How to Apply to Computing at Imperial College London: The Three-Year BEng or Four-Year MEng with Industrial Placement, the Required TMUA, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (A-Level/IB/AP), Canadian High School and Transfer Students

2026-10-18 · Application guides

Imperial’s Department of Computing offers a three-year Computing BEng (G400) and a four-year Computing MEng (G401) that includes an industrial placement between the third and fourth years. For 2027 entry the minimum A-Level requirement is A*A*A or A*AAA with A* in Mathematics, and the typical offer is A*A*A*; the IB minimum is 41 points with 7 in Mathematics and another relevant subject at Higher Level, typically 42. All applicants must take the TMUA; interviews are not standard. In 2025 there were about 13 applications per place. China’s Gaokao is not on Imperial’s list of accepted qualifications. The UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027, and international tuition is £47,800 a year. Based on Imperial’s official information, this guide covers the course, requirements, the TMUA, routes for Chinese and Canadian students, English and fees.

At Imperial College London, undergraduate Computing is taught by the Department of Computing at South Kensington. The main degrees are the three-year Computing BEng (UCAS G400) and the four-year Computing MEng (G401); there are also four-year MEng streams in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Security and Reliability, Software Engineering, and Visual Computing and Robotics, and an international programme with a year abroad. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on Imperial’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-Level/IB/AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The course

Year 1: Introduction to Computer Systems, Databases and Computer Architecture; Discrete Mathematics, Logic and Reasoning; Graphs and Algorithms; Calculus; Linear Algebra; and computing practicals.
Year 2: nine core modules including Algorithm Design and Analysis, Software Engineering Design, Models of Computation, Operating Systems, Networks and Communications, Probability and Statistics, Machine Learning and a group project, plus one option.
Year 3 (BEng): an individual project, an I-Explore module and six options such as Computer Vision, Network and Web Security, Robotics, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing and Compilers.
MEng: an industrial placement (in two parts, not counted towards the classification) after third year, then Master’s-level study in the fourth year with more options and a substantial individual project.
Changing degree: because the first two years share core content, it is usually possible to switch between Computing degrees until the start of third year; moving from BEng to MEng requires a 60% average in second year. Transfers into joint Mathematics and Computing degrees are normally not possible. Changing course may affect a student visa.
Year abroad: places are limited; France and Germany normally require being on track for a 2:1, and the USA for a first.

2. Entry requirements (2027 entry)

A-Level minimum: A*A*A to A*AAA, including A* in Mathematics and A*A in two further subjects or AAA in three, with Further Mathematics preferred. Recommended: Computer Science, Physics, Further Mathematics. Not accepted: ICT, Business Studies, General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-Level typical offer: A*A*A* with three A-Levels, or A*A*AA with four, based on offers made to at least half of 2025 entrants still awaiting results.
IB: minimum 41 points with 7 in Mathematics HL and 7 in another relevant HL subject (AA or AI accepted at HL); typical offer 42 points. Imperial notes that full IB Diploma applicants are typically more competitive.
Admissions test: the TMUA is required; Imperial no longer uses the MAT. A sufficient score is considered together with the UCAS application.
Interviews: not standard, but may be offered to some candidates.
Competition: about 13 applications per place in 2025 (BEng and MEng).

3. The TMUA (2027 entry)

Two windows: 12–16 October 2026 and 4–8 January 2027.
Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau can only test on set dates: 15–16 October 2026 or 8 January 2027.
October booking closed on 28 September 2026; January booking opens on 26 October 2026 and closes on 21 December 2026 (UK time).
Register with UAT-UK, then book a Pearson centre and pay the fee.

4. Students at high schools in China

Gaokao: China’s school-leaving qualification is not on Imperial’s accepted qualifications list, and Imperial says qualifications not listed are not accepted. Students in the Chinese system usually need A-Levels, the IB or APs, or an accepted foundation programme.
Accepted foundations: Imperial has no foundation of its own, but Computing accepts UCL’s UPCSE (80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 80% in Biology, Chemistry or Physics) and Warwick’s IFP in Science and Engineering (80% overall and 80% in each of the three technical modules of the chosen route; the Biology and Chemistry route is not accepted).
AP: Computing requires five APs at 5 including Calculus BC, or three APs at 5 including Calculus BC with a school-leaving qualification and SAT 1480 or ACT 33.
English: the standard level applies (see section 7).

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

Computing requirement: 90% overall in Year 12 subjects, with 90% in Mathematics, 90% in another relevant subject and 85% in three further subjects.
Imperial’s general accepted qualifications table lists 85% overall (with 85% in at least five Grade 12 subjects) as a university-wide minimum; the Computing course page sets the higher requirement above.
AP students can also apply using the AP route above.

6. Transfer students

The course pages do not cover transfers from other universities; contact Imperial’s undergraduate admissions team to check.
Rules for changing degree within the department are in section 1.

7. English requirements (standard level)

IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each element; single-skill retakes are not accepted.
TOEFL iBT: for tests from 21 January 2026, 4.5 overall and 4.5 in each element; earlier tests, 92 overall with 20 in each; MyBest scores are not accepted.
Others: Duolingo 115 (105 in each subscore); PTE Academic 62 (56 in each). Scores must be within two years of the course start.

8. Timeline (October 2027 entry)

26 October 2026: January TMUA booking opens.
21 December 2026: January TMUA booking closes.
8 January 2027: January TMUA date for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau (4–8 January elsewhere).
13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time): UCAS deadline, institution code I50.
October 2027: the course starts.

9. Fees and scholarships

International tuition (2027 entry): £47,800 a year for both the BEng and MEng.
Home tuition: £10,050 a year for 2027 entry.
Scholarships: the course pages list the Imperial Inspires Scholarships for overseas students at £15,000 a year; see the scholarship page for conditions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

A-Level A* in Mathematics plus A*A, aiming for A*A*A* with Further Mathematics; or IB 41–42 (7 in Maths HL); or five AP 5s including Calculus BC
Students in the Chinese system: consider UCL UPCSE or Warwick IFP
Book the January TMUA by 21 December (8 January only in China) and apply through UCAS by 13 January
IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

90% Year 12 average with 90% in Mathematics; take the TMUA and apply by 13 January

Transfer students:

Contact Imperial admissions to check whether and at what level you can join

Sources: Imperial College London, Computing BEng course page; Computing MEng course page; Undergraduate Computing courses; Accepted qualifications; English language requirements. Information is for 2027 entry. Check Imperial for the latest details.