KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Are you interested in studying in London? Choosing the right university and course for you is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make, but it does not have to be a complicated one.
Do you have ambition to advance or even change your career? Are you passionate to learn more about a subject you love? Whatever your reason for wanting to study further, Kingston University they will help make it work.
STUDY AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Located only 30 minutes from central London by train, on the River Thames in south-west London, Kingston University offers internationally recognised qualifications and a supportive community in one of the world’s most exciting capital cities.
Kingston University is passionate about enhancing students' life chances by helping them make the most of their learning opportunity and equipping them with the future skills and knowledge needed in the 21st Century's demanding workplace.
Kingston University, will open up opportunities for you, enable you to make the most of your learning journey and equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make your mark in the world.
HISTORY OF KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Kingston University has roots going back more than 120 years, with the institution first being established in 1899. The University has grown over the years, and they now have four campuses in and around the Kingston town centre.
SPECIALIST AREAS AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
At Kingston University, all courses are developed with your career in mind, so that you get the most up-to-date information and gain the relevant work-related skills needed for the modern work environment. Many of the courses have been developed with professional organisations and carry professional accreditation.
Kingston School of Art has long been recognised as one of the best art and design schools in teaching and research, which is shown in subject rankings, research, performance, industry and student awards, and the leading brands and institutions that choose to work with the university. Through collaborative working and critical practice, students understand both teamwork and multi-disciplinary making.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
Campus life is all about convenience, community and ensuring you have the facilities you need to succeed in your studies.
Each of the four campuses has its own unique atmosphere created by the students who live and study there, and the staff who work there. One thing that’s consistent across each of the campuses, you won’t get far without seeing a friendly face. Whether it’s Kingston Hill’s woodland trail or the riverside at Knights Park, each of the campuses offers something special.
Linked together by a free inter-site bus service, they each combine impressive facilities with a friendly study environment. Plus, all the amenities that make day-to-day life just that little bit easier are at your fingertips – from bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops to laundrettes, contemporary and spacious social spaces and even an on-site gym.
If you love nature, Kingston is the place for you. The lively, student-friendly riverside town is near Hampton Court Palace and two royal parks, perfect for long walks, deer watching and quiet study time.
STUDENT SUPPORT AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
It is important to the university that you have the tools you need to succeed, both academically and personally. At Kingston, you’ll be treated as an individual and will be supported by a strong community. The friendly teams are there for you from the moment you arrive, providing expert advice and guidance to ensure you’re well looked after whilst you’re with the university and are able to make the most of your university experience.
Kingston’s Information Centres are a single point of contact for all the student services, by phone, online chat, logging calls, or visiting the university in each of the campus libraries. The Information Centres can help with general advice on money, accommodation, visa issues, disability support, student funding, library queries or refer you to the right person.
The University offers a variety of services to students, including on-campus GP surgery, mental health and disability, counselling and wellbeing, academic skills centres, personal tutors, faith and spirituality, mentoring scheme, visa advisors and more.
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY FACILITIES
The University is located across four teaching campuses throughout Kingston upon Thames, each with its own unique look and feel. Need state-of-the-art subject equipment, laboratories and studios? They’ve got it at Kingston.
Town House is at the heart of the Penrhyn Road campus and provides a learning environment where you can immerse yourself in knowledge and share experiences with other students from across all courses. Inside you’ll find facilities including a library with over 1,000 study spaces, dynamic learning and social spaces, a covered courtyard, cafes, dance studios, rooftop gardens and a stunning landscape along the front of the campus.
Town House was named the winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize in 2021, confirming it as Britain’s best new building. It is also winner of the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, the highest accolade in European architecture.
At Kingston School of Art, the newly refurbished, purpose-designed studios and workshops are the perfect spaces for you to learn through experimentation and practice. You’ll bring your creative ideas to life on two floors of workshops and four floors of modern design studios, which reflect the high standard expected in industry. The fully equipped, state-of-the-art facilities include a 3D materials workshop, animation and postproduction studios, architecture studios and workshops, fashion studios, photography workshops, letterpress and printmaking workshop, moving image workshop, hackSpace, and digital media suites.
Kingston Business School offers students a truly immersive learning experience in a state-of-the-art environment. The real-time Bloomberg trading room offers you the experience of working in a fast-paced professional environment. The Kingston Business Innovation Centre, a business incubator space, provides you with leading entrepreneurial support to start your own business and participate in the University’s Enterprise Education Initiative.
