The Strategic Planning division carries out analysis of the College's ranking in the main league tables. Further information on methodologies and the College's ranking can be found below.

To view the College's position in additonal league tables please see the College League Table pages.

Methodology

The four main international league tables in which the College is featured are:

  • Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
    Alumni with Nobel prizes/field medals; staff with Nobel prizes/fields medals; staff in Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers list; papers published in Nature/Science;
     papers indexed; Per Capita Performance. Ranking Full methodology
  • Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
    Teaching; research; citations; international outlook; and industry income.
     Ranking Full methodology
  • The QS World University Rankings
    Academic reputation; employer reputation; faculty-student ratio; citations per staff; international faculty; international students. Ranking / Full methodology

The three major national league tables in which the College is featured are:

  • The Complete University guide
    Entry standards; student satisfaction; research quality; research intensity; graduate prospects; student-staff ratio; academic services spend; facilities spend; good honours; degree completion.  Ranking Full methodology
  • The Guardian University Guide
    Satisfied with teaching; Satisfied with assessment and feedback; satisfied with course; continuation; value-added scores; student-staff ratio; expenditure per student; entry scores; career prospects Ranking Full methodology
  • The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide
    Teaching quality; student experience; research quality; entry standards; graduate prospects; firsts/2:1s; completion rate; student-staff ratio; services and facilities spend Ranking Full methodology

Rankings

Imperial's position in the overall rankings

  • Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2022
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 6th in Europe (same as last year) and 23rd in the world (up two places).
  • QS World University Rankings 2024
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 3rd in Europe (same as last year) and 6th in the world (same as last year).
  • THE World University Rankings 2023
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 3rd in Europe (same as last year) and 10th in the world (up two places).
  • Complete University Guide 2024
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 6th in the UK (down one place).
  • Guardian University Guide 2023
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 5th in the UK (up two places).
  • Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
    In the most recent publication, the College was ranked 5th in the UK (down one place).

UK League Table Rankings Chart

This graph shows the College's rankings in the main UK league tables. These are the Complete University Guide, the Guardian University Guide and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.

International League Tables Chart

This graph shows the College's ranking in the main international league tables. These are the Academic Ranking of World Universities Rankings, the QS World University Rankings and THE World University Rankings.

Imperial's position in the subject rankings

Please expand the contents below to find out more about the College's position in the main subject rankings. Please note that different league tables use different subject groupings.

Rankings

In the most recent publication (2024), the College was ranked as follows:

  • Medicine: 4th

Natural sciences/Life sciences

  • Biological sciences: 4th
  • Chemistry: 3rd
  • Mathematics: 3rd
  • Physics & Astronomy: 6th

Engineering

  • Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering: 1st
  • Chemical Engineering: 3rd
  • Civil Engineering: 3rd
  • Computer Science: 3rd
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering: 3rd
  • Geology: 4th
  • Materials Technology: 3rd
  • Mechanical Engineering: 3rd
  • Medical Technology and Bioengineering: 1st

Further information can be found on the Complete University Guide website.

In the most recent publication (2022), the College was ranked as follows:

Engineering

  • Aerospace Engineering: 4th in the UK, 32nd in the world
  • Automation and Control: 1st in the UK, 7th in the world
  • Biomedical Engineering: 1st in the UK, 22nd in the world
  • Biotechnology: 3rd in the UK, 23rd in the world
  • Chemical Engineering: 1st in the UK, 25th in the world
  • Civil Engineering: 1st in the UK, 28th in the world
  • Computer Science and Engineering: 4th in the UK, 38th in the world
  • Electrical Engineering: 1st in the UK, 19th in the world
  • Energy Science and Engineering: 1st in the UK, 11th in the world
  • Environmental Science and Engineering: 2nd in the UK, 51-75th in the world
  • Instruments Science & Technology: 1st in the UK, 51-75th in the world
  • Materials Science and Engineering: 2nd in the UK, 17th in the world
  • Mechanical Engineering: 2nd in the UK, 13th in the world
  • Metallurgical Engineering: 2nd in the UK, 19th in the world
  • Mining & Mineral Engineering: 1st in the UK, 20th in the world
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology: 2nd in the UK, 51-75th in the world
  • Telecommunication Engineering: 4th in the UK, 19th in the world
  • Transportation Science & Technology: 3rd in the UK, 49th in the world
  • Water Resources: 2nd in the UK, 22nd in the world

