🏅 QS World Rank #37
King’s College London (KCL) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
A founding college of the University of London — QS World Rankings 2027 #37
King’s College London (KCL) is a public research university in the centre of London, founded in 1829. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 37th in the world. This guide covers programmes, entry, fees, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
King’s College London Overview
King’s College London was founded in 1829 by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington and is one of the founding colleges of the federal University of London. It is a member of the Russell Group.
It has campuses along the Strand and Thames, and in Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Denmark Hill, and is known for its health, law and war studies teaching.
King’s College London Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
King’s College London is 37th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
King’s is known for:
- Medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences
- Law — The Dickson Poon School of Law
- War Studies — a distinctive department
- Nursing — the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care
- Humanities, social sciences and politics
- Natural, mathematical and engineering sciences
See King’s official website for the full list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Confirm all details on King’s official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Undergraduate applications are made through UCAS |
| Deadline | A mid-January UCAS deadline applies for most courses. One third-party guide lists 14 January 2026 for 2027 entry, so confirm the date for your intake. |
| English | Most courses expect around IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill, while health and some competitive courses ask for 7.0 or higher (third-party summary) |
| Qualifications | A-levels, IB or equivalent, and a foundation route for those who do not qualify directly |
| Documents | Transcripts, references, personal statement and English evidence |
Official source: King’s — Study.
King’s College London Acceptance Rate
King’s does not publish one acceptance rate that applies to every course, and selectivity varies widely, with medicine and law among the most competitive. The old “about 13%” figure on this page was not tied to a source and has been removed.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on King’s’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
King’s sets international tuition by course, and fees usually rise each year. A third-party guide reports an international undergraduate range from about £27,000 upward depending on the course, with clinical courses higher. The old “£28,000 to £40,000” range was not tied to a year or source, so use your course page for the exact fee. London living costs are also high, so budget for rent and travel.
Source: King’s course pages. Fees change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- King’s scholarships and bursaries: King’s offers awards for international students. Rules and amounts change, so check the current list.
- UK government awards: Chevening, Commonwealth and similar schemes fund master’s study for students from eligible countries, including Pakistan
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: awards are competitive, not automatic
King’s College London for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard UK international process:
- Entry: check A-level, IB or foundation options for your course
- English: prepare an accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Visa: a UK Student visa is required and its rules change
- Budget: plan for tuition plus London rent and living costs
Campus & Student Life
- King’s has several London campuses, including Strand, Waterloo, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Denmark Hill
- The Strand campus sits beside the Thames and many central London landmarks
- Halls of residence and private rentals are both common
- Student societies cover culture, sport and academic interests
Research & Career Opportunities
- King’s is research-intensive, with notable work in health, law, politics and war studies
- London offers law, finance, health, government and media employers
- Its health programmes link to major NHS teaching hospitals
- King’s does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, studied theology at King’s
- Peter Higgs, Nobel Prize in Physics 2013, studied at King’s
- Florence Nightingale founded the Nightingale School of Nursing, now part of King’s
- James Clerk Maxwell and Rosalind Franklin did major work at King’s
Contact & Location
King’s College London
Strand, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
Official website: kcl.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
King’s College London is ranked 37th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
Yes. King’s College London is one of the founding colleges of the federal University of London.
KCL is best known for medicine, law, nursing and its War Studies department.
It depends on the course. Check your course page for the exact fee for your year. London living costs are extra.
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with a mid-January deadline for most courses. Check the official page for your intake.
Many courses expect around IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill, while health and competitive courses may ask for 7.0 or higher. Check your course.
Yes. King’s offers awards, and UK government schemes such as Chevening and Commonwealth fund some master’s students. They are competitive.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the international route and should check entry requirements, English tests and visa rules.
KCL does not publish one overall rate. Selectivity varies by course.
Check King’s official course and admissions pages. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare King’s College London With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, King’s College London’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.