Kingston’s very own Visconti Studio supports students to perform and produce music in an extraordinary 300 square metre octagonal live room with a stock of vintage and rare recording equipment.
Pharmacy, chemistry and biosciences students benefit from new, state-of-the-art laboratories. Sport and nutrition students have access to a brand-new nutrition kitchen and industry-standard biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories. Forensic science students can gain real-world experience in the scene-of-crime house, using specialist equipment and precise techniques to obtain and preserve samples and evidence.
For Computing, Kingston has invested in a new cyber security centre of excellence, with unique live threat intelligence facilities. They can also use the CAVE (Centre for Augmented and Virtual Reality Environments), which contains virtual reality headsets, eye-trackers and sensors to monitor movements and brain activity.
Kingston’s Engineering facilities include a full-sized wind tunnel for testing your designs, such as parachutes, water speed vehicles and motorbikes. A flight simulator enables students to virtually ‘fly’ the aircraft they design. There are also 3D printers, a rocket lab, a satellite ground station, specialist concrete, hydraulics, materials, soils, and structures labs.
SPORTS AND SOCIETIES AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
For many students, sport is a passion, so they’ve really invested in providing and maintaining outstanding facilities for a great variety of outdoor sports. Tolworth Court sports ground covers more than 20 sprawling acres and has a huge range of sports on offer, including football and rugby pitches, netball and tennis courts, plus floodlit training areas. The new and improved sports pavilion is now two storeys, with changing facilities and showers, a new cafe, bar and terrace, so you can grab a bite, relax and meet with friends before or after a good game.
In addition to the huge 55- acre multi-sport sports ground at Tolworth Court, they have an indoor fitness centre at the Penrhyn Road campus and a tennis court, nature trail and multi-use games area at Kingston Hill.
The Union of Kingston Students is there to represent your opinions and views during your student experience and to support your education. The Union is made up of student officers elected each year by you, the students of Kingston University. The Union of Kingston Students offers a wide range of services to enhance your student experience from societies to sports clubs, events, to environmental projects.
Kingston has over 70 societies to choose from. No matter what you are interested in, they have something for everyone.
With over 30 different sports clubs at Kingston, including all the usual favourites from football and hockey to cheerleading and snow sports, there is something to suit every interest and activity level.
ACCOMMODATION AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Where you live while you study at university can play an important part in your overall experience. Whether you’d like to live on or off campus, they’re there to help you feel at home.
Kingston has six Halls of Residence to choose from and all the halls are located close to campus facilities, with easy access to Kingston town centre and central London. The free university bus also helps students get around the different sites and the town centre.
Living in halls is a great way to get to know people as you could be sharing with other students from different backgrounds or on different courses to you. The University has over 2,300 rooms available, taking into account all tastes and budgets.
In halls, the University will provide you with plenty of amenities to ensure your room is comfortable. You can expect: a bed with mattress, a desk and chair, a wardrobe, curtains, bookshelves and a notice board. They have plenty of en-suite bedrooms available. The rest is over to you to get creative with how you decorate your room. Communal areas and well-equipped kitchens, shared between a group of students. Onsite laundry facilities. Many halls include bike storage. All your bills included in your rent, including fast and secure internet access.
A team of current students act as Halls Connectors. They help foster a community atmosphere by organising student-led and student focused activities, which will connect you with other students from the moment you arrive.
For a place in Halls, Kingston prioritises first-year undergraduate students who have firmly accepted an offer with the university.
The University appreciate that not all students want the same thing. Some of the students decide to live independently in the local area rather than living in halls of residence, particularly in their second and third years. The dedicated accommodation team is available to offer advice and guidance in securing private accommodation, from single rooms and lodgings to full house and flat shares.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Kingston is a truly global and cosmopolitan university. Of its nearly 19,000 students, over 4,000 are international, coming from over 140 countries. Students study a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.
International students and diversity are extremely important to Kingston. London is a diverse location, where you will meet people from all over the world, from East Asia, Africa, to South America!
Arriving in a new country can be exciting, but also a bit overwhelming, so Kingston offers international students support before they arrive, with webinars full of guidance, tips and hints. To also help you settle into the University, international students can access a taxi service from the airport, arrive to Halls of Residence before the start of teaching, do early enrolment, and attend social events to help you meet other international students.
INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
At Kingston University, excellent teaching quality is essential and very important. To ensure you learn from the very best academics, Kingston endeavors to employ staff who are: research-active; respected in their fields; active practitioners in their subject who maintain business and industry links.
