Kingston University

• Location: Kingston upon Thames, England,
• Year of foundation: 1899,
• Number of students: about 20,850,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Kingston University is a public research university with an excellent reputation at the national and international levels. It teaches preparatory courses for international students, bachelor's and British postgraduate programs in various fields of science: from business and social sciences to healthcare, computing.

Kingston University has a 125-year history, having been founded in 1899. Despite the fact that Kingston University is considered relatively young by the standards of British universities, it managed to gain the trust of students in the UK and other countries in a short time. Many leading educational agencies that assess the level of teaching, the quality of life of students, employment opportunities and other aspects of university activities note that Kingston University is an outstanding educational institution capable of providing excellent conditions for academic and personal success.

The university's student community consists of more than 20,800 students, about 5,000 of whom come from 140 countries around the world. The demand for Kingston University's academic programs among international students is justified by the variety of services provided: from assistance in obtaining a visa, language support to finding a place for employment. The teaching staff is represented by 1930 qualified specialists from various scientific fields who participate not only in academic studies, but also in research activities.

The programs taught at Kingston University are focused on obtaining applied specialized knowledge, thanks to which students will be able to achieve career success. Theoretical classes, along with practice, laboratory work, and scientific research, involve the comprehensive development of students in the professional field.

Kevin McDonnell

Specialist in International Students of the University of Sussex

What are the currently popular courses at UK universities?

UK universities are known for their diverse subject offerings. Business, medicine, and engineering traditionally see high demand, with growing interest in computer science. 

Kingston University offers extensive opportunities to gain knowledge, diverse experiences in the learning process. Students have the opportunity to go abroad on an exchange program or use an online platform for distance education to combine obtaining a degree with professional activities. Teachers, employees of academic and administrative departments comprehensively support each student, helping to solve diverse issues, adapt the curriculum to their needs, and get additional opportunities to realize their potential.

Kingston University has four specialized faculties, on the basis of which specialized training is carried out in the following areas:

• School of Arts,
• Business, Social Sciences,
• Healthcare, Science, Social Protection, Education,
• Engineering, Computing, Environment.

Kingston University's research has helped shape public policy in the United Kingdom, and even today makes important contributions to public life around the world, answering major scientific and intellectual questions of our time. Research is an integral part of the university's activities and plays a vital role in improving the quality of learning and teaching. Under the 2022 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 70% of research was recognized as world-leading, with outstanding results internationally.

On the basis of each faculty, scientific work is carried out aimed at improving the lives of the local and international population, obtaining applied professional skills by students. The most outstanding study in recent years has been the work on a cure for Covid-19.

Kingston University has six residences located on or near the campus.

• Chancellors Hall is located on the Kingston Hill campus. The newly renovated residence offers 280 modern, stylish rooms with private bathrooms in an environmentally friendly environment.,
• Clayhill is located in a green residential area of Surbiton. This is one of the largest residential areas: 715 bedrooms with bathrooms in a comfortable student complex. Each apartment shares a common kitchen for four students,
• Middle Mill Hall is located on the university campus, a 15—minute walk from the center of Kingston. Middle Mill is one of the smaller residences, offering just 204 bedrooms.,
• Seething Wells is located right by the River Thames, near the city center of Surbiton, the railway station. The residential building is located in a building that is an architectural monument. Recently, Seething Wells was renovated, now it is the largest residence of the university.,
• Walkden Hall — Located on the study grounds, it offers 163 rooms with private bathrooms.
• 71-75 Penrhyn Road — Located next to the Penrhyn Road campus. The residence has recently undergone renovation, currently offering 97 rooms of various types: separate apartments, four-storey blocks with shared facilities and single and double rooms.

All residences have common areas, including fully equipped kitchens with cooking and food storage appliances, living rooms with board games, laundries, bicycle parking. There is free Wi-Fi in the residential buildings, as well as staff who provide support at any time of the day.

Students can request assistance in finding housing outside the university. Staff will provide a list of verified landlords who can offer various options, from rooms in private residences to large apartments.

Subject list: Accounting, Architecture, Art, business, Business and management, chemistry, Creative industry, criminology, design, drama, economics, engineering, Filmmaking, geography, Health care, history, Information Technology, International Education, international relations, journalism, law, marketing, maths, media, music, philosophy, Political science, politics, Psychology, Social work, sociology, sports science, theatre studies, TV
Activity list: dancing, Drama, music studio

Kingston University campuses offer infrastructure not only for obtaining quality knowledge, but also for the development of talents and personal skills. Throughout the year, many events are held in the study areas: from scientific seminars with invited specialists, thematic master classes to sports competitions, exhibitions of fine arts, music concerts. Most of the events taking place on campus are supervised by the Student Union.

Students have the opportunity to do their favorite thing or try their hand at a new hobby in more than 90 clubs, thematic communities:

• Islamic Society,
• Architecture, landscape,
• Book Club,
• Christian Union,
• Creative writing,
• Cybersecurity,
• Film Community,
• Crochet, knitting,
• Model UN Society,
• Mountaineering
• Video games, anime, science fiction, board games, and more.

Kingston University's sports infrastructure offers students team, individual training indoors, outdoors. National teams in some sports participate in inter-university, city, regional and national competitions, winning awards and decorating their personal resumes.

• American football
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Cricket
• Dancing
• Cheerleading
• Basketball
• Jujitsu
• Soccer
• Rugby
• Netball
• Rowing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Boxing and others.

As a graduate of Kingston University, students have access to local club centers that offer classes in unique sports such as gliding, fencing, kayaking, squash, mountaineering and winter sports.

