Free Interview Resources
Free practice questions, preparation advice, and expert insights for Design Engineering interviews at Imperial College London.
Real Design Engineering interview questions in the style Imperial College London asks. Try answering each one aloud before you reveal the hint.
Estimate the total length of all the hairs on someone's head if laid end to end, explaining your assumptions.
Problem-Solving
Hint
Break the estimate into number of hairs, average length and a sensible unit conversion.
Sketch a graph from a given equation describing a real system, and explain what the key features of your graph mean physically.
Problem-Solving
Hint
Find intercepts, limiting behaviour and turning points before worrying about a polished sketch.
How would you design a gravity dam for holding back water?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Start with pressure increasing with depth, then think about moments, sliding and overturning.
A sealed cylinder has rising internal pressure. Would it split along the side first or blow at the end first?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Compare how hoop and longitudinal stresses scale in a thin-walled pressure vessel.
Sketch a velocity-time graph for a skydiver jumping from a plane.
Problem-Solving
Hint
Think separately about early free fall, terminal velocity, parachute deployment and final descent.
Structured interviews that combine technical problem-solving with motivation and personal statement discussion.
Imperial interviews vary by department. Engineering and Computing tend to be technical with problem-solving elements. Medicine uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with several short stations. Most interviews last 15-30 minutes and may include a presentation or group exercise.
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Show the forces acting on a ladder.
entryHint
Draw the weight, normal reactions and possible friction forces before writing equations.
In a room with five people, what is the probability of guessing exactly one person's birthday correctly?
midHint
Use a binomial model: choose which one is correct, then require the other guesses to be wrong.
Differentiate the expression below.
entryHint
Differentiate term by term and remember the derivative of tan x.
How does a fridge work?
midHint
Follow the working fluid around the cycle and track where heat is absorbed and released.
Explain voltage, electricity and power to someone with no physics background.
entryHint
Use analogies carefully, then state what each analogy leaves out.
Explain how voltage, charge and capacitance are linked in a capacitor.
midHint
Start with what capacitance means as a proportionality between stored charge and potential difference.
How do trains go around bends?
midHint
Think about wheel shape, track geometry, lateral forces and speed limits.
Why do windmills never appear stationary?
midHint
Separate the physical rotation from how human vision or video sampling perceives it.
What do you think will be the next major development to come out of design engineering?
midHint
Connect a real technology trend to a user need and a feasible route to implementation.
As a design engineer, what specific project would you most like to work on?
entryHint
Define the user, the problem, the constraints and the first prototype you would build.
What are the key differences between engineering and physics?
entryHint
Contrast explanation of natural phenomena with designing under constraints for a purpose.
Why do sausages split lengthways rather than around the circumference?
hardHint
Model the sausage as a thin pressurised cylinder and compare likely stress directions.
What would happen if you drilled through the Earth to the other side and jumped into the hole?
hardHint
First solve the idealised no-air-resistance case, then add realistic complications.
What challenges might you face as a design engineer in ten years' time?
midHint
Consider sustainability, regulation, inclusive design, materials supply and AI-enabled workflows.
Design a washing machine for someone who is visually impaired, taking usability and safety into account.
hardHint
Start with user research assumptions, then redesign controls, feedback, error recovery and safety checks.
8-10
5-7
2-4
Final week
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Course-specific overview for the MEng in Design Engineering.
Imperial video introducing the MEng and its product, service and systems design scope.
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Further Reading
by Don Norman
Useful for human-centred design, affordances, feedback and error-tolerant product thinking.
by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger
A structured introduction to product development, prototyping, user needs and design process.
by David Blockley
Short overview of engineering judgement, systems and the social role of engineering.
by Mark Miodownik
Accessible material-science context for design choices and product performance.
by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant
Helpful for understanding usability, interfaces and the history of user-centred design.
by University of Cambridge Department of Engineering / The Underwood Trust
Free technical interview-style engineering problem bank with hints and worked support.
by UAT-UK
Official source for format, dates, scoring, module selection and preparation guidance.
by Dyson School of Design Engineering
Good source for current design-engineering themes and projects.
by University of Cambridge / Isaac Physics
Useful for mechanics, electricity, maths and problem-solving fluency.
by Discover Uni
Provides outcomes, continuation and accreditation data, with data-year caveats.