Brandwave

How popular isImperial College London?

In September 2026, people searched for Imperial College London by name about 16,500 times worldwide, a 28.9% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 0.74% of all global globally sought UK university searches, placing Imperial College London 11th out of 12 universities. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about globally sought UK universities, Imperial College London appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Imperial College London is the 11th most searched of 12 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. University of EdinburghShare of searches 16.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. University of WarwickShare of searches 16.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  3. London School of EconomicsShare of searches 11%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. University of ManchesterShare of searches 11%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  5. Imperial College LondonShare of searches 0.74%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top globally sought UK universities in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Imperial College London was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Imperial College London is the third most recommended of the 12.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

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See every answer about globally sought UK universities

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which globally sought UK universities compete with Imperial College London?

Imperial College London against globally sought UK universities worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for University of Edinburgh, University of Warwick, London School of Economics, University of Manchester, Durham University, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of WarwickLondon School of EconomicsUniversity of ManchesterDurham UniversityUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of OxfordUniversity of BristolUniversity of CambridgeUCLImperial College LondonKing's College London
Oct 202513.9%17%11.4%11.4%9.3%7.6%10%6.2%7.6%4.7%0.59%0.46%
Nov 202516.1%16.1%10.8%10.8%7.2%7.2%11.4%5.9%8.8%4.4%0.59%0.65%
Dec 202515.8%12.9%10.6%10.6%8.6%8.6%11.2%7%8.6%4.7%0.79%0.52%
Jan 202613.3%16.3%10.9%10.9%8.9%7.3%11.5%5.9%8.9%4.9%0.69%0.65%
Feb 202614.8%14.8%12.1%12.1%8.1%6.6%10.5%6.6%8.1%5%0.66%0.49%
Mar 202614.1%14.1%11.5%11.5%7.7%7.7%12.2%6.3%7.7%5.8%0.77%0.57%
Apr 202614.7%12%12%12%8%8%12.6%5.4%8%6%0.66%0.59%
May 202617.3%14.1%11.5%9.5%7.8%7.8%12.1%5.2%7.8%5.8%0.63%0.57%
Jun 202614.3%14.3%11.7%11.7%7.8%7.8%12.2%6.4%7.8%4.8%0.74%0.47%
Jul 202615.1%12.3%12.3%12.3%6.7%8.3%12.8%5.6%8.3%5.1%0.67%0.5%
Aug 202615.4%15.4%10.3%10.3%8.5%8.5%10.9%5.6%8.5%5.2%0.69%0.62%
Sep 202616.5%16.5%11%11%9%9%7.9%6.1%6.1%5.5%0.74%0.54%

  1. 1.University of Edinburgh

    16.5%

    Held 1st. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  2. 2.University of Warwick

    16.5%

    Held 2nd. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  3. 3.London School of Economics

    11%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  4. 4.University of Manchester

    11%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  5. 5.Durham University

    9%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 201K estimated branded searches, +21.8% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  6. 6.University of St Andrews

    9%

    Moved from 8th to 6th. 201K estimated branded searches, +21.8% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  7. 7.University of Oxford

    7.9%

    Moved from 3rd to 7th. 177K estimated branded searches, -16.9% vs prior month. Share -3 points.

  8. 8.University of Bristol

    6.1%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  9. 9.University of Cambridge

    6.1%

    Moved from 7th to 9th. 135K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  10. 10.UCL

    5.5%

    Held 10th. 124K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  11. 11.Imperial College London

    0.74%

    Held 11th. 16.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  12. 12.King's College London

    0.54%

    Held 12th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Imperial College London and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Imperial College London

11 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Imperial College London changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Imperial College London worldwide rose from 12.8K to 16.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Imperial College London’s share of searches among globally sought UK universities worldwide held steady, from 0.59% to 0.74%.

How did search popularity change for globally sought UK universities worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, London School of Economics overtook University of Oxford to rank 3rd among globally sought UK universities worldwide, with 11% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, University of Manchester overtook University of Oxford to rank 4th among globally sought UK universities worldwide, with 11% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Durham University overtook University of Oxford to rank 5th among globally sought UK universities worldwide, with 9% of the searches.

  4. In September 2026, University of St Andrews overtook University of Oxford and University of Cambridge to rank 6th among globally sought UK universities worldwide, with 9% of the searches.

  5. In September 2026, University of Edinburgh gained share of searches among globally sought UK universities worldwide, from 15.4% to 16.5%.

  6. In September 2026, University of Warwick gained share of searches among globally sought UK universities worldwide, from 15.4% to 16.5%.

How are Imperial College London’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Imperial College London’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • imperial college london
  • imperial london
  • imperial university

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