King's College London
speciality: English Language & Literature

Because I got into King’s, I moved all the way from my small town in rural America to London after only one visit to Europe beforehand. I saved a ton on college (I previously did a year at a private institution in America with little name recognition and paid ten grand more than I did on King’s tuition) and I’m having an unforgettable experience. Beyond a deep and engaging English program, King’s has offered beautiful facilities to study in and a wealth of societies which I have been able to get involved in. Though I’ve had some issues with the institution itself—namely, underpaying its staff, resulting in strikes that tore through my entire first year without any sort of recompense from the school—my overall memories from King’s have been positive. I recommend to anyone—especially Americans—who want to hone in on one particular study without all those general credits to get through and like learning at their own pace. Beware of not getting into classes that you want, however.

I love that King’s is a highlight diverse university that has students from all over the globe come together to study and learn. This is particularly important for my course which values understanding cultures across the world in an interdisciplinary and empathetic fashion. I would really recommend this programme to anyone who loves meeting diverse new people and gaining insight in social issues happening all around us.

As an English Major at King’s College London, I’ve had the privilege of learning under supportive and knowledgeable lecturers. However, I’ve also encountered some significant gaps in the educational experience, particularly in the lead-up to exams and coursework. The university doesn’t always provide adequate preparation or feedback, leading to a sense of being thrown into assessments blindly.

One of the standout positives of my experience at King’s College London has been the support from lecturers. They’re approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in helping students succeed. This creates a positive learning environment that fosters intellectual growth and confidence.

However, one area where the university could improve is in the preparation for exams and coursework. There often seems to be a lack of structured guidance leading up to assessments, which can be particularly daunting for students who are new to the university or the subject matter. More guidance and feedback in the form of workshops, practice assessments, or individualized feedback sessions would be greatly beneficial.

Another area for improvement is the seminar format. While seminars can be an invaluable opportunity for discussion and debate, I’ve found that some leaders are too quick to agree with everything said. This can stifle genuine debate and critical thinking. A more balanced approach that encourages respectful disagreement and challenges students to think critically would be more conducive to intellectual growth.

Loads of helpful resources available on KEATS online.
Lectures uploaded on lecture capture if you cannot attend.
Personal tutor assigned before you start so you get settled in.
Three buildings so you can choose where you prefer to study.

I think King’s is a fantastic university which has a great reputation. I believe this is due to the friendly and approachable staff who are brilliant at creating bonds with their students and are clearly very passionate about their area of expertise. Also, the variety of extracurricular activities that King’s offers is endless and they make sure to accommodate everyone’s needs and areas of interest.

The atmosphere of KCL is very liberal, there are many individual societies to choose from, hundreds of unique courses and incredible professors. However, graduating from a niche department (Comparative Literature) meant that there wasn’t much help/facilities available to help students. Often, we wouldn’t have fundings for modules and there was usually a fear around some getting cancelled.

My time at King’s College London was marked by self-sufficiency and learning how to navigate not just the university but also London. It’s a good place to study, create your own timetable and pursue interests either via societies or outside of campus. The libraries were good and well stocked with nice facilities, and the campuses themselves were good places to study. Sometimes, in the first year especially, the city and the expectation to know how to do everything yourself is a little overwhelming. The support systems could have been stronger, especially for freshers, but I think that the experience teaches you an important set of skills to sit alongside an academic degree. Ideal for independent students looking to experience the real world alongside their studies, but maybe not the best environment for students seeking a large amount of comfort, support and regular guidance.

i enjoy my degree, my tutors are enthusiastic, helpful and approachable. certain lecturers could use a little more oumph. the campus buildings are close together and in the heart of london – useful and interesting. plenty of study areas. super helpful and responsive english department

King’s college London is situated very centrally so Strand campus is a great location to be a student in London. Student life is very dependent on societies, if you do not join one you will find the community feel of a smaller campus lacking. Most first year classes are not taught by professors but rather graduate teaching assistants, which makes the first year academic experience less engaging than I imagined it would be.

I have loved studying at King’s so far. I have great flexibility within my course to explore not just a range of modules within my degree but others throughout the department. The student union holds fun and affordable must-go student nights and Bush House has quickly become my second home with its study spaces and bar/restaurant. Like any uni, you have to be self motivating and independent in your studies but the relationship you develop with your peers, module convenors and tutor makes sure you have all the extra support you need! The only downside is the lack of your « classic uni experience », similar to any London uni since there is not a singular campus; but you can’t beat living in the city!