King’s College London has a wide reach across the city of London, with a total of five separate campuses. It was established in 1829 and became one of the founding colleges of the University of London. With a long history of academic rigor and achievement, it’s no surprise that it’s garnered a reputation for excellence. If you’re considering studying at KCL, it is only natural that you’ll want to know as much information as possible. Here is everything you need to know about King’s, including the numbers, notable factors, and student experience.
Is King’s College Good?
There are a whole host of different factors that determine whether a university will be a good fit for you, and it can be difficult to weigh them all against one another. You might be most interested in what research opportunities will be available, or you might prioritize learning about the resources that go into student experience. While there is no way of definitively assessing the quality of an institution, here is what some King’s College students had to say about their time in uni.
‘Really pleased with my experience at KCL. Would only recommend it to everyone holding an offer, it offers so much to every student, but I must say, you have to be looking to maximise the use of their services, because there are LOADS. Academics are top notch and the professors are extremely helpful. The careers service might leave a bit to be desired but outside of that, it was a smooth and fantastic experience,’ a student wrote on StudentCrowd.
This student seemed to echo the majority positive opinions that students had regarding King’s College on the website. KCL received an overall ranking of 4.19/5, which indicates it has a pretty good reputation, at least among those who wrote reviews.
See also: Which University Is Better Oxford Or Cambridge?
‘Pros – amazing student life, there are so many societies you are sure to find one for you. The majority of the academic staff is excellent and supportive (in my department at least. Great location. Cons – admin are notoriously bad. Constant strikes over my 3 years because the uni mistreat its staff (although this is the case for many other unis),’ a student wrote on WhatUni.
‘How international and diverse the community is – it is lovely and refreshing to make friends from all over the world with different backgrounds and cultures. Kings is very supportive in the sense it puts well-being and mental / physical health first and there is a great network to contact if you are personally struggling which is very important! The location is brilliant too and campuses widespread over London – I particularly love the libraries and study spaces here,’ another student added on WhatUni, contributing to an overall rating of 4/5 on the site.
What Is King’s College’s Acceptance Rate?
If King’s College appeals to you, the next step is to assess your likelihood of getting an offer. This is a good way to put a plan in place so that even if you don’t get into one university, you also have applied to another university that you have a good chance of getting into.
KCL is a very selective institution. The acceptance rate is different every year, but in 2019 they accepted 10% of students who applied. This number may seem daunting, but if you are interested in King’s College, don’t let it deter you. After all, you could very well be part of the 10%.
Is King’s College A Russell Group?
Yes, King’s College is a member of the Russell Group. The Russell Group contains the following universities:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
In your decision-making process, you might find yourself considering Russell Group status as a factor in the quality of an institution. Whether or not a university is part of the Russell Group isn’t everything, but membership does point towards a high quality of education and resources.
What Ranking Is King’s College?
You might also want to know how King’s ranks compared to other universities. We’ve consulted all of the major rankings lists and the results are as follows: US News ranks King’s College at #33 in the world. QS ranks it at #37 globally, and THE ranks it at #35. The Guardian ranks it at 29th in the UK, and the Complete University Guide ranks it at 22nd. These numbers are pretty impressive, and point to a consistent quality benchmark that is being met across the board.
See also: Is Durham a Good University?