Global University Rankings

King's College London (KCL) consistently ranks among the top universities worldwide, reflecting its excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Established in 1829, KCL is a founding member of the Russell Group and has built a strong reputation for interdisciplinary studies and impactful research. Below, we explore its performance in major global ranking systems, based on the most recent data available as of 2023-2024.

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings, compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluate universities based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio. KCL has shown steady improvement over the years.

• 2024 Ranking: 40th globally (up from 77th in 2018).
• Key Strengths: High scores in academic reputation (87/100) and employer reputation (92/100), highlighting KCL's global prestige and graduate employability.
• Historical Trend: From 31st in 2015 to its current position, demonstrating consistent growth.

In the QS Sustainability Rankings 2024, KCL ranks 101-150 globally, underscoring its commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

THE rankings assess institutions on teaching (30%), research environment (30%), research quality (30%), international outlook (7.5%), and industry income (2.5%). KCL performs exceptionally in research-intensive categories.

• 2024 Ranking: 36th globally (an improvement from 45th in 2023).
• Subject Scores: Overall score of 78.5/100, with research quality at 91.3/100, placing it among the top 20 worldwide for impactful publications.
• UK Position: 7th in the UK, competing closely with other elite institutions.

THE's Impact Rankings 2023, which focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, rank KCL 26th globally out of over 1,500 universities, praising its contributions to health, well-being, and partnerships for global goals.

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU/Shanghai Rankings)

ARWU emphasizes research output, quality, and influence, using metrics like Nobel Prizes, highly cited researchers, and publications in top journals. KCL's research prowess shines here.

• 2023 Ranking: 47th globally (stable from previous years).
• Score Breakdown: Total score of 65.8/100, with per capita performance at 88.9/100, reflecting efficient research impact relative to size.
• Top Performers: KCL ranks in the global top 100 for subjects like Clinical Medicine (26th) and Psychiatry/Psychology (29th).

These rankings affirm KCL's position as a research powerhouse, with over 30,000 publications annually cited more than 1 million times.

National Rankings in the UK

Within the UK, KCL is recognized as one of the leading universities, particularly for its central London location and strong ties to industry and public services. National guides provide insights tailored to UK students, focusing on entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects.

Complete University Guide 2024

This guide ranks based on 10 measures, including student satisfaction and career after 15 months.

• Overall Ranking: 26th in the UK.
• Entry Standards: 160/200 (high A-level requirements, averaging ABB-BBB).
• Graduate Prospects: 82% in professional/managerial roles, ranking 24th.

The Guardian University Guide 2024

Emphasizing teaching quality, career prospects, and value added, The Guardian offers a student-centric view.

• Overall Ranking: 33rd in the UK.
• Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF): Gold rating, with satisfied students framework score of 80%.
• Contextual Value Added: 7/10, indicating strong support for diverse student backgrounds.

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

This guide includes satisfaction surveys and completion rates.

• Overall Ranking: 29th in the UK.
• Student Experience: 78/100, bolstered by modern facilities like the Guy's campus library.
• Research Quality: 85/100, reflecting REF 2021 results where 84% of research was world-leading or internationally excellent.

KCL's national rankings highlight its appeal to domestic students, with a diverse cohort of over 33,000 students, including 50% international from 150+ countries.

Subject-Specific Rankings

KCL excels in a wide array of disciplines, particularly those aligned with its historic faculties in health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Subject rankings reveal its niche strengths.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Subject	Global Rank	Key Highlights
Medicine	13th	Top in Europe for clinical training; affiliated with NHS hospitals.
Law	15th	Strong in international law; Dickson Poon School of Law is renowned.
Nursing	7th	World-leading in midwifery and palliative care research.
Psychology	22nd	IoPPN (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience) is a global leader.
English Language & Literature	17th	Rich literary heritage, including ties to Bloomsbury Group.
History	14th	Expertise in modern and war studies.

In THE World University Rankings by Subject 2023, KCL ranks in the top 50 for 20 subjects, including 6th globally for Clinical & Health (tied).

ARWU Subject Rankings 2022

• Clinical Medicine: 26th globally.
• Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 37th.
• Public Health: Top 100, driven by the Florence Nightingale Faculty.

These rankings position KCL as a go-to for health-related fields, with over 40% of students in STEM subjects.

Research and Employability Rankings

KCL's research impact is a cornerstone of its rankings. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 87% of its research was rated 3* (internationally excellent) or 4* (world-leading), ranking 14th in the UK for power (volume and quality).

• Research Income: £194 million annually, funding breakthroughs in AI, cancer research, and global health.
• Impact Case Studies: 94% deemed world-leading or internationally excellent, including contributions to COVID-19 vaccine development.

For employability, KCL ranks highly due to its London location and career services.

• QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022: 59th globally; 10th in the UK.
• High Fliers Research 2023: Top 10 UK universities targeted by top employers like Deloitte, NHS, and Goldman Sachs.
• Alumni Success: Notable graduates include Michael Palin, Jon Snow, and four Nobel laureates.

Student satisfaction is strong, with 82% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2023, above the UK average.

Additional Metrics and Accolades

Beyond traditional rankings, KCL stands out in innovation and diversity.

• Innovation Rankings: Reuters Top 100 Innovative Universities 2023: 85th globally.
• Diversity: Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2023; ranks 1st in UK for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
• Sustainability: Second in the UK for People & Planet Green League 2023.

KCL's rankings are bolstered by its global partnerships, including dual degrees with universities in China, the US, and Europe, and initiatives like the King's Global Institutes for health and security studies.

In summary, King's College London's rankings reflect a balanced excellence across teaching, research, and societal impact. Prospective students should consider these metrics alongside personal fit, as rankings evolve annually based on new data. For the latest figures, visit official ranking websites or KCL's admissions portal.