Imperial college
Imperial college:
Overview of the university:
Imperial College London is globally renowned for science, technology, medicine, and engineering. While it’s not traditionally known for humanities, it has developed a growing and competitive offering in social sciences, business, and interdisciplinary degrees. Its strengths in data, innovation, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking make it a great fit for those interested in consulting, finance, behavioural science, and policy innovation.
Imperial’s Business School and Centre for Languages, Culture & Communication (CLCC) offer forward-thinking programmes designed for students with interdisciplinary interests — and they’re especially attractive to consulting firms looking for candidates who combine analytical thinking with strategic insight.
Basic Entry Requirements
GCSEs:
Competitive applicants typically present mostly 8s and 9s, especially in English, Maths, and Science.
Strong academic track record in humanities subjects is acceptable for non-STEM degrees.
A-Levels:
Typical offer: AAA–A*AA depending on the course.
For interdisciplinary and social science degrees, subjects such as Psychology, Politics, Geography, Philosophy, and Classical Civilisation are acceptable.
Mathematics is required only for certain economics-heavy or tech degrees, which are avoided in this list.
Admissions Tests & Interviews:
No interviews for most courses, except for some Imperial Business School degrees.
No general admissions tests like TSA or LNAT are required unless specified by a particular course.
Top 5 Degrees at Imperial for Your Profile
1. BSc Economics, Finance and Data Science (without A-Level Maths via contextual pathways)
Overview:
Offered by Imperial’s Business School, this is one of the UK’s most innovative degrees in economics and business. It integrates finance and economic strategy with applied data skills, all within a business context. Imperial has created some pathways that don’t require A-Level Maths, though the degree still involves quantitative content.
Fit with A-Levels:
Government & Politics gives economic and institutional context.
Psychology supports understanding of behavioural economics.
Geography adds spatial-economic insight.
Career Relevance:
Investment Banking & Finance: Strong quantitative & strategic training.
Management Consulting: Particularly for data-driven roles in economic advisory.
Policy & Regulation: Strong grounding in data-led economic policy.
Why it’s good for you:
This is one of the few Imperial programmes where humanities-focused students can still enter high-paying quantitative careers — especially in consulting, fintech strategy, or economic policy. It offers you the analytical edge without requiring a pure maths background (through specific entry streams).
2. BSc Global Health and Social Medicine
Overview:
A modern interdisciplinary programme exploring how policy, health, economics, ethics, and inequality interact. It prepares students for leadership in public health policy, global development, or consulting roles in the health sector.
Fit with A-Levels:
Psychology fits into health behaviour.
Geography links directly to development and global inequalities.
Philosophy & Theology supports ethical analysis of health systems.
Career Relevance:
Global Policy Consulting: Think tanks, UN, WHO, NGOs.
Health Strategy: Roles in large consultancies or pharma strategy units.
ESG & Sustainability Advisory: Especially where ethics, health, and policy intersect.
Why it’s good for you:
This is a mission-driven degree for those who want to combine consulting with ethics and global issues. Its cross-disciplinary approach is rare and respected, especially in policy strategy firms and development consultancies.
3. BSc Human Behaviour and Decision Science
Overview:
This interdisciplinary course (offered through Imperial’s Business School and behavioural science research centres) blends psychology, economics, and management science. It focuses on understanding how people make decisions in real-world environments, which is increasingly important in consulting, behavioural finance, and marketing strategy.
Fit with A-Levels:
Psychology and Philosophy & Theology are ideal for decision theory.
Politics and Geography give real-world application contexts.
Career Relevance:
Behavioural Consulting: Strategy firms, behavioural teams at McKinsey, Ogilvy, or governments.
Market Research & Consumer Strategy: Roles in business intelligence and analytics.
Public Sector Innovation: Behavioural insight units (e.g. UK’s Behavioural Insights Team).
Why it’s good for you:
This degree merges your academic strengths in human behaviour, ethics, and society with real-world decision making. It prepares you for careers that apply psychology and economics to business and policy.
4. BSc Management
Overview:
A top-tier undergraduate programme offered by Imperial College Business School. This degree covers organisational behaviour, strategic planning, innovation, marketing, and entrepreneurship — with a global, analytical lens.
Fit with A-Levels:
Politics and Geography inform organisational and regional policy understanding.
Psychology supports consumer and behavioural analysis.
Philosophy helps with ethics and strategic reasoning.
Career Relevance:
Management Consulting: Especially strategy, operations, or innovation teams.
Business Strategy & Development: High-value corporate roles in growth and leadership.
Entrepreneurship: Strong base for founding or scaling ventures.
Why it’s good for you:
This is Imperial’s flagship business degree, and it puts students on a direct path to McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and top banks. It combines rigorous business knowledge with a problem-solving mindset, suited to consulting careers.
5. BSc Political Science, Technology & Innovation (proposed or upcoming interdisciplinary programmes)
Overview:
Imperial is expanding offerings in political science, policy innovation, and the role of technology in society. These are expected to integrate public policy with an understanding of AI, ethics, sustainability, and regulation.
Fit with A-Levels:
Politics and Philosophy are core here.
Psychology helps with human-technology interaction.
Classical Civilisation offers grounding in political evolution and governance.
Career Relevance:
Policy Consulting: Tech regulation, ethical policy, strategic advisory.
Public-Private Partnerships: Navigating the tech-policy interface.
Innovation Labs & Think Tanks: Emerging areas of strategy and impact.
Why it’s good for you:
As tech increasingly shapes the world, firms need consultants who understand ethics, regulation, and governance. This degree would position you as a future-oriented consultant working on AI ethics, sustainable policy, or digital strategy.
Summary Table of Degrees at Imperial
Degree | Why It's Good for You | Career Relevance |
|---|---|---|
Economics, Finance & Data Science | Strong for consulting/finance without needing A-level maths (through certain pathways). | Investment banking, economic consulting, policy analysis |
Global Health and Social Medicine | Combines global policy, ethics, and development — ideal for cross-sector strategy. | Policy consulting, ESG advisory, global development |
Human Behaviour & Decision Science | Behavioural focus matching psychology and consulting interests. | Behavioural strategy, market research, public innovation |
BSc Management | Flagship business programme for consulting and leadership. | Strategy consulting, corporate development, entrepreneurship |
Political Science, Tech & Innovation | Ideal for tech ethics, policy analysis, and future-oriented consulting. | Tech policy, public-private consulting, regulatory strategy |