Frequently Asked Questions

Undergraduates students should apply through UCAS; you should not apply directly to the College (with the exception of some Nursing programmes). Information about UCAS is available on the UCAS website.
 
If you are applying for Medicine MBBS or Dentistry BDS for 2010 entry you must apply by 15 October 2009. If you are applying for any other programmes within the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry you must submit your application by 15 January 2010.
 
Nursing & Midwifery diploma students apply through UCAS for 2010 entry.

Information about how we select applicants and whether or not we interview is given in the relevant prospectus. Many departments don’t interview students, but make a decision based on information provided in the UCAS form, so it’s very important that you fill in your UCAS form correctly. Academic ability is the key, but the personal statement is very important too and Admissions Tutors generally want to know why you are interested in the particular programme of study and, where appropriate, what you want to do with your degree, or how you think it will help you. We also like to know about your other interests, and why you enjoy them – basically, information that will tell us more about you and help us determine whether or not we think you will be right for King’s and whether we are right for you.

There can appear to be a bit of overlap between King's and other Colleges of the University of London, but although some of our subject areas are the same, the courses aren’t. There are core areas in all subjects, but there will be differences in the options and specialisations available to students, and in some cases you can combine subjects to take joint degrees or major/minor degrees. Also, there will be different strengths in the departments offering the same subject in all the Colleges of the University, and it is worth getting an idea of what these strengths are. More detailed information is available on the departmental webpages.

There are lots of different league tables, so it will depend on which one you are looking and whether the table looks at individual subjects or at particular aspects such as employment or student satisfaction. King’s is currently 23rd in the world according to the Times Higher-QS World University Rankings (2009). In national league tables we are currently 15th in the Independent and 12th in the Times.

Whatever your course of study or chosen career, a King’s degree will stand students in good stead. King’s graduates can be found in a wide variety of careers, and the statistics have consistently shown that King’s has one of the lowest rates of graduate unemployment. In the undergraduate prospectus each department has a 'graduate destinations' section for each department. King’s graduates enjoy one of the best employment rates and graduate starting salaries in the UK , with the Sunday Times University Guide 2008 placing the average starting salary of King's graduates as third highest with £23,875.
 

All students are assigned a personal tutor. This will be a member of academic staff from their department who you can go to if you have academic or personal problems. Students also have access to the Welfare Advisers, who can provide confidential advice on immigration and visas, finance, legal issues and other personal and/or practical matters, plus the Students' Union's own advice team.

King’s will be offering myBursary to every full-time home (UK) undergraduate and myScholarship of £2,000 to students who excel at their programme of study.

Yes - if you are in Year 12 you can attend one of our Open Days. They are an excellent opportunity to find out how the subject is taught at King’s, take in the atmosphere and philosophy of the College and meet current undergraduates.
 
We have Open Days for each School of study and these take place during the summer. Full details of these events can be found on our Open Days webpages, and also under the section entitled Undergraduate study. Students must book their places at these Open Days in advance, and we recommend that they do this online. Once students have applied, if they are invited for an interview with us they will have an opportunity to look around the department when they come. Some offers are made without interview, in which case students will be invited to a departmental open day, when they can have a look around the department, meet some of the staff, current students and find out more about what it is like to study at King's.
 
We also offer regular campus tours led by one of our current student ambassadors on Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 13:30.
 
Alternatively, you can conduct a self-guided tour of the campus, Monday – Friday, 09.00 - 17.00
 
We also have an excellent virtual tour on our website, showing the campuses, labs, classrooms, social areas and accommodation.
 

There are over 3,000 places in College residences, including halls of residence, self-catering apartments, student houses, plus an additional 500 places in intercollegiate University of London residences. Places in intercollegiate halls are allocated between the University of London colleges with regard to the size of the institution – King’s being one of the largest, our students are therefore well placed to get a room in intercollegiate halls. Full details of all the residences are given on the Accommodation Services website.
 
A copy of MyDigs brochure is sent with all offer letters. The deadline for applications is 30 June. All full-time undergraduate students who are entering King’s College London for the first time on a programme of two or more year’s duration, are guaranteed the offer of one year (not necessarily their first) in either a College, Liberty or Intercollegiate residence.
 
Students may be able to spend more than one year in a residence. Many choose to find private accommodation with friends in the London area. Should you need to arrange your own accommodation, our Accommodation Office, the University of London Accommodation Office and King's College London Students' Union (KCLSU) can advise students on how to go about looking for somewhere to live, who the reputable estate agents are, provide lists of students looking to share and so on.

The accommodation office acknowledges receipt of all application forms. Students will next hear from the accommodation office in late August/early September once the A-level results are released in the UK, before contacting students who have satisfied the conditions of their offer.
 
At this time the Accommodation Office will contact applicants via email and send out residence agreements, which students must sign and return. Students should ensure that they provide Accommodation Services with the correct email and address for where they will be at the end of August/beginning of September, especially if they are going to be somewhere other than their home address.

London can be pricey, but is really best enjoyed as a student. College accommodation is reasonably and competitively priced, and there are student travel discounts on London transport that make a big difference to student finances. In addition to this, students are entitled to cheaper tickets to cinemas and theatres, discounts in shops, and there is a wealth of cheap places to eat – not forgetting the eating and drinking venues in the Students’ Union! The choice is far greater in London than anywhere else in the UK, which means that getting by on a limited budget is as easy in the capital as elsewhere. The best time to be in London is as a student. To quote one of our student ambassadors, "London isn’t necessarily more expensive, it’s just easier to spend your money".

Unless a student’s visa specifically prohibits them from doing so, students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations. Hourly rates are well above the national average in London at £7.81 (£6.20 average).
 
There is some work available at King’s, for example as a Student Ambassador, in the Union bars or in the libraries. There is a wealth of work available in London itself, and the Careers Service may be able to assist students in finding a suitable job which will help them gain relevant work experience before they graduate.