Choosing between prestigious universities like Imperial College London (Imperial) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) can be a tricky task!
Both these esteemed London institutions boast illustrious histories, diverse student populations and of course, academic excellence and a global reputation.
But which is best? And which university aligns with your academic and career goals?
With this in-depth comparison, we’ll help you decide whether Imperial or LSE is best for you. Alongside national and international league table rankings, we’ll explore each university’s prestige, subject specialisms and student experience.
Ready? Let’s compare.
Table of Contents
Which is better, LSE or Imperial College London?
Whether LSE or Imperial College London is “better” will depend on your individual preferences, academic interests and career goals. Both institutions are Russell Group members, offering a world-class education and boasting unique strengths in different fields. As such, both universities are excellent choices for prospective students.
But in terms of UK academic league tables alone… LSE generally beats Imperial.
Here’s how they compare.
- LSE: 3rd
- Imperial: 6th
- LSE: 4th
- Imperial: 5th
The Times Higher Education Guide
- Imperial: 3rd
- LSE: 7th
Is LSE an elite university?
In short, yes.
LSE is regarded as an elite university, particularly in the fields of social sciences, economics and politics.
Its reputation for academic excellence, influential research and distinguished faculty members contribute to its status as one of the top universities not just in the UK, but the world.
According to the QS World University League Table, LSE ranks 45th in the world. It scores particularly highly for employer reputation (96.1) and employment outcomes (98.6) – making it a smart choice for anyone committed to a career in the social sciences.
What’s more, in the latest Research Excellence Framework, LSE had the highest percentage of “world-leading” research of any university in the UK.
Is LSE the best university in London?
It depends which league table you look at, but overall, LSE is considered the best university in London.
As we’ve already seen, LSE is famed for its specialism in the social sciences. As ranked by the Complete University Guide, LSE is first in the country for Accounting and Finance and Social Policy courses. It’s only behind “Stoxbridge” (that’s St Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge) for Economics, Anthropology, Philosophy and Psychology degrees.
So if you want to study a degree in related subjects, you can’t get much better than LSE.
We should note that as well as LSE, there are over 40 universities in London, offering exceptional teaching and research opportunities. For more comparisons, don’t miss our LSE vs UCL and UCL vs Imperial guides, as well as an introduction to Queen Mary University of London.
Is LSE more prestigious than UCL?
LSE and UCL are both prestigious institutions in their own right. They’re both regularly ranked among the top ten (and often five!) universities in the UK.
While LSE is renowned for its excellence in social sciences, UCL is known for its broad range of disciplines, including science, engineering, medicine, humanities, law and social sciences.
UCL holds unique prestige as the oldest university in London, founded in 1826. LSE wasn’t too far behind however, with illustrious roots dating back to 1895.
Due to its subject specialism, LSE also hosts one of the most prestigious events programmes in the world. For instance, not just one, but three Nobel Prize winners (Joseph E Stiglitz, Esther Duflo and Claudia Goldin) are speaking this Spring Term.
It’s best to check league tables for your degree subject to explore each university’s reputation and rankings for your field.
Is LSE as prestigious as Oxford?
With teaching happening as early as 1096, Oxford University is internationally renowned for its long history, academic tradition and research excellence across various disciplines.
While LSE is highly prestigious in its own right, particularly in social sciences and economics, Oxford’s centuries-old reputation and comprehensive academic offerings give it a higher level of prestige – especially in international contexts.
Is it harder to get into UCL or LSE?
In general, it’s harder to get into LSE than UCL. While UCL has an undergraduate student population of 25,000, there are only 5,500 students at LSE.
Its small size coupled with its strong academic reputation means competition for places at LSE is fierce.
In the latest UCAS 2022 statistics, LSE had an offer rate of 26%. UCL had an offer rate of 29.5%. So it’s slightly harder to get an offer at LSE.
Entry standards (i.e. the grades students achieve) are also just higher at LSE than UCL. In the Complete University Guide, LSE ranks 8th in the country. UCL ranks 9th.
Looking for more information on entry to UCL and LSE? Check out our LSE and UCL admissions guides.
Is LSE the hardest university to get into?
While LSE is known for its competitive admissions process, it’s not necessarily the hardest university to get into. Many factors, including acceptance rates, number of applications, applicant qualifications, interview requirements and course popularity, contribute to the difficulty of admission each year.
In general, the grades you’ll need for LSE are comparable to Oxbridge. Think three or four straight As at least. Check individual course pages for standard offers and entry requirements.
According to the Complete University Guide, St Andrews is the university with the highest entry standards in the country.
If you’re aiming for LSE, Oxbridge or Imperial, you’ll need the best A Level grades. To help, we’ve put together ten tips for acing your exams and explore how hard it is to get straight As.
