King's College London

King's College London is a public research university in central London and one of the founding colleges of the University of London. Founded in 1829, King's is known for its global ranking, London location, research strength and strong links with healthcare, government, law, business, technology, culture and public policy.

The university is popular for subjects such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, business, finance, international relations, public policy, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, data science, engineering, education, humanities and social sciences. Its main advantage is the combination of a top global university brand and access to London's employer, hospital, policy, legal, finance and cultural ecosystem.

For students planning the September 2026 intake, King's College London can be a strong fit if the goal is to study at a highly ranked UK university in one of the world's most connected student cities.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
University type	Public research university
Main location	London, England, United Kingdom
Founded	1829
University group	Russell Group and University of London
Main campuses	Strand, Guy's, Waterloo, St Thomas' and Denmark Hill
Popular intake	September 2026
Student community	More than 42,000 students and a global alumni network of more than 250,000
Known for	Health sciences, law, business, policy, humanities, social sciences, technology and research
Career support	King's Careers & Employability, King's CareerConnect, events, appointments, jobs board and international student resources

Why King's College London Can Be A Good Fit

King's is especially useful for students who want academic recognition and location advantage together. Its central London campuses place students close to employers, hospitals, courts, banks, consultancies, technology companies, government departments, NGOs, museums, theatres and international organisations.

For international students, this location can help with networking, part-time work, internships, volunteering and career exploration. It also means students should plan living costs carefully, because London is usually more expensive than most UK student cities.

King's is also a strong choice for students who care about global reputation. The university is ranked 31st in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 38th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.

2026 Tuition Snapshot

Tuition fees vary by course, level and fee status. Students should always check the exact course page before applying.

Study level or route	Indicative 2026/27 international fee pattern	Notes
King's International Foundation Programme	GBP 28,150	2026/27 foundation fee
Extended King's International Foundation Programme	GBP 32,600	Starts online before the on-campus foundation programme
Postgraduate taught social science example	Public Policy & Management MSc is listed at GBP 32,100 per year	Course-specific fee applies
Postgraduate taught law example	Master of Laws LLM is listed at GBP 38,300 per year	International deposit listed at GBP 2,000
Postgraduate taught business example	International Marketing MSc and Management & Technological Change MSc are listed at GBP 38,300 per year	Business School fees vary by course
Postgraduate taught data and engineering examples	Data Science MSc and Engineering with Management MSc are listed at GBP 40,450 per year	Technical courses may cost more
Health and science example	Drug Development Science MSc is listed at GBP 51,100 per year	Some specialist health/science programmes are higher
Undergraduate degrees	International fees are listed on individual course pages	Fees may increase in later years in line with King's terms

Fee And Admission Snapshot

Area	What students should check
Academic requirement	Depends on course, country and previous qualification
English requirement	Course-specific; some programmes require higher English scores than the university minimum
Undergraduate application	Usually through UCAS for full-time undergraduate study
Postgraduate taught application	Apply online through King's course pages
Postgraduate deposit	Many postgraduate taught offers require a non-refundable deposit; many course pages list GBP 2,000 for international students
Foundation deposit	King's International Foundation Programme requires a GBP 6,000 deposit after offer
CAS and visa	Students must meet offer conditions, pay required deposits and complete King's visa checks before CAS
Scholarships	Check King's scholarships, faculty funding and country-specific options early
Living costs	London living costs should be planned carefully alongside tuition fees

Application Snapshot

Study level	Application route
Undergraduate	UCAS for most full-time undergraduate courses
Postgraduate taught	King's online application system through the chosen course page
Postgraduate research	Find a research area or supervisor route, then apply online
King's International Foundation Programme	Apply through King's Foundations; 2026/27 on-campus start is 28 September 2026

King's International Foundation Programme lists a priority deadline of 6 March 2026 and a final application deadline of 27 June 2026 for 2026/27. Degree deadlines vary by course, so students should check the exact programme page.

Campus And Student Life

King's has campuses across central and south London. Strand is close to the legal, cultural and political centre of the city. Guy's, St Thomas' and Denmark Hill are important for health, medicine, dentistry, nursing, psychology and clinical subjects. Waterloo supports several academic and professional activities.

Student life is shaped by London. Students can access museums, libraries, finance districts, government institutions, law courts, hospitals, start-ups, events, restaurants and international communities. King's College London Students' Union also supports societies, sports, representation, volunteering and student services.

Who Should Consider King's College London?

King's College London can suit students who want:

• A top global university in central London
• A September 2026 intake option
• Strong recognition in QS and THE rankings
• Career access to London employers and professional networks
• Health, law, business, policy, science, technology, humanities or social science strength
• A large international student community
• Access to part-time work and employer events in London
• Strong careers support through King's Careers & Employability
• A city-based university experience with global exposure

Things To Check Before Applying

Before finalising King's College London, students should confirm:

• Whether the chosen course is open for September 2026
• Exact international tuition fee for the course
• Academic and English language requirements
• Deposit amount and payment deadline
• CAS and visa document requirements
• Scholarship eligibility and deadlines
• Accommodation options and London living budget
• Whether the course includes placement, clinical practice, professional accreditation or study abroad
• Part-time work rules on the UK Student visa

King's College London is popular with international students who want a top-ranked UK degree, a central London location and access to strong academic, professional and cultural networks.

Popular area	Why students choose King's
Global ranking	King's is ranked 31st globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 38th globally in THE 2026
London location	Students study close to employers, hospitals, courts, policy institutions, finance, media and cultural organisations
Health sciences	King's is highly recognised for nursing, dentistry, medicine, neuroscience, psychology and wider health subjects
Law and policy	The London location supports students interested in law, international relations, public policy, politics and global affairs
Business and management	King's Business School offers programmes linked to management, finance, marketing, analytics and technological change
Technology and data	Students can explore computer science, data science, AI, informatics and engineering-related routes
Humanities and social sciences	King's has strong departments across arts, humanities, education, culture, society and public policy
Employability	King's Careers & Employability supports jobs, placements, internships, appointments, events and international career planning

Key Highlights For International Students

• Top global university: King's is ranked 31st in the world in QS 2026 and 38th in THE 2026.
• Central London advantage: Students are close to major employers, government, hospitals, law courts, cultural venues and international organisations.
• Strong subject rankings: King's has many subjects in the QS top 50 globally, with particular strength in health, law, social sciences and humanities.
• Career access: King's CareerConnect, careers fairs, workshops and one-to-one support help students plan part-time work, internships and graduate roles.
• Placement routes: Selected programmes include a year in industry or work-based learning options.
• International community: King's attracts students from around the world and has a large global alumni network.
• September 2026 planning: Foundation and many degree routes align with late September arrival, but exact dates depend on the course.