University Profile
King's College London
King's College London Chapel
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About King's College London
King's College London (KCL), founded in 1829, is one of London's great research universities. Its main campus on the Strand places it between the West End, the City of London and the South Bank — arguably the most central location of any UK university. KCL is particularly renowned for health sciences, law, humanities and social sciences.
KCL is one of the founding colleges of the University of London and maintains close links with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, operating one of the UK's largest medical education programmes. The university's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience is the leading centre of its kind in Europe.
For North American students, KCL offers a prestigious London education with particular strength in pre-med and health sciences, law, war studies and international affairs. Its central London campuses provide unmatched access to cultural, professional and social opportunities.
Key Highlights
- 1Five campuses in central London — one of the most central universities in the UK
- 2World-leading health sciences, particularly in dentistry, nursing and psychiatry
- 3Department of War Studies is unique in the UK — no other university has an equivalent
- 412 Nobel Prize winners among alumni and staff
- 5King's Health Partners: one of Europe's largest medical research collaborations
- 6Founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829
Campus & Student Life
KCL's five campuses are spread across central London, from the Strand (between the Thames and Covent Garden) to Guy's Campus near London Bridge and the Denmark Hill campus in south London. This means student life is deeply embedded in London itself — your campus is the city. The Students' Union runs over 300 societies. The location is unbeatable for internships, part-time work and networking in law, finance, health and government.
For North American Students
Min. GPA (indicative)
Not specified
SAT/ACT Accepted
Not typically required
Application Route
Via UCAS
English Requirement
Check university website
KCL accepts AP scores (typically 5,5,5 for competitive programmes), IB diploma (35-38 points) and Canadian qualifications. The university's health sciences programmes are particularly attractive to North American students considering a medical or allied health career. KCL's London location provides access to leading hospitals and research institutions, making it a strong choice for pre-med students who want clinical exposure during their undergraduate degree.
Research Strengths
Notable Alumni
Florence Nightingale
Founder of modern nursing (trained at KCL)
Desmond Tutu
Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Virginia Woolf
Author and modernist literary figure
Peter Higgs
Nobel Prize-winning physicist (Higgs boson)
Key Facts
- Founded
- 1829
- Total Students
- 36,000+
- International Students
- 40%
- Tuition (Int'l UG)
- £24,000 – £38,000/yr
- Campus Setting
- City centre
📍 About London
KCL's main Strand campus is one of the most central university locations in the world — a 10-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the South Bank and the City. Living in central London is expensive (budget £1,000-1,400/month for accommodation), but many students find the career access and cultural richness worth the premium. London has direct flights to virtually every major North American city.
Ready to Apply?
UK undergraduate applications are made through UCAS. Postgraduate applications go direct to the university.
Visit University Website →Check UCAS Points →