Imperial College London does not require the GRE for most graduate programmes — UK admissions rely on your undergraduate degree classification and, for research degrees, direct engagement with a potential supervisor. The one notable exception is a handful of Imperial's quantitative finance and data science master's programmes.
Does Imperial Require the GRE?
| Programme Type | GRE Status |
|---|---|
| Most MSc programmes (Engineering, Science) | Not required |
| MRes / PhD (most departments) | Not required |
| Imperial College Business School — MSc Finance / quantitative tracks | Sometimes required or strongly recommended |
| Imperial College Business School — MBA | GMAT preferred; GRE occasionally accepted |
The Quantitative Finance Exception
Imperial's most quant-intensive Business School master's programmes (particularly MSc Finance and MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering) have historically required or strongly recommended a GRE or GMAT score, reflecting the highly competitive, numerically selective applicant pool for these specific programmes. This is the main context in which GRE genuinely matters for an Imperial application.
| Programme | Typical GRE Expectation |
|---|---|
| MSc Finance | Often required |
| MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering | Often required |
| Most engineering/science MSc | Not required |
Always confirm current policy directly with your specific programme, since Business School test requirements are reviewed and can change between admissions cycles.
What Imperial Actually Evaluates for Most Programmes
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree classification (First/2:1) | Primary factor |
| Relevant coursework and academic references | High |
| Research proposal and supervisor fit (PhD/MRes) | Critical for research degrees |
| English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) | Mandatory, separate requirement |
GRE Is Separate From English Proficiency
Even in the Business School programmes where GRE matters, IELTS or TOEFL is a completely separate, mandatory requirement:
| Requirement | Imperial Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Not required for most programmes; required for select Business School quant master's |
| IELTS | Required — see our Imperial IELTS Requirements guide |
| TOEFL | Required — see our Imperial TOEFL Requirements guide |
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — the mandatory English requirement for Imperial, regardless of GRE. AI-powered speaking and writing feedback. Or prepare for TOEFL.