Imperial College London accepts TOEFL iBT for English language proficiency. As a STEM-focused institution, Imperial's requirements are calibrated closely to the language demands of technical, medical, and business disciplines — generally lower for engineering and sciences, higher for medicine and business.
Does Imperial Accept TOEFL?
Yes. Imperial accepts TOEFL iBT alongside IELTS Academic. Both tests are treated equally. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is also accepted.
TOEFL MyBest: Imperial does not accept TOEFL MyBest. A single valid sitting is required.
Imperial TOEFL Requirement Structure
| Programme Category | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering, Natural Sciences | 79–92 | 18–22 each |
| Medicine, Public Health | 92 | 22 each |
| Business School (MBA, MSc) | 92 | 22 each |
Imperial TOEFL — Undergraduate
| Faculty | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Engineering | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| Faculty of Natural Sciences | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| Faculty of Medicine (MBBS) | 92 | 22 each | 104–115 |
Imperial TOEFL — Graduate
Faculty of Engineering
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computing | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Mechanical Engineering | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| PhD Engineering | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
Faculty of Natural Sciences
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Mathematics / Statistics | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Physics | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Chemistry | 79 | 18 each | 100–115 |
Faculty of Medicine
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS (Undergraduate) | 92 | 22 each | 104–115 |
| MSc Global Health | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Public Health | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Translational Medicine | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MRes / PhD Medicine | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
Imperial College Business School
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | 92 | 22 each | 104–115 |
| MSc Finance | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Management | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Business Analytics | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
| MSc Strategic Marketing | 92 | 22 each | 100–115 |
Imperial TOEFL — Summary Table
| Programme Area | Min TOEFL | Per-Section Min | Competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering (MSc/PhD) | 79 | 18 | 100–115 |
| Natural Sciences (MSc/PhD) | 79 | 18 | 100–115 |
| Medicine (MBBS, MSc) | 92 | 22 | 104–115 |
| Public Health | 92 | 22 | 100–115 |
| Business School (MBA, MSc) | 92 | 22 | 104–115 |
Per-Section Strategy for Imperial TOEFL
Writing (target 22–30)
Engineering and Sciences: Writing 18 minimum. Medicine and Business: Writing 22 minimum. For competitive applications, Writing 24+ is advisable even for Engineering programmes.
Speaking (target 22–30)
Medicine's clinical communication demands and the Business School's case-based format require Speaking 22+ at minimum. Competitive applicants score 24+.
Reading and Listening
Both set at 18 (Engineering/Sciences) or 22 (Medicine/Business). Per-section floors are enforced.
Score Validity at Imperial
TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Imperial requires scores valid at the time of application. Imperial graduate deadlines typically fall January to April for October entry.
Common Mistakes Imperial TOEFL Applicants Make
Applying to Medicine or Business with only 79. Both require 92 — a 79 is below the stated minimum for these faculties.
Per-section violations at 79. A 79 overall with Speaking 15 falls below Imperial Engineering's 18 per-section minimum. All sections must meet the threshold individually.
Treating the 79 minimum as competitive. Engineering and Computing programmes at Imperial attract globally competitive applicants — 100–115 is the typical submitted score range.
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