Is LSE more competitive than Oxbridge?
So the grades are comparable. But is there more competition for Oxbridge than LSE? Or the other way round?
In terms of offer rates, Oxford and Cambridge are more competitive. As reported by UCAS, Oxford made offers to just 15% of applicants. Cambridge offered places to roughly 19% of candidates. This compares with an offer rate of 26% at LSE.
Focus on: Imperial College London
Is Imperial College London elite?
Yes, Imperial College London is an elite institution, particularly in STEMB fields (that’s science, tech, engineering, medicine and business). It’s the only UK university to exclusively specialise in these areas – adding to its elite reputation.
Imperial regularly sits alongside Oxford and Cambridge in national league tables. Perhaps even more impressive though, is Imperial’s World University Ranking. It’s placed 6th (yes, 6th!) in the entire world.
With around 17,000 students from over 140 countries, Imperial fosters a diverse and inclusive community. Its reputation for groundbreaking research, technological innovation and academic excellence solidifies its status as one of the leading global universities.
Is Imperial or UCL more prestigious?
Both Imperial College London and UCL are prestigious universities. While Imperial is renowned for its STEMB focus, UCL excels across a broad range of disciplines.
So it really depends on what you want to study.
While prestige differs depending on your academic interests and career aspirations, UCL holds the unique accolade of London’s oldest university. On the other hand, Imperial has its own distinguished history. Founded in 1907, the university originated from the prestigious Royal College of Chemistry, the Royal School of Mines, and the City and Guilds College.
Why is Imperial College London so prestigious?
Imperial’s prestige stems from its history of academic excellence, state-of-the-art facilities, pioneering research and contributions to scientific and technological advancements.
Indeed, Imperial’s alumni and faculty have made significant contributions to science and tech, including the discovery of penicillin and the development of radar technology. Notable alumni include H.G. Wells and Alexander Fleming.
Located in South Kensington, Imperial’s campus is also surrounded by world-class museums, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, enriching students’ academic experience.
Is Imperial College London as good as Oxbridge?
Imperial College London and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge (collectively known as Oxbridge) are all highly esteemed institutions.
While Oxbridge holds centuries-old traditions and comprehensive academic offerings across various disciplines, Imperial’s STEMB specialisation places it on par with Oxbridge in many fields.
For instance, according to the Complete University Guide subject league tables, Imperial ranks higher than both Oxford and Cambridge for Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, Medical Technology and Bioengineering.
Imperial is also in the top three for Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Materials Technology and Chemical Engineering. It’s quite the list!
So if you’re studying in any of these fields, Imperial ranks just as good (if not better) than Oxford and Cambridge.
Is it harder to get into Imperial or Oxford?
Admission criteria and competition levels will vary between Imperial and Oxford depending on the specific degree course and applicant pool. Both universities are among the most selective in the world, and admission to either is challenging.
Across all courses, Imperial has an offer rate of 30%. On the other hand, Oxford has an offer rate of just 15% – making entry much more competitive.
In terms of entry standards (i.e. the grades accepted students achieve), Oxford and Imperial are on a par. They both score 97% in the Complete University Guide (ranking 5th and 6th for entry standards). As such, you’ll probably need a mix of As and A*s at AS and A Level for either university!
Imperial vs LSE: Global Comparisons
Is Imperial better than Harvard?
Comparing Imperial College London to Harvard University is tricky due to their different strengths and areas of focus. While both universities are highly esteemed, Imperial’s STEMB reputation is on par with Harvard’s global standing.
Overall, Harvard ranks 4th in the QS World University Rankings, while Imperial ranks 6th. So in terms of league tables, Harvard retains its edge.
Is LSE better than Ivy League?
When you compare national with international league tables, LSE performs surprisingly poorly on the global stage. It ranks 45th in the QS World University Rankings, compared to a consistent top ten in the UK.
For world rankings, LSE’s “student to faculty ratio” and “international research network” are noticeably lower than the university’s other excellent metrics.
That said, LSE ranks higher than Brown University (73rd) and Dartmouth College (237th), both Ivy League institutions.
Of course, these rankings come with the usual caveats of checking individual subject league tables and thinking about the student experience you want. But overall, LSE is “better” than some Ivy League unis.
Is LSE one of the best universities in the world?
LSE ranks among the top 50 universities in the world.
Its central London location, reputation for academic excellence, influential research and diverse student body (with over 11,000 students from over 160 countries) solidifies LSE’s position as a first-class institution of higher learning on the global stage.
Indeed, since its founding in 1895, LSE has established itself as a world-leading institution for social sciences (currently ranked sixth in the world). In addition, it’s 2nd for Communications and Media Studies, Geography and Philosophy, 3rd for Development Studies and Social Policy, 4th for History and Sociology, and 5th for Politics and International Studies.
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