8-10k = ~£60-84k/year. For comparison: US Ivies full cost = £65-75k/year × 4 years = £260-300k. The Imperial 3-year BSc is ~£100k cheaper than a 4-year US Ivy, but without the need-based aid option you would have at an Ivy.
Can I stay in the UK after graduation? Graduate Route?
Yes, via the Graduate Route visa. After you complete any UK degree (BSc, MSc, MEng, MBBS), you are automatically entitled to 2 years on the Graduate Route (3 years for a PhD) to look for a job in the UK without a sponsor. For Romanians: it is the most efficient route post-Brexit. You apply for the visa in the UK at the end of the academic year. Visa cost: £822 + £1,035/year IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge). Then: you transition to a Skilled Worker visa with an employer sponsor (Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Big Tech). Average salaries for Imperial graduates: £35-65k starting (£80-120k in finance/tech).
Which are the best Imperial courses for global careers?
For finance careers in the City of London: MSc Finance (1 year, Imperial Business School), Mathematics with Statistics for Finance, Economics, Finance & Data Science. For tech careers (FAANG, startups): Computing (CS), Mathematics & Computer Science, Electronic & Information Engineering. For R&D Big Pharma or Medicine careers: Medicine (MBBS), Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering. For Aerospace/Defence careers: Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. For cutting-edge AI: Mathematics & Computer Science, MSc AI/Machine Learning postgraduate. Bonus: Imperial is among the best universities for spin-offs and entrepreneurship (Imperial Enterprise Lab).
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