Undergraduate Application Process for Studying at Kings College London

Part 1: Starting Your Application Journey

Applying to a world-renowned university like King's College London (KCL) is an exciting process. KCL aims to find students who have both the academic ability and the passion to succeed. The main way to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at King's is through a centralized system.

The Main Application Route: UCAS

For almost all full-time undergraduate degrees, you must apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is the central body for applying to UK universities.

Key things to know about UCAS:

You can apply for up to five courses.
The application includes your personal details, academic history, predicted grades, and a personal statement.
You must meet the standard UCAS deadlines, which are usually in January for most courses, though medicine and dentistry have an earlier deadline, typically in October.

Part 2: Understanding Entry Requirements

KCL is highly competitive, so understanding the specific academic and language requirements is essential before you apply.

1. Academic Entry Requirements

The academic requirements vary depending on the course you choose and the qualifications you currently hold. Always check the specific entry requirements on the individual course page on the KCL website.

Common qualifications KCL accepts include:

A-Levels: KCL typically lists required grades (e.g., AAA, AAB) and may require specific subjects for certain degrees (e.g., Chemistry for Biomedical Science).
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: Requirements are listed as a total score and may include specific scores in Higher Level (HL) subjects.
European and other International Qualifications: KCL accepts a wide range of international qualifications. You will need to check how your specific qualification is equated to UK requirements.

2. English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to prove your proficiency. This ensures you can fully engage with your studies. KCL accepts several internationally recognized tests.

Examples of accepted English language tests and the levels:

Standard Level: This is the minimum score required for most courses.
Higher Level: Some degrees, such as Law or Medicine, require a higher score due to the intense reading and communication demands.

If you have completed secondary education in a country that KCL recognizes as English-speaking, you may not need a separate test. Always check the official list of recognized countries.

Part 3: Support and Alternative Application Options

KCL offers special programs and alternative routes to help students from diverse backgrounds and those who have previous university experience.

Contextualised Admissions

KCL runs a Contextualised Admissions scheme, which recognizes that outstanding students sometimes achieve lower grades due to circumstances outside of their control.

How it works:

If you meet specific criteria related to your schooling or background (for example, if you have been in care, or come from a low-progression school), KCL may make you a slightly lower conditional offer.
This scheme helps KCL build a diverse student body and is automatically considered when you apply through UCAS if you meet the relevant eligibility rules.

Transferring to King's

If you have already started an undergraduate degree at another university, you might be able to transfer to KCL.

Key considerations for transfers:

Course Availability: Transfers are not available for all courses. They are very rare or not permitted for highly structured courses like Medicine, Dentistry, and Law.
Academic Standing: You must meet KCL's required academic entry standards from your previous studies (e.g., A-Levels or equivalent).
Year of Entry: You typically transfer into the second year of study, but this depends heavily on your current course matching the content of the KCL program.

Part 4: Types of Courses and Study Options

While the UCAS application is the main entry point, it is helpful to know the structure of the degrees KCL offers.

KCL offers various types of undergraduate degrees, including:

Single Honours: The study of one main subject, leading to a degree like a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).
Joint Honours: The study of two subjects equally, allowing you to combine complementary areas (e.g., History and Spanish).
Liberal Arts: A flexible degree that lets you study a main subject alongside optional modules from a broad range of disciplines across the university.

Other study options you may find:

Degrees with a Year Abroad: Some degrees allow or require you to spend a year studying at a partner university overseas, usually between the second and final year.
Degrees with a Placement/Internship Year: These programs include a year of professional experience in industry, which is often crucial for career development.

Understanding these options helps you choose the perfect course to list on your UCAS application. The entire process requires careful planning, checking specific course pages, and meeting all deadlines.

Achieve Excellence – Your Guide to King’s College London