Natural Sciences

  • Atmospheric Science: 7th in the UK, 51-75th in the world
  • Chemistry: 3rd in the UK, 43rd in the world
  • Earth Sciences: 5th in the UK, 25th in the world
  • Ecology: 3rd in the UK, 10th in the world
  • Geography: 28th in the UK, 101-150th in the world
  • Mathematics: 4th in the UK, 23rd in the world
  • Oceanography: 12th in the UK, 101-150th in the world
  • Physics: 5th in the UK, 38th in the world

Life Sciences

  • Agricultural Sciences: 13th in the UK, 201-300th in the world
  • Biological Sciences: 5th in the UK, 40th in the world
  • Human Biological Sciences: 4th in the UK, 28th in the world

Medical sciences

  • Clinical Medicine: 3rd in the UK, 8th in the world
  • Medical Technology: 4th in the UK, 16th in the world
  • Nurshing: 19th in the UK, 201-300th in the world
  • Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 5th in the UK, 16th in the world
  • Public Health: 2nd in the UK, 5th in the world

Social sciences

  • Business Administration: 8th in the UK, 76-100th in the world
  • Economics: 6th in the UK, 44th in the world
  • Education: 28th in the UK, 301-400th in the world
  • Finance: 3rd in the UK, 51-75th in the world
  • Management: 4th in the UK, 35th in the world
  • Psychology: 27th in the UK, 201-300th in the world
  • Statistics: 6th in the UK, 44th in the world

Further information can be found on the GRAS website.

In the most recent publication (2023), the College was ranked as follows:

  • Medicine: 4th

Natural sciences/Life sciences

  • Biology: 8th
  • Chemistry: 8th
  • Mathematics: 3rd
  • Physics: 17th

Engineering

  • Aerospace Engineering: 1st
  • Chemical Engineering: 2nd
  • Civil Engineering: 1st
  • Computer Sciences & Information Systems: 4th
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering: 3rd
  • Earth & Marine Sciences: 3rd
  • General Engineering: 4th
  • Mechanical Engineering: 1st

Further information can be found on the Guardian website.

In the most recent publication (2023), the College was ranked as follows:

  • Medicine: 8th
  • Pharmacy: 20th
  • Anatomy & Physiology: 27th

Natural sciences/Life sciences

  • Biological Sciences: 11th
  • Chemistry: 9th
  • Environmental Sciences: 10th
  • Mathematics: 10th
  • Physics & Astronomy: 12th
  • Statistics & Operational Research: 8th
  • Geology: 27th
  • Geophysics: 27th

Engineering and technology

  • Engineering – Chemical: 7th
  • Engineering – Civil & Structural: 7th
  • Computer Science & Information Systems: 15th
  • Data Science & Artificial Intelligence: 16th
  • Earth & Marine Sciences: 20th
  • Engineering – Electrical Engineering: 10th
  • Materials Science: 9th
  • Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing: 8th
  • Petroleum Engineering: 6th

Social sciences and management

  • Accounting & Finance: 19th
  • Business & Management Studies: 28th
  • Economics & Econometrics: 31st

Further information can be found on the QS website.

In the most recent publication (2023), the College was ranked as follows:

Engineering

  • Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering: 1st
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering: 2nd
  • Chemical Engineering: 2nd
  • Civil Engineering: 1st
  • Computer Science: 3rd
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering: 3rd
  • Geology: 2nd
  • Materials Technology: 3rd
  • Mechanical Engineering: 3rd

Natural sciences/Life sciences

  • Biological Sciences: 3rd
  • Chemistry: 3rd
  • Mathematics: 3rd
  • Physics & Astronomy: 12th

Medicine

  • Medicine: 8th

Further information can be found on the Good University Guide website.

In the most recent publication (2023), the College was ranked as follows:

  • Computer Science: 3rd in the UK, 11th in the world
  • Engineering: 3rd in the UK, 13th in the world
  • Life Sciences: 3rd in the UK, 15th in the world
  • Medicine: 3rd in the UK, 4th in the world
  • Physical Sciences: 3rd in the UK, 13th in the world

Further information can be found on the THE website.