The University runs several networking events, job and employer fairs, and workshops to help you get to where you want in your career. Kingston’s academics will help you network and meet people within your industry. The Placement Teams will also assist you in finding work placements and give you guidance and support throughout your journey.
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS
Do you have a taste for adventure? Then pack your suitcase and grab a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study or work abroad!
The majority of Kingston students have the opportunity to study or work abroad as part of their course. They have partner universities across most of the European Union, Turkey and Norway, as well as Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the West Indies.
You’ll get to travel, make friends from all over the world, potentially learn a new language, improve your self-confidence and significantly improve your employability in today’s increasingly globalised world. They believe costs shouldn’t be a barrier. Students who choose to study or work abroad for a full year get a significant tuition fee reduction and, depending on location, may receive a bursary or grant.
EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Kingston University is passionate about employability and ensuring the students reach their potential and career aspirations. That’s why they have a very own dedicated Careers and Employability team that help students up to 2 years’ after they graduate.
The Careers and Employability Service supports students and recent graduates across all stages of their career development journey. From figuring out your career options and finding professional experience, through to securing graduate jobs or postgraduate study, they are there to help and support you. They offer a wide range of career workshops, events, online resources as well as one-to-one guidance from a team of faculty-aligned career and employability advisers.
As well as a wide range of career workshops, Kingston host events with employers throughout the year, including careers fairs and festivals, panel talks and assessment days. Kingston run several programmes and initiatives to help students gain valuable industry experience and expand their network.
Most of the undergraduate and postgraduate courses offer a 12-month work placement opportunity, which allows you to gain valuable real-life work experience, get paid, and meet people, all while being a student and receiving support from Kingston.
STUDY IN KINGSTON
If you're looking for the bustle of city life without the hustle, beautiful Kingston upon Thames is the place for you. On the doorstep of the capital, Kingston is one of London's safest boroughs and offers all the highlights of city living in a leafy, riverside location.
Kingston University is located in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, a busy, beautiful riverside town, only 30 minutes from central London by train.
With its mix of markets, museums, cafes, pubs and clubs, Kingston town centre has something for everyone. You’ll find plenty to eat, see, drink and do there.
While the university is on the doorstep of central London, there is also easy access to the beautiful local countryside. Kingston is a very short distance to Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace and has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.
As well as being a fantastic place to make your home, Kingston's excellent transport links make commuting simple from further afield too. With two mainline train stations, a network of bus routes, and major motorways close by, there are so many ways to reach Kingston from London and the rest of the country. And if you're travelling by air, both Gatwick and Heathrow international airports are easily accessible from Kingston by both road and public transport.
WHY STUDY AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Coming to university for your degree is an exciting time. The university will help you make the most of the opportunities available to you:
Location – along with the University's four modern campuses, Kingston has endless green spaces and beautiful riverside, with amazing entertainment, shopping, food and more in the centre. And you're only 30 minutes away from London – for more fun, study and career opportunities.
Student life – while studying is a key part of university life, the university encourage the students to enjoy the fantastic activities available and to take part in the many social events. These include student clubs, societies, sports and leisure activities and students' union events.
Innovative learning - At Kingston University they use inventive, engaging teaching and assessment methods to make learning fun and enjoyable – giving you the experience of working in your industry. International perspectives and opportunities to learn new languages for free are incorporated into the curriculum and courses are developed by research that is carried out in the real world, keeping them up to date with the latest developments and to foster entrepreneurship.
Careers and employability - Your Kingston University degree will really prepare you for your future by providing you with the skills that employers are looking for. With careers-focused teaching, real-world learning environments, work placement opportunities, mentoring and support, the graduates can get ahead of the competition to join the world of work and lead successful careers.
Diversity and inclusion - Kingston University welcomes students from many different ethnicities, nationalities and ages. The university provide access and support to students with physical or learning disabilities and encourage participation from under-represented groups.
Student support - All of the students receive dedicated academic, health, financial and wellbeing support to ensure you make the most of your time while you're with the university. Study and welfare services are available to everyone from application to graduation, including students with disabilities or students from non-traditional backgrounds.
Study, volunteer and work abroad - With Kingston University, you could spend part of your degree studying or working in a completely different country. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the world, make friends and experience new cultures, while you develop your international knowledge and skills.
You could study or work almost anywhere in the world: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the Caribbean (to name just a few). You could explore Europe on an Erasmus exchange to France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and more.
