How to Get into King's College London

King's College London (KCL) has built a legacy of excellence, consistently ranking among the world's top universities. KCL offers a stimulating academic environment for graduate students, where groundbreaking research and a diverse international community fuel intellectual growth and personal development. As international students, here is why you should study at KCL:

• Program variety:

King’s College London offers a wide range of graduate programs across disciplines, including STEM, humanities, law, medicine, business, and social sciences. This breadth allows Indian graduates to choose programs precisely aligned with their interests and career aspirations.

• Indian student community:

KCL has an active Indian student society, providing support, a sense of community, and opportunities to celebrate Indian culture while immersing yourself in all that KCL and London have to offer. So, you get the best of both worlds - you get to live among different cultures while also feeling like you are at home.

• Central London location:

Since you will be living in the heart of London, you will have access to incredible career development opportunities, networking with international companies, and unmatched cultural experiences.

Getting into your dream overseas university can be tough. King’s College London has an acceptance rate of just 13%. This means that out of 100 international applicants, only 13 get admission to the university’s tight-knit student body. Let’s see how you can apply to KCL for your postgraduate degree.

Eligibility criteria

Students who want to apply to KCL must fulfil the following criteria:

• The minimum score requirement for your bachelor’s degree depends on the status of your university:
• Considered highly prestigious - 60% or 7.5 out of 10
• Considered prestigious - 63% or 7.7 out of 10
• Other recognized Indian universities - 65% or 8 out of 10 

• Two letters of recommendation (LORs), as required by the program.
• A statement of purpose (SOP).
• GRE/GMAT scores as required by the program.
• A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) including all information about your education and profession.
• One of the following minimum scores is required to prove English language proficiency:
• 92 overall, with at least 25 in writing and 23 in other sections for the TOEFL iBT.
• 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in each band for the IELTS.
• 69 overall, with at least 62 in each communicative skill on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• 185 overall, with at least 176 in each skill for the Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency exams.

Admissions policy

You can expect the following process when applying for graduate admission at KCL:

• Find a course you are interested in the directory.
• Register for an account on the application portal and submit the application.
• Submit your supporting documents - academic transcripts, evidence of English language proficiency, scanned copies of your UK visa/permit/CAS, personal statement, CV, LORs, etc.
• Wait for the decision.

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King’s College London has a selective admissions process, with only a 13% acceptance rate. However, our success story with Clare Jos is proof that getting into KCL is not impossible. Clare completed her UG in Information Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University with a GPA of 3.31 (4.0 scale). She scored 109 on the TOEFL and 321 on the GRE. With Yocket Premium, Clare was able to get admission into KCL for an MSc in Artificial Intelligence!

Here are a few tips we gave to Clare to improve her chances of getting into KCL:

Tip 1: Emphasise research experience:

Even if you have limited formal research experience, highlight projects, publications, or any independent research initiatives you've undertaken. This demonstrates your analytical skills and research potential, which KCL values. Emphasise how your research interests align with KCL's faculty, research centres, or specific projects to demonstrate a clear fit.

Tip 2: Choose strategic references: 

Select references who can speak specifically to your academic abilities, research aptitude, and overall suitability for graduate study. Provide them with your SOP and information about the program at KCL, empowering them to write strong, supportive recommendation letters.

Tip 3: Address potential obstacles:

Demonstrate strong English proficiency through excellent IELTS or TOEFL scores. Thoroughly research various financial aid and scholarship opportunities relevant to Indian graduates to support your studies at KCL. Clearly showcase your financial plan, if possible, within your application materials.

As an Indian student applying to a UK university, you might face the following challenges:

• Many KCL programs value relevant work experience. Indian graduates with limited work experience, especially in international settings, might need to highlight transferable skills and achievements gained through internships, volunteering, or extracurricular activities to demonstrate their potential for success in the program.
• Indian universities often use different grading systems than those in the UK. Indian graduates need to understand the UK grading system and translate their GPA or marks accurately in their application to ensure fair evaluation.
• KCL has strict English language requirements. Indian graduates need to demonstrate fluency in written and spoken English, typically through a recognized test like IELTS or TOEFL. This can be tough due to the lack of emphasis on reading and spoken English skills in Indian institutions.

By gauging these challenges and preparing to overcome them, Indian students can greatly increase their chances of getting into the coveted King’s College London. To know more about how to do this, book a free consultation call with a Yocket expert today!

KCL charges GBP 70 to 120 (INR 7,314 to 12,539) as an application fee for PG programs. The average expenses for a master’s program student are GBP 46,260 (INR 48,33,824). The average on-campus living expenses are GBP 15,180 (INR 15,86,347).

These figures greatly depend on the course you choose, and also the type of lifestyle you lead. However, financial aid is available in the form of scholarships and loans, if you are worried that the expenses are too high.

Suggested: Find Out the Top Courses at King's College London

Scholarships are provided by both governments and the university to ease the financial burden on students. Indian students are eligible for the following scholarships if they want to pursue their higher studies at King’s College London.

KCL offers more than 180 postgraduate programs to choose from across 17 disciplines. These programs have their own sets of deadlines, which you can find out more about on the official page. However, given below is the general timeline for applications:

• August 1st: The application portal opens for most programs
• September 1st - January 31st: program-specific deadlines.
• December 1st, March 1st: Deadline for international students to apply for January start and September start date for certain programs.
• January-June: Submission deadlines for supporting documents.
• February, April, and May: Interviews conducted for shortlisted applicants (for specific programs).
• February-July: Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis (varies by application round and program).

Founded in 1829, King's College London (KCL) boasts a rich heritage of academic excellence. KCL offers Indian students a gateway to esteemed postgraduate programs across a wide range of disciplines, fostering a vibrant international learning experience. Renowned for its cutting-edge research and global outlook, KCL equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to navigate an ever-evolving world and achieve success in their chosen fields.

If you aspire to pursue your higher education at the University of Edinburgh, you may want the best consultants to help you with your visa and admission processes. Don’t worry, Yocket experts can help you with end-to-end, tech-enabled services. Explore Yocket Premium now!