Kingston University

Summary

University Environment

Kingston is made up of four campuses located in Kingston and Roehampton, while their health and social care courses are run in partnership with St George’s, University of London.  

Penrhyn Road Campus

The Penrhyn Road Campus is close to Kingston town centre and is home to students of humanities, social sciences, economics, film, media, journalism, drama, dance, science, computing, maths, radiography and surveying. It's also home to the Students' Union, the fitness and health centre, and offers a blend of traditional and modern buildings with lecture theatres, teaching rooms, the library and main restaurant. 

Knights Park Campus

 Knights Park is a compact campus with a friendly feel and is the University’s creative base – the home to art, design and architecture students. The campus is situated on the Hogsmill River, and its restaurant and award-winning bar open on to the waterside. The surrounding area is quiet but very close to the main Penrhyn Road campus and to Kingston town centre. 

Kingston Hill Campus

Kingston Hill is a leafy, hillside campus about three miles from Kingston town centre and is the base for the University's business, law, real estate management, music, education, social work, nursing and midwifery students. The campus buildings house a diverse array of teaching and learning spaces and facilities. The Business School building has an impressive atrium with a cafe and plenty of areas for students to meet and work, while healthcare students benefit from practice hospital wards and clinical skills laboratories, and music students have access to a full range of instruments, recording studios and practice rooms in the Coombehurst complex. 

Roehampton Vale Campus

Roehampton Vale campus is the base for the University's aerospace, aircraft, automotive and mechanical engineering students. It is on the outskirts of Kingston, about four miles from the town centre. It’s packed full of high-tech labs with specialist equipment for each area of engineering, including a flight simulator, a Learjet 25 aircraft, a range of vehicles and motorcycles, and even a space mission control room.

St George's, University of London

Kingston's health and social care courses are run in partnership with St George’s, University of London (SGUL) and some healthcare students will spend time based at SGUL’s campus at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, south-west London. St George’s, University of London is a modern and innovative academic and research institution built upon a rich history stretching back 250 years. It shares a site with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals, and is therefore able to offer students a huge range of clinical study material. St George’s was voted London’s best student experience for two years (2010 and 2011) in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey. Students at SGUL have access to extensive resources, including five computer rooms; comprehensive library resources; excellent clinical and laboratory facilities; and sports and social facilities.

History

Kingston was founded as Kingston Technical Institute in 1899. In 1970 it merged with Kingston College of Art to become Kingston Polytechnic, offering 34 courses, of which 17 were at degree level. In 1992, Kingston Polytechnic became Kingston University. 

Several parts of the campuses have been redeveloped over the years. There is an extension to the current Learning Resources Centre at the Penrhyn Road.

Academics

Faculties

• Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health and Social Care and Education
• Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing

Research

In the government's latest assessment (REF 2014), 60% of the University's research submission was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. This represents a 100% improvement since the previous assessment in 2008.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Kingston University is part of the Erasmus exchange programme offering students the ability to study in more than 20 countries in Europe, while the Study Abroad programme offers opportunities to study in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the West Indies.

Some courses at Kingston University will also allow you to take a work placement abroad. If you choose to take this option, and it is recognised by your faculty, you can apply for an Erasmus grant – which can be in addition to any salary offered by your employer. Depending on your course, your European work placement may be added to an international study exchange or be a standalone work placement during your third year. Alternatively, you could consider doing some voluntary work abroad through the Students’ Union volunteering programme.

Fees & Finance

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The learning resources centres (LRCs) are where you will find Kingston's library and learning services and a variety of study zones that help you to study in a way that suits you. The LRCs are located at four of the University teaching campuses, and offer a wide range of digital library services and resources. There are also photocopying, scanning and printing facilities, digital media viewing and listening facilities, self-service areas for preparing and presenting work and extensive network computer facilities with fast Wi-Fi access.

All LRCs have long opening hours, with those at Kingston Hill and Penrhyn Road campuses open 24 hours a day between Sunday and Thursdays during the majority of teaching weeks, with additional Friday night opening near exam time.

The University's library resources include over 380,000 books and audiovisual materials, 300,000 e-books, and 53,000 electronic and print journals. There are also 560 open-access PCs and Macs as well as laptops for loan. Each campus LRC focuses on providing resources relevant to the subjects studied there.

The University also has extensive computing facilities. There are more than 3,000 networked computers available across the University, with free internet and email and superfast Wi-Fi access for mobile devices. Dedicated computing labs support the subjects offered on each campus. This includes specialist hardware and software for PCs and Macs, and relevant training sessions. Students can access their University desktop even when they’re not on campus. My Desktop Anywhere – a cloud-based application – enables students to access files, software and printers remotely from laptops, tablets or smartphones.

Established in 2004 to support the teaching and research of Kingston University, the University archives and special collections now encompass thousands of items on subjects such as literature, theatre, publishing, 20th-century Balkan history and the history of Kingston University and its predecessor bodies, and includes major collections relating to the author and philosopher Iris Murdoch, theatre critic Sheridan Morley and the Stephen Sondheim Society.

StudySpace is our virtual learning environment that houses a wealth of learning and teaching resources, multimedia material, discussion boards, videoconferencing facilities, wikis and blogs. It also enables you to create your own profile, networks and groups. 

The University offer a range of services and schemes to help you adapt to higher-education-level study at the beginning of your course and to build confidence, presentation and organisational skills. The Academic Skills Centres on all five of the University campuses provide access to one-to-one advice and guidance on your work before you submit it, while if you are taking a course with a mathematics component, you can also receive extra support with MathsAid. The programme will help you to develop your maths skills through personal one-to-one tutor contact at drop-in clinics, peer-assisted learning and virtual learning.

Kingston University offers a number of mentoring programmes to students at the University, for example the Academic Mentoring Programme (AMP) is a University initiative that encourages students to support others with their studies. It is linked within selected modules throughout the University, and works by providing a platform for first-year students to be mentored by a select number of second-year students. The aim is to encourage independent learning facilitated by academic mentors who, through talking about their own experiences and pointing the mentees towards appropriate resources, create an environment that suits all students involved in the programme.

Industry-standard facilities

Kingston University degrees offer real-world experience so a vast array of specialist resources is available on each campus – with specialist support and technical staff on hand to help