In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, the business school ranked second in the UK for business and management studies.[1] In the latest QS MBA Rankings, Imperial’s MBA programme ranked third worldwide and first in europe for career specialisation in entrepreneurship.[2][3]
In 1909, King Edward VII laid the foundation stone for the Royal School of Mines building, which is now part of the present-day Business School facilities.
In 1955, Imperial College London offered its first post-graduate course in business, an MSc in Production Engineering and Management.[5]
View from the entrance. Across the street is the Brevan Howard Centre for Financial Analysis.
In 1971, a Department of Management Science was established at Imperial. This was followed in 1978 by the Department of Social & Economic Studies.[8]
In 1987, a Management School was founded through the merger of the Departments of Management Science and Social & Economic Studies. It focused on integrating management studies with emerging technology and entrepreneurship.
In 2003, the Imperial Business School became the fourth Faculty of Imperial College London, alongside the Faculties of Natural Science, Medicine and Engineering.
In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II held a royal opening for Imperial's new business school.[9]
In 2021, Imperial College London’s new White City campus opened, providing additional space and facilities for innovation and entrepreneurship activities.[10]
Facilities
Royal School of MinesTranslation & Innovation Hub
Imperial Business School is based at Imperial College London’s South Kensington campus.
Its facilities were designed by Sir Norman Foster. The business school has a glass-fronted design that drew its inspiration from the Great Exhibition's all-glass Crystal Palace, reflecting the college's historical origins. The business school's glass design incorporates the Royal School of Mines wing, including its 19th-century vaults, blending modern and Victorian architecture.
In addition to its South Kensington facilities, the business school has a presence at Imperial’s White City campus. This campus serves as an innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system for the university.[11] Resources available to the business school include Imperial's White City Incubator, the Scale Space, the Translation & Innovation Hub, the Invention Rooms, and a hackspace for manufacturing equipment and training.
Academics
The business school offers primarily postgraduate education, including MBAs, Master's, PhDs, and Executive Education, as well as undergraduate education.
The business school is organised by five academic areas of Analytics & Operations, Economics & Public Policy, Finance, Management & Entrepreneurship, and Marketing.
Research Centres
Brevan Howard Centre for Financial Analysis – enhances Imperial’s expertise in financial economics.[12]
Centre for Climate Finance & Investment – unlocks solutions within capital markets to address global climate change.[13]
Centre for Financial Technology – studies the global impact of technology on finance, business and society.[14]
Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation – analyses incentives and policy in healthcare.[15]
Centre for Responsible Leadership – helps organisations redefine their approach to leadership.[16]
Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance – improves the competitiveness of the UK economy and drives growth.[17]
Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation – connects innovation to organisations globally to create social impact.[18]
Imperial Business Design Studio – studies how design thinking influences strategy and business performance.[19]
Leonardo Centre on Business for Society – explores innovative business models for a net-positive impact on humanity.[20]
The Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship - turns high-potential science into ventures that scale.[21]
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), a national higher education funding bodies assessment, the business school ranked 2nd in the UK for business and management studies.[28]
In 2026, the QS Business Master's Rankings ranked its MSc in Marketing 7th globally,[32] MSc in Business Analytics 8th globally,[33] MSc in Management 9th globally[34] and MSc in Finance 14th globally.[35]
↑Science, London School of Economics and Political. "History of the department". London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
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