If you are considering applying for a research (doctoral) programme (e.g., a PhD) at Imperial College London, understanding the entry requirements is crucial. These requirements establish the academic threshold you must meet and help you prepare your application effectively. Below is a clear-and-accessible overview of what you need to know.

What Are the General Entry Requirements?

The entry requirements for doctoral study at Imperial vary depending on the department, centre or research institute.

However, all applicants are generally expected to:

1. Meet the course competency requirements. This usually means you hold relevant qualifications (for example a Bachelor’s degree and often a Master’s degree), and in some cases you might need relevant work experience or an admissions test.
2. Meet the English language requirements, as specified for your programme.
3. Apply based on expected final grades if you are still completing your qualification. Only accepted applicants must submit final certified results.

Because doctoral programmes are highly competitive, meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission. Departments typically look for strong academic records, relevant research experience, and a clear research proposal or interest aligned with the department’s expertise.

Accepted Qualifications and Typical Standards

Imperial provides a detailed list of accepted qualifications for doctoral study from many countries.

Below are some general guidelines and representative examples:

1. In many cases you’ll need:
2. A Bachelor’s degree (often with First or Upper Second Class Honours, or equivalent)
3. Plus a relevant Master’s degree (with good honours or high grade)
4. International examples:
5. For Bangladesh: A first degree with Upper Second Class honours or equivalent, and a Master’s degree with significant distinction (for example ~First Class or high percentage) is typically required.
6. For China: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution (often Project 211/985) with a strong overall mark (e.g., around 80% or better), plus a Master’s degree with a similar high standard is usually expected.
7. For Germany: A Diploma or Master’s degree (or equivalent) from a mainstream university with typically grade “2.0 or better” on the German grading scale is required for doctoral study.
8. Some flexibility: Outstanding candidates may be considered even if they don’t hold a Master’s degree, provided they have exceptional research experience, publications, or other compensating academic credentials.

It’s vital to check the accepted-qualifications list for your specific country and university, as the required grade thresholds vary widely by country and by department.

How to Use This Information and Prepare Your Application

To maximise your chances of admission:

1. Review your qualifications: Compare your undergraduate and (if applicable) postgraduate degrees and grades with the benchmarks given by Imperial for your country.
2. Highlight research readiness: For doctoral programmes, departments look for evidence of research potential—this could come from a Master’s thesis, publications, project experience, or something similar.
3. Ensure you meet English language criteria: Start arranging any required English language test early so results are ready in time.
4. Get a research supervisor / propose your research: For many PhD programmes the first step is to identify a suitable supervisor whose interests match yours—and prepare a clear proposal or plan of what research you intend to undertake.
5. Prepare documents and references: Make sure you have strong academic references, transcripts, and any research output ready to submit.
6. Apply early and confirm eligibility: Especially if your degree or grading system is less common, you may wish to contact the department early to confirm your qualification is acceptable.

Key Take-aways

1. A strong first degree plus a relevant Master’s degree is normally required for doctoral study at Imperial.
2. The required grades for your country or university will vary. Meeting the baseline is necessary but not sufficient—competition is intense.
3. Research readiness, alignment with a supervisor, and strong academic references are crucial.
4. If you have a non-typical qualification or lower than standard grades but significant research experience, it may still be possible—but you should check with the department.
5. Always check the specific doctoral programme’s page at Imperial for any additional requirements.

References

1. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/postgraduate-doctoral/entry-requirements/
2. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/postgraduate-doctoral/entry-requirements/accepted-qualifications/