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Imperial College London

Full review 2023

Yatharth Shah, MSc in International Management

Reviews
27 Reviews Found
Likes
- The professors and the curriculum
- The infrastructure, the campus is very pretty and modern
- The location in central London
Dislikes
- Some courses reused previous year lecture recordings
- Workload can be and intense and unbalanced
- Master's thesis is very hit or miss depending on your supervisor
Campus Life
- They have campuses in South Kensington, White City, Silwood Park, and Old Oak Innovation Cluster. They also have tieups with multiple hospitals for their medical students.
- Our campus was the main one (South Kensington) and had all facilities from the Library, Gym, Sports, Food outlets, etc.
- I did not explore club festivals and clubs, so I am not aware of any. Some of my friends had joined the hiking club.
- There is a student union called Imperial College Union.
Accommodation
- I found an off-campus accommodation via Spareroom.
- Monthly rent was £750 excluding bills, £800 including them. It was a single room in a 4BHK flat.
- It's very difficult to get accommodation because you can only view houses virtually, and many landlords do not want to rent to students. Additionally, rents are unaffordable.
- My flat was around 1 hour away from the campus. Most Indian students group up and rent an entire flat together.
Likes
- Incredible guest faculty from institutions beyong Imperial, and a wide range of mentors and systematic tutor-system with an assigned mentor and peer support groups in class. I was Class Representative, and truly enjoyed having the opportunity to interact beyond my cohort and also deeply with them.
- Course specific, but the networking opportunity- I attended an international conference in Berlin, all organized by the course coordinators and also defended my thesis in front of externals from the University of Oxford. We also had a careers fair where we met with Imperial alumni. Meeting a diverse group of people from different cultures and ages, but with similar interests helps expand your mind beyond what is possible in your own country.
- World-class labs, never having to worry about supplies as systems are very organized. Even if there are any issues, it is easy to manage with the support of neighbouring equally established labs. Good research infrastructure, safe, easy to access any online resources needed with help of admin/IT team and great well-resourced libraries across all campuses.
Dislikes
- Lack of university accommodation for postgraduate students (we had to seek private housing/find places on our own). The college has a hall for undergraduates; this is very challenging to navigate as an international student, as we do not view the properties ourselves in person before committing.
- Career support for international students/visa seekers, especially for life sciences, is not very proactive; one has to rely on a lot of networking and cold e-mailing and visa issues need a lot more support.
- Healthcare/GP registration support needs to be sought out but should be taken care of automatically for internationals new to the system. Residential mentors should be given to new senior students too, like Big Sibs at some US colleges.
Campus Life
- Many: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/visit/campuses/
- All of the above are available; I'm not sure about medical facilities, as I never availed them but there should be
- All festivals are celebrated grandly as there are multiple societies
- Was not into co-curriculars as a research postgrad but I was a part of things like Garba Nights, Cricket match screenings and Bollywood Treasure Hunt and Ganesh Chathurthi with the Indian Society.
Accommodation
- Facebook groups and agents like AmberStudent. I lived in Chapter Ealing, a student accom whose pictures and reviews are available online and accurate. It was good, as many facilities were given, plus a close location to stores like Tesco, Sainsbury's and metro/bus stations, but yes, it was far off from more central London but connected via the Central Line so it was okay. Also 25 minutes away from the nearest hospital in Hammersmith.
- 1k/month in pounds, gym laundry maintenance and bills included
- Checking the legitimacy of the place from India, had to request a classmate to go view it before making a large payment
- Book earlier – my friends saved a lot of money since they had finished the degree earlier to me; I did it last minute
- 35 minutes walking, 15 minutes if tube + walk combo; most Indian students stayed in this or the other private accommodation, like Wood Lane studios which is also pricey








Likes
- Location in the heart of central London, close to Hyde Park, good proximity to metro station, shops and restaurants, very posh and safe area
- Research focussed course with lots of reserach opportunity available for students
- Highly ranked (#2 in the world)
Dislikes
- STEM-only university so didn't get to interact with non-stem students
- My course was relatively new so could have some improvements
- My course only utilised one teaching room which became quite mundane after some time
Campus Life
- One main campus. Medical students have different campuses in later years. Main campus is in South Kensington. Biomedical students have labs at the Hammersmith campus in White City. There is a library at each campus, a sports centre called Ethos in south kensington, and generally there are first aiders and nurses everywhere.
- Major indian society festival is East Meets West, which is a song/dance/drama show. There are lots of other events held by all societies throughout the year at a smaller scale. Imperial has around 400 societies so there's something for everyone – all kinds of sports and cultural societies – and if what you're interested in doesn't already exist, then you can always start your own society.
Accommodation
- In the first year I stayed at university housing. This was a great accommodation in North Acton, with common rooms, a games room, and very nice ensuite rooms well-equipped with a desk, chair, lamp, and fan. This was a super modern and well-maintained facility. The only con was that it was far from campus – about 40 mins by train. Monthly rent was 692 gbp, which included all bills.
- The room was also cleaned once a week, which was great. Since it was university-provided, it was very easy to get this accommodation. In years 2 and 3 I stayed at iQ, which is a private student accommodation. This rent was 1300 gbp per month with all bills included but no cleaning. The location for this was amazing, very accessible with lots of public transport options nearby and very lively with lots of shops, restaurants and bars.
- This accommodation was 20 mins away from campus. I would advise students to start looking early on for accommodation if you want a private student hall, as these rooms open for booking around november the year before you want to start living there. Rooms go very quick so look early and check public transport access in the area.

Likes
- The lectures were focused on facilitating discussion and debate within the classroom rather than delivering theoretical content
- The courses had plenty of case studies from real world situations that have occurred
- We had a lot of projects which allowed us to think critically and apply ourselves
Dislikes
- The self study material provided was too extensive to cover before lectures
- Sometimes there was a lack of clear guidance on how to approach registering and attending professional events
- For one course we had lectures change in the middle which was less than ideal
Campus Life
- There are two major ones: South Kensington and White City
- Both campuses have pubs, gyms, library, and cafes
- There is an induction week for new joiners and
- All sports facilities are usually available on campus and there is society for each sport that you can join
- Most events tend to take place at the union bar, which is where everyone meets up after class
Accommodation
- I opted for Imperial's postgraduate accommodation, which is located off campus. I searched a bit online but wasn't sure where to book, hence I went with the safest option.
- Rent was about GBP 1000-1200. Everything was included except laundry but there were machines on site which you could pay and use
- The accommodation also had an onsite gym which was free for residents to use
- No challenges as such, just paid on their website. I would recommend looking at all the students' halls available and picking the best one. You can also choose to rent directly from a landlord and you can use SpareRoomor Zoopla to search.
- My accommodation was a 25-30 min bus ride away from campus. Some Indian students stayed in the same accommodation.





Likes
- Professors are helpful and use real examples, not just theory.
- I loved the diversity, met people from everywhere.
- Being in central London itself is a huge plus.
Dislikes
- Workload can get crazy at times with back-to-back deadlines.
- Staying near campus is very expensive.
- Food on campus is overpriced.
Campus Life
- Campuses: Imperial has multiple campuses – the main one is in South Kensington (where the Business School is located). There are also others like White City and Hammersmith, mostly for research and medical faculties.
- Facilities: The South Kensington campus has a central library, modern classrooms, sports facilities, cafés, medical services, and lots of study and social spaces.
- Events & clubs: The Imperial College Union runs hundreds of clubs and societies. There are cultural festivals, career fairs, guest lectures, networking events, and mixers happening regularly.
- Festivals & popular activities: Student-run cultural nights, sports tournaments, and entrepreneurship events are quite popular. Indian Society and other cultural clubs are very active.
- Extracurricular activities: Students can join sports teams, music/dance societies, cultural groups, and business/entrepreneurship clubs. These give a nice balance to the heavy academics and help build friendships outside the classroom.
Accommodation
-
First I stayed in student halls, then moved to a private flat just 5 mins away. Super convenient but expensive. Finding a place is stressful, so I’d say start early.








Likes
- The modules offered are extremely interesting and are well planned out.
- The professors are not only knowledgeable but also approachable, making complex topics easier to grasp. Most of them are field medal winners or noble prize winners.
- The student body is incredibly diverse, offering exposure to different cultures and perspectives. There are people from different walks of life.
Dislikes
- The overall course is quite intensive.
- The academic workload can sometimes feel overwhelming, making it challenging to maintain a work-life balance.
- Being in London means dealing with sky-high accommodation and living expenses.
Campus Life
- Imperial College London has its main campus in South Kensington, along with others like White City, Charing Cross, and Hammersmith, each focusing on specific fields.
- The South Kensington campus is lively and well-equipped with a large library, sports facilities, medical services, and peaceful green spaces. I am part of the South Kensington campus.
Accommodation
- Accommodation: Lee Abbey London
- I found this accommodation through a friend at Imperial, whom I met during Imperial's Offer Holder session. Securing a spot at this student accommodation is extremely competitive as it includes breakfast and dinner (Monday to Friday) and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekends. Additionally, it’s just a 10-12 minute walk from the college.
- Cost: 300 GBP/week - For Twin Ensuite Room
- 350 GBP/week - For Single Room
- The fees includes everything. Nothing else is charged.
- Other accommodations which i found nearby where very costly and didn't include meals, so had to do the cooking by oneself.
- I would highly recommend this accommodation the food is real good for Imperial Students. There is option for both non-veg and veg people.












Likes
- Highly diverse with students from all over the world.
- Very efficient and knowledgeable faculty.
- The way in which course is conducted - mix of classes, assignments, group discussions, guests from different sectors etc
Dislikes
- Campus is not as big and fancy as Oxford or Cambridge.
- Not very helpful in getting campus placements.
- Not aware of there are proper programs for alumni engagement especially for the students from other countries than UK.
Campus Life
- Imperial has multiple campuses, including:
- South Kensington (Main Campus) - Central hub for most programs and facilities.
- White City - Focus on innovation and research.
- Hammersmith and Charing Cross - Medical research and teaching facilities.
- Silwood Park - Dedicated to ecological and environmental studies.
- The campuses provide excellent facilities, including a well-stocked library, state-of-the-art laboratories, sports centers, medical services, and dining options. South Kensington, which was my campus, also houses the Imperial College Union, offering recreational spaces and support services.
- Students can engage in sports, cultural clubs, and over 300 societies, including environmental groups, music, and drama clubs. Annual events like the Imperial Festival and sports tournaments add to the lively atmosphere.
- Overall, Imperial College London offers a vibrant campus life with various academic events, cultural festivals, and active student societies. Popular events include Sustainability Week and departmental seminars, fostering a balance between academics and extracurriculars
Accommodation
- I found my accommodation through Google Search.
- Monthly rent depends on a lot of things - the type of accomodation, sharing, fooding etc. For me, a triple share room was costing about 650 UK pounds along with food.
- No specific challenge. It's been long after I passed. There might have been lots of new places now.
- My accommodation was about 1 km from college. Indian students live either apartments or hostels.

Likes
- Infrastructure
- Career fairs in which we got the opportunity to directly meet the CEO/higher authority of companies
- Cultural events
Dislikes
- Less interaction of student with teachers during classes
- Less options for vegetarian food
- Less options for foreigners
Campus Life
- It had 2 campuses: one for science and maths courses other for business school.
- There is a huge library, and there is a medical room. The gym and sports club in 5 minute's walk from the college.
- Other events: Halloween, Diwali fest, Christmas. Different clubs provided access to different cultural events. There were student organisations which helped with different services.
Accommodation
- I found my accommodation through Knight Frank agent. The rent was high: 1200 pounds per person for one month. Other than this cleaning was 3.30 pounds separate for each month for one visit.
- The people who rented us an apartment were really rude. They did not solve any of the problems in the house and charged unnecessarily. Do explore options closer to college. My accommodation was 45 mins away from my college, most of them stayed near college.

Likes
- I enjoyed my time at Imperial because of the different faculty members from all around the world. I thought going into a university that my faculty would only have a British outlook and not a global perspective but turned out that most faculty was from the US and other countries. This helped me connect more with the content.
- The students were mostly asian because of our vast population but people had studied outside of Asia which helped bring in a global perspective on the different skills and tasks we performed. I also liked the focus given to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Campus Life
We have 9 campuses based on the subjects people study. The sports centre is one of the best, it is easy to book slots and is never crowded. People are mindful of personal space and boundaries. They have a rowing society that many who have never done it sign up for, even rock climbing. They also have a bunch of free gym events. There is a summer and winter ball that takes place every year. These are the most iconic nights of the year. We have an investment fund that in real-time makes investments, it is a great learning opportunity. There are different clubs for different types of dancing and singing, people get together and connect on different levels.
Accommodation
Lee Abbey Student Accommodation in Kensington, London. Full year rent required to be paid, my rent was 1400 pounds a month. Others rent ranged from 1200-1600 pounds. I think this is the best option as it is catered and the administration is extremely generous and kind.
Likes
- Location, it's in Central London close to loads of museums and parks, a hub for culture and history
- Since Imperial is primarily a STEM uni even the business school is influenced by that, all our profs do a great job at keeping up with new tech and the course material is relevant.
- The course is evenly paced and doesn't get overwhelming.
Dislikes
- Huge cohort size, can be hard to stand out.
- London is an extremely expensive city. The visa restrictions and the current job market does't make getting a job easy.
Campus Life
Campus life is great the university is in a great location with tons of opportunities to embrace arts and culture, and the campus is great too and has loads of places for students to socialize.
Accommodation
I stayed in a private student accommodation, it was a 20-minute walk from uni with meals included, a garden and a welcoming community. I paid 211 per week for a triple share room. This was also one of the most affordable options I could find.




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