A Level entry requirements

(For 2023-24 Entry)

To study Physics at Imperial College London, the minimum entry requirement is A* in Mathematics and A*,A in Physics and another subject (excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking). Please note the offer conditions are often higher than this. Students are also required to achieve a B or 6 in GCSE English to meet the College's language requirements. This applies to both home and international students. 

A Level subject selection

Mathematics and Physics are compulsory.  Further Mathematics and Chemistry are the most common third subjects, both of which will be useful to physicists, but we recognise that some applicants will wish to have a broader education and so we place no restriction on the third A Level subject.  We do not accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as meeting our entry requirements.

Further Mathematics

We recommend taking Further Mathematics as it will be useful for studying Physics at Imperial College London. However, we are aware that Further Mathematics is not available at all schools, therefore it is not a requirement and will not count against you in the selection process. 

A Levels taken a year early

We often receive applications where at least one A Level (usually Mathematics) has been completed a year early in Year 12. If you acehieve an A* in Mathematics, this will count towards satisfying the departments entry requirements.  However, a lightly loaded year would not prepare you well for the demands of studying at university, so we may decide to make an offer requiring three A Levels in your final year at school.  Each application will be assessed individually.  

Acceptance of AS and A Level resits

We recognise that applicants can occasionally have a bad exam and therefore will also consider retaken A-Level results in some cases. If you took a resit exam due to extenuating circumstances, please ask your school to comment in their reference.

The requirements shown for each qualification below are the minimum we will ask for 2022 entry.  We assess each application on its individual merits and in some circumstances may make offers that are higher than quoted here.  These are the most common qualifications presented by applicants from the UK and the Republic of Ireland.  View entry requirements based on the more common international qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

Grade of 7,6,6 are required in three Higher Level subjects including at least 6 in both Mathematics and Physics, and a minimum of 40 points overall.  For the  English language requirements please see below.

Cambridge Pre-U

Distinction grades of D2,D2,D3 are required in three principal subjects including D2 in Mathematics and D3 in Physics.

Scottish Advanced Highers

We require an A grade in Mathematics, A in Physics and A in any third subject.  A grade of 2 in Standard Grade English Language will satisfy the College English language requirements (see below).

Irish Leaving Certificate

A grades are required in six subjects including A1 in Mathematics and A1 in Physics at higher level and a further 2  subjects with H1 and 2 other subjects  with H2.  A grade B in English Language in the Irish Junior Certificate will satisfy the College English language requirements (see below).

‌‌For those who would like to study at a European Institute during their third year, you will need a grade B/6 at GCSE in a modern European language (French, German, Italian or Spanish), or in an equivalent qualification, such as Scottish Standard Grade. Fluent speakers of these languages are exempt from this requirement, but will need to complete a language assessment at the start of their degree to confirm their exemption. 

‌Physics with a Year abroad Handout‌

‌‌All applicants, including native speakers, are required to hold an accepted English language qualification. For full details of qualifications that we accept see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/english/

For the majority of UK applicants this is satisfied by already holding at least a grade B or 6 in GCSE English Language.  

Entry to study physics at Imperial is highly competitive.  We look at all aspects of applications including predicted grades, results already achieved at GCSE and AS Level, personal statement and school reference.  We will also ask all applicants to take an online Admissions Test in February 2023.

Offer holders Open Day 2023

You will be notified of your offer through the UCAS Track by the end of March 2023. No offers will be made before the Admissions Test, which will take place in February 2023 (date to be confirmed) after the UCAS application deadline. The Admissions Tutor’s decision on offers is final.

For most applicants taking A Levels and IB courses we will be able to confirm your examination results in the summer through UCAS. However, if your offer asks you to send certificates for A levels already completed or you are taking qualifications that cannot be verified through UCAS, then you may need to submit your certificate electronically.  These need to be sent to Registry and NOT to the Physics Department. The address to send them to is Natural Sciences Admissions - ns.admissions@imperial.ac.uk.

For more details see, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/after-you-apply/conditions/

 All applicants demonstrating suitable academic potential will be required to take an online Admissions Test which will cover basic school physics and mathematics. The results of the test will be used along with all other application information in a holistic review to inform the selection for offers made.

• The test will take place on first week of February 2024 and can be accessed at https://www.imperial.ac.uk/physics/students/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/admissions-test/.  If you are unable to take the test at this time, please contact us by email at ph.admissions@imperial.ac.uk providing strong reasons and any supporting evidence.

• The connection details will be sent directly to applicants by email in late January, so please make sure that the email address you provided in your application works and let us know if you need to change it. If you have not received the connection details by the first week of February, please contact us.  

• The test will consist of 30 short multiple-choice questions on mathematics and physics. They are designed in such a way that they do not require knowledge beyond standard school curriculum (UK AS-level Mathematics and Physics or equivalent), and some specimen questions with solutions and explanatory videos are available below.

• You will need to complete the test in 45 minutes. If you suffer from a substantial medical or mental health disability that qualifies for extra time, and you have not already informed us, please contact us by email at ph.admissions@imperial.ac.uk providing the reasons and the supporting evidence.

• You will need to complete the multiple-choice test online using a web browser, ideally on a computer. Although the system can cope with a temporary loss of connection, please try to take the test in a location with a stable internet connection.   You will also be asked to submit a photo or a scan of your workings, so please make sure that you have access to a suitable camera, phone or a scanner that allows you to do that.

• You will also need to complete a brief survey by first week of February 2024. The survey will be done on the same system as the test itself using the same connection details, so it will allow you to test your connection and equipment.