London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) vs Imperial College London (ICL) are two public universities in London that rank among the top 50 institutions in the world. Choosing between the two can be an exhausting job and therefore a few parameters might help students choose between the two for their higher studies in UK.
| London School of Economics and Political Science | Imperial College London | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.5 Out of 10 | 7.6 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 4 The Guardian 2026 # 52 Times Higher Education 2026 # 56 QS World University 2026 | # 2 QS World University 2026 # 6 The Guardian 2026 # 8 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Law by The Guardian 2026 | # 8 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 12 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 7 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -33 PG Programs -60 | UG Programs -37 PG Programs -116 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9.0 % | 18.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-681 GRE-319 IELTS-7 PTE-65 TOEFL-100 | IELTS-6.5 PTE-62 TOEFL-92 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 27489 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 32457 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 43577 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 47265 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 46580 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 3686 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Ranking 2020: 45; Top paying degrees with annual salary are MBA: 159,000 USD, Executive MBA: 151,000 USD, PhD: 144,000 USD, LLM: 120,000 USD | Ranked 6th in the world in the QS World University Rankings® 2023, Imperial College London is a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing solely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Base Salaries By Degree:
|
| application requirements | 87% in previous degree for most programs; Personal Statement; at least 2 recommendation letters; CV | BMAT score for MBBS and BSc medicine; MAT for BS and MS in Mathematics; at least 2 recommendation letters |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Imperial College Business School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 4 reviews | 8.1/10 Read 26 reviews |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | London School of Economics and Political Science | Imperial College London |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | School | University |
| Established | 1895 | 1907 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | :1 |
| Male:Female | 48% Male, 52% Female | 61% Male, 39% Female |
| Location Facts | Has one campus in central London close to River Thames, Covent Garden and Theatreland and the Royal Court of Justice; Houses of Parliament is are also easily accessible from the campus | Has a number of campuses situated in the center of London; close to London’s museum district, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park; Campus are located at Charing Cross, Chelsea and Westminster, Hammersmith, Royal Brompton, Silwood Park, etc. |
| Library | 3 libraries: British Library of Political and Economic Science (main), Shaw Library, Women’s Library; Main library has 4 million print volumes, 60,000 online journals, 29,000 electronic books | 7 libraries; Central Library at South Kensington; medical libraries at Charing Cross, Chelsea and Westminster, Hammersmith, Royal Brompton and St Mary’s Hospital; Silwood Park Campus Library; Science Museum’s library was previously included in the central library |
| Campus Life | Over 200 societies including Student Union’s clubs, societies, media and representation; volunteering and charity; public lectures; arts and music; faith and reflection; Saw Swee Hock Student Centre has main office of Student’s Union, cafes, pubs, nighclub, study spaces, gym and Residential Service Office. | More than 380 clubs and societies related to academic, arts & entertainment, charitable, cultural, departmental, faith, indoor, martial arts, media, outdoor, social and sports; Caving, gliding and canoeing are also organized by the college; Student Union runs two bars and a nighclub on campus |
| Hostel | #Single Studio Room - $13416 #Single Room - $14833 #Single En-suite Room - $15328 | - |
| Famous Alumni | Susan Rasky (journalist); Ursula von der Leyen (first female President of European Commission); Vanessa Kerry (physician); Daniel Akerson (former CEO of General Motors); Amartya Sen (Nobel laureate, economist); Leonid Hurwicz (Nober laureate, economist) | Nobel laureates of medicine: Sir Alexander Fleming, Sir Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley, Peter Higgs; HG Wells (author); William Crookes (physicist); Thomas Huxley (biologist) |
| Weather |
