Imperial College London GRE Requirements 2026: GRE-Accepting Programs, Scores, Deadlines & Application Strategy

Imperial College London GRE Requirements 2026

Imperial College London is one of the most competitive UK universities for STEM and business—and a common question for 2026 applicants is simple:

Does Imperial accept the GRE?Yes—but it depends heavily on the program. In many Imperial courses (especially across STEM departments), the GRE is not required, while Imperial Business School may require GRE/GMAT for some programs (like the Full-Time MBA) and treat it as optional but valuable for others (like several MSc programs).

This complete 2026 guide covers:

• Which Imperial programs accept the GRE (required vs optional)

• Minimum / competitive GRE score guidance where Imperial publishes it

• Real 2026 application round dates (official Imperial Business School timeline)

• English language requirements basics and how to plan your application

Why Imperial matters in 2026 (ranking + applicant demand)

Imperial is ranked #2 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, which is one reason its admissions are extremely selective across business and STEM programs. That competitiveness makes understanding Imperial’s GRE policy important—because the GRE can either be a strict requirement (MBA) or a strong supporting asset (some MSc/PhD routes).

Imperial College London GRE requirements 2026 (what “GRE-accepting” really means)

At Imperial, “GRE-accepting” usually falls into three categories:

1. GRE required (or accepted as an alternative)Example: Imperial Business School Full-Time MBA accepts GRE as an alternative to GMAT and lists minimum GRE section scores.

2. GRE optional but adds weightSeveral Business School MSc programs say GRE/GMAT is not required, but a strong score can strengthen your application.

3. GRE not required / not usedExample: Computing postgraduate FAQs state they no longer require GREs for computing postgraduate degrees.

   
   

GRE-accepting programs at Imperial (2026): official policy table

Below is a program-focused table based only on official Imperial pages that explicitly mention GRE.

Table 1 — Imperial GRE policy (Required vs Optional vs Not required)

Imperial program (examples)	GRE status	What Imperial says (official highlights)
Full-Time MBA (Imperial Business School)	Accepted / Alternative to GMAT (minimum scores stated)	GRE minimum 156 Verbal + 158 Quant; Imperial also lists GRE institutional code on the MBA admissions page.
MSc Management (Business School)	Optional, can add weight	If taking GRE, a Quant score of 159 “can add weight” to the application.
MSc Business Analytics & AI (Business School)	Optional, can add weight (high percentile guidance)	GMAT/GRE not required, but 90th percentile scores are indicated as strong if you submit them; page lists Aug 2026 start + fee.
Business School PhD	Expected/strongly valued (high percentile guidance)	Imperial Business School states they consider strong scores 90th percentile+, and provides rough GRE equivalents (e.g., Quant/Verbal/AWA).
Computing postgraduate degrees (Faculty of Engineering / Computing)	Not required	FAQ: “No – we no longer require GREs for any computing postgraduate degrees.”

Takeaway: At Imperial, the GRE is most relevant for Imperial Business School programs, while at least in Computing, GRE is explicitly not required.

Imperial Business School: GRE score expectations for 2026 applicants

Here’s how to interpret Imperial’s published GRE guidance :

1) Full-Time MBA (GRE alternative with minimums)

Imperial’s MBA admissions page clearly states a minimum GRE requirement if you choose GRE instead of GMAT:

• Verbal: 156

• Quantitative: 158 

How to use this: Treat the minimum as a baseline. Competitive profiles often exceed minimums, especially for quant-heavy career goals.

2) MSc Management (GRE optional but helpful)

Imperial states that if you take the GRE, 159 in Quant can add weight to your application. This is not framed as a strict cutoff—but it’s a clear benchmark you can aim for.

3) MSc Business Analytics & AI (optional, “90th percentile” guidance)

Imperial notes GMAT/GRE isn’t required, but if you do submit GRE, they indicate 90th percentile scores are the kind that strengthens an application.

4) Business School PhD (strong GRE, high percentile)

For PhD applicants, Imperial Business School indicates they view strong performance as 90th percentile+ and even provides approximate GRE equivalents by section.

2026 application rounds and real deadlines (official Imperial dates)

Imperial Business School uses an admissions rounds system for many MSc programs. For 2026 entry, Imperial published round deadlines and decision dates (noting they are subject to change).

Table 2 — Imperial Business School MSc rounds (2026 entry)

Round	Application deadline	Decision by
Round 1	28 Sep 2025	26 Nov 2025
Round 2	7 Jan 2026	4 Mar 2026
Round 3	11 Mar 2026	6 May 2026
Round 4	29 Apr 2026	17 Jun 2026

Imperial’s own guidance encourages applying in earlier rounds for better planning (and typically stronger scholarship/visa timelines).

General entry expectations at Imperial (what matters beyond the GRE)

Even if your program accepts GRE, Imperial still prioritizes core academic and profile strength.

Minimum academic baseline (Imperial guidance)

Imperial’s postgraduate admissions help centre states that for Master’s applications, a minimum requirement is typically a UK Lower Second Class Honours degree (2:2) (or equivalent), though many programs are far more competitive in practice.

English language requirements

Imperial requires applicants to meet English language standards for their chosen course. Imperial also lists exemptions where applicable (e.g., certain degree backgrounds). For Business School specifically, Imperial lists IELTS expectations and notes score validity windows.

Should you submit GRE to Imperial in 2026? (simple decision rules)

Use this quick logic :

Submit the GRE if:

• Your program requires it or lists GRE as an alternative (e.g., MBA).

• Your program says GRE can add weight (e.g., MSc Management) and you can meet the published benchmark.

• You’re applying to a quant-heavy program and want to prove quantitative ability (Business Analytics & AI mentions high percentile expectations if submitted).

Don’t submit (or don’t spend time on GRE) if:

• Your department explicitly says it’s not required (e.g., Computing postgraduate degrees).

FAQ (2026)

1) Is Imperial College London a GRE accepting university in 2026?

Yes—Imperial College London accepts the GRE for certain programs, especially within Imperial Business School, where the GRE can be required/accepted as an alternative (MBA) or optional but beneficial (some MSc/PhD routes).

2) What are the Imperial College London GRE requirements 2026 for MBA?

Imperial’s Full-Time MBA page states a minimum GRE of 156 Verbal and 158 Quantitative (as an alternative to GMAT).

3) Do Imperial computing postgraduate courses require GRE?

No. Imperial’s Computing postgraduate FAQ says they no longer require GREs for any computing postgraduate degrees.

4) What are the Imperial MSc application deadlines for 2026 entry?

Imperial Business School published round deadlines for 2026 entry including 28 Sep 2025, 7 Jan 2026, 11 Mar 2026, and 29 Apr 2026 (with decision dates listed).

CTA: Apply smarter to Imperial in 2026 (official links)

Use these official pages to verify requirements program-by-program and apply with the latest updates:

• Imperial Full-Time MBA (GRE minimums + code details): 

• MSc Management admissions (GRE can add weight; 2026 deadlines): 

• MSc admissions rounds for 2026 entry (all rounds + decision dates): 

• Computing postgraduate FAQ (GRE not required): 

• Imperial English language requirements (general): 

If you tell me which Imperial course(s) you’re targeting (MBA/MSc/PhD + program name), I’ll create a program-specific 2026 checklist (GRE/GMAT policy, deadlines, fees/funding pointers, and document list) in a clean table.