diff --git a/cookiecutter.json b/cookiecutter.json
index d91d4b7..d064492 100644
--- a/cookiecutter.json
+++ b/cookiecutter.json
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
     "project_description": "",
     "author": "Jane Doe",
     "author_email": "jane_doe@imperial.ac.uk",
+    "use_bsd3_licence": false,
     "_copy_without_render": [".github"],
     "__prompts__": {
         "project_name": "Enter a human-readable name for the project",
         "project_slug": "Enter a name for the Python package",
         "project_description": "Enter a brief description of the project",
         "author": "Enter your full name",
-        "author_email": "Enter your email address"
+        "author_email": "Enter your email address",
+        "use_bsd3_licence": "Whether to use Imperial's default open-source licence (BSD 3-clause)"
     }
 }
diff --git a/hooks/post_gen_project.py b/hooks/post_gen_project.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08b16f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hooks/post_gen_project.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import os
+
+REMOVE_PATHS = [
+    "{% if not cookiecutter.use_bsd3_licence %}LICENSE{% endif %}"
+]
+
+for path in REMOVE_PATHS:
+    path = path.strip()
+    if path and os.path.exists(path):
+        os.unlink(path) if os.path.isfile(path) else os.rmdir(path)
diff --git a/{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/LICENSE b/{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0dd76a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/LICENSE	
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+BSD 3-Clause License
+
+Copyright (c) 2024, Alex Dewar
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+   contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+   this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.