Imperial College requires all students to meet the minimum educational requirements for entrance. These include passes in a recognized General Certificate of Education (GCSE) with either two subjects at A level, one subject at A level and two subjects at AS level or four subjects at AS level, according to the college's website. All candidates must achieve at least a C in English language at GCSE. The college's website notes that although passes in the requisite GCSE, O level and A level examinations are strongly encouraged, applications are welcome from candidates who have not taken these examinations but can demonstrate competency.
In addition to the general education requirements, students applying to a specific course of study at Imperial College must meet a set of regulations specifc to that course. These vary from program to program, so prospective students should check the college's website for more details. The course-specific regulations are often more stringent than the general requirements; for example, students aspring to the 6-year MBBS/BSc Medicine must have three A-levels and one AS-level, including Chemistry and/or Biology and one science or mathematics subject, and sit for the BioMedical Admissions Tests to be considered for entrance.
Imperial College, like most United Kingdom colleges and universities, accepts applications only through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Students must complete and send their application through the UCAS system in order for it to be considered. UCAS allows students to compile all the information needed to apply to most U.K. colleges and then choose to send this information out to their targeted schools. To complete the UCAS application, students fill out their education and employment history, the course(s) to which they intend to apply and a personal statement; pay the application fees; and obtain a reference, preferably from someone who can comment on the applicant's potential to succeed in higher education.