If a student wants to contribute to the development of society, to learn new skills, there are many opportunities for volunteering in the region and abroad. Students can volunteer in their free time: raise money for charity, help local organizations, participate in events and festivals, make creative contributions by taking photos, making a documentary, or developing a website.

• Three Gold Awards in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) along with Oxford, Cambridge,
• One of the top five universities in London in 21 subjects – Guardian University Guide 2023,
• No1 in London, No2 in the UK for the quality of programs in the field of fashion, textiles, psychiatry,
• A multinational student community with more than 5000 foreign students from 140 countries,
• Close cooperation with national, international organizations and universities,
• High percentage of quick employment after graduation,
• 70% of studies rated as world-leading, internationally excellent – REF 2022,
• Four modern campuses near London,
• Extensive opportunities for extracurricular development,
• Scholarship programs that cover part of the cost of tuition.

Kingston University has four study grounds in Kingston upon Thames, one of London's safest neighbourhoods, offering all the benefits of city living in a quiet, green location. Campuses are located in and around the city center, with a free shuttle bus service running between them. With two main train stations, a network of bus routes and major motorways nearby, there are plenty of ways to get to London.

The Penrhyn Road academic site is the university's famous campus, which opened in early 2020 and won the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award 2021. It provides state-of-the-art learning spaces, including a library with over 1000 study seats, flexible learning spaces, an indoor courtyard, cafes, dance studios, rooftop gardens, and attractive landscaping.

Kingston Hill is a beautiful, green place with a mix of modern and historic buildings. On campus there is a café, restaurant and bar, as well as residences, tennis courts, fitness room. The Learning Resource Center includes a café, group study rooms, and bookable meeting spaces. Kingston Business School has a modern, purpose-built building with some of the best business course facilities in the country, including a new business incubation space, a Bloomberg live trading room.

The learning grounds of Kingston School of Art, Knights Park are located on the banks of the river, within walking distance of downtown Kingston and the Penrhyn Road campus. The restaurant and bar are right next to the scenic Hogsmill River, providing the perfect backdrop for breaks between lectures. Here, all students work together in specialized workshops and studios equipped with the latest design software. A wide range of art, design, and architecture resources, an image database, and a large collection of slides are housed in a state-of-the-art learning resource center. The university's own art gallery, Stanley Picker Gallery, where artists, designers, and students present an extensive program of exhibitions and events, is also located on the school of art's campus. The Frank Lample Building has a wide range of practice spaces, simulation rooms, lecture halls, and teaching spaces for health and social care students. The campus is also home to Visconti Studios, created by legendary music producer Tony Visconti, a large performance studio, five recording studios, and two Mac labs.

The Roehampton Vale campus is entirely dedicated to the study of engineering. The academic site is just a short bus ride from downtown Kingston, within walking distance of Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common. There are wind tunnels, a number of vehicles and a flight simulator. Specialized premises include a laboratory for the manufacture of composite materials, equipment for testing materials and machines for rapid prototyping, computer modeling technologies. It also has the latest CFD, CAM and CAD software, an embedded systems laboratory with National Instruments equipment. The Learning Resource Center includes engineering resources and databases, a café.

Located in a picturesque location overlooking the Thames and opposite the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, River House is dedicated to the study of art and design. The building is located on the riverside at the edge of downtown, just a short walk from the Penrhyn Road campus and the Kingston School of Art, Knights Park.

The sports infrastructure of the university includes fitness halls, treadmills on campuses. Students have access to several more sites, centers:

• The Tolworth Court sports ground covers an area of more than 20 acres and offers a huge selection of venues, including football and rugby fields, netball and tennis courts, floodlit training grounds. The new pavilion is now a two-storey complex with changing rooms and showers, a café, a bar and a terrace where you can have a snack, relax and meet friends before or after the game.
• The More Energy Fitness Center has its own gym on the Penrhyn Road campus. The equipment of the hall includes areas for cardio training, weight training equipment, aerobics classes, dance studio.

The standard academic year at the university lasts from September to July, divided into three semesters.:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-July.

Students rest on weekends, on national and international holidays, and during vacations. Classes are held on weekdays, followed by extracurricular activities.

The list of additional expenses will include:

• Registration fees, deposit,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Additional academic support,
• Individual educational materials,
• Medical, property insurance,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants will have to go through several registration stages:

• Filling out a detailed questionnaire, providing the required documents,
• Payment of registration fees,
• Passing an interview, possible entrance exams,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Making a deposit,
• Arrive at campus to accommodate in a residence, attend orientation events, start your studies.

According to annual statistics, about 95% of Kingston University graduates are employed or continue their academic path within six months of completing their studies.

International applicants wishing to study at Kingston University must have a full package of personal documents, including a passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit. For admission to training programs, higher education, you should also provide:

• Certificate of completion of secondary education, assessment certificates / Bachelor's diploma / Master's diploma (depending on the level of education the candidate is applying to),
• Language test results: IELTS (from 5.0) or equivalent,
• Individual achievements, if any,
• Personal statement, resume.

Some specialties will require a portfolio and work experience.

Kingston University Scholarship Programs reward outstanding students who maintain their excellence in academics, sports, creativity and other extracurricular activities. Scholarships are divided into different areas of merit:

• Faculty – each specialized faculty identifies academically outstanding postgraduate students,
• International – scholarships for first-year students with excellent admission results,
• Scholarships for students from the EU, Ukraine and some other countries,
• Scholarships offering a discount on tuition fees – 10% of the total annual cost for family students, alumni, exchange students.

Government scholarship, grant, credit, and loan programs are also available to international students.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision