Your Guide to Personal Statements, References and Contextual Admissions

If you’re preparing to apply for undergraduate study at Imperial College London, it’s important to understand three key parts of the application process:

writing a strong personal statement
securing an effective reference
understanding the contextual admissions schemes

This guide breaks down each part in clear language and offers practical tips so you can maximise your chances.

1. Writing Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is your chance to show who you are – not just your grades – and why you are a great fit for Imperial.

What you need to cover

Imperial asks for three sections (for the 2026 entry):

Why you want to study this course or subject.
How your qualifications and studies have prepared you.
What outside-education experiences have helped you prepare, and why they matter.
Each section must have at least 350 characters, and you have an overall limit of 4,000 characters.

What Imperial is looking for

They emphasise:

Genuine passion for the subject – what excites you about studying it.
Skills and aptitude – evidence of strengths that make you a good fit.
Extracurricular activities – how they have helped you develop relevant skills or qualities.
Authenticity and originality – your statement should be uniquely about you.

Good tips to follow

Use clear examples. Instead of saying “I enjoy computing”, show how you used computing (for a project, coding challenge, etc.) and what that taught you.
Balance academics + personal. Mention your hobbies or interests if they help show your qualities (resilience, teamwork, leadership) but keep the main focus on your subject and future.
Don’t copy others. Imperial mentions that statements are checked for similarity.
Link your statement to the course. Show you’ve looked into the specific subject at Imperial, not just any university.

2. Application Reference (and Teacher Reference)

The reference is a key part of your application – it helps Imperial understand you in context.

What the reference is for

A single reference is required for your UCAS application. It provides information such as:

the school or college environment.
any mitigating circumstances (disruptions, support needs) that have affected your performance.
predicted grades (if applicable) and how you’re suited for the course.

Structure of the reference

Imperial outlines three sections your referee can use:

A general statement about your school/college.
Any extenuating circumstances affecting your education.
Other supportive information specific to you and the courses you’ve applied for.

Section 1 is compulsory; sections 2 and 3 are optional but recommended.

Guidance for referees (teachers/tutors)

If you’re a referee (teacher or tutor), Imperial gives extra guidance.

In Section 1: give context about the institution (e.g., intake, attainment, any restrictions) so the admissions team understands the environment.
Section 2: mention any factors that may have affected the applicant’s results (e.g., illness, other disruptions).
Section 3: focus on the student - their achievements, potential, suitability for their chosen course.

Tips for the applicant

Choose a referee who knows you academically and can comment on your suitability for the course.
Discuss with them what you feel are your strengths and achievements, so they can include good examples.
Make sure any relevant context (e.g., your school’s resources, personal challenges) is known and can be included.

3. Contextual Admissions Schemes

Imperial’s contextual admissions approach is designed to help students from backgrounds that may have faced extra challenges.

What is contextual admissions?

The idea is to look beyond academic grades and consider factors like educational, social or economic disadvantage.

If you are eligible, you may receive benefits such as:

A guaranteed interview (if the department interviews
A guaranteed minimum offer (if certain criteria are met)
Extra support to help with the transition to university.

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible if you are a UK student with home fee status and meet one or more of the following:

A care leaver or spent time in care under a local authority.
Your home address falls into England’s index of multiple deprivation quintile 1.
You currently receive or have recently received free school meals (FSM) funded by the UK government.
Your postcode falls into POLAR4 quintile 1 or 2 and you also meet criteria such as:
being first in family to attend university, or
attending a school where Key Stage 5 performance is below a threshold, or
attending a school where FSM percentile is above the threshold.

What support is offered?

If eligible for the 2026 entry for example, support includes guaranteed interview or a guaranteed offer provided minimum entry requirements are met and your personal statement demonstrates motivation.

There is also a reconsideration pool in August for eligible applicants who may have missed an offer but achieve exceptional results.

How to make use of this

Check whether you might be eligible – Imperial provides a tool (eligibility checker).
If eligible, make sure your application draws out your motivation, resilience, and how your background has shaped your ambition.
Use your personal statement to show how you have prepared and why you belong at Imperial, especially if coming from a less advantaged background.
Discuss any relevant circumstances in your reference so the admissions tutors fully understand your context.

Conclusion

Applying to Imperial College London is competitive, but by getting these three components right you significantly improve your chances:

A personal statement that is thoughtful, specific and shows your passion.
An application reference that provides context, highlights your strengths, and is written by someone who knows you academically.
If applicable, contextual admissions schemes that recognise your background and offer extra support or guarantees.

Stay organised, follow guidelines, and make sure each part of your application tells a piece of your story. With preparation and clarity you can put forward a strong application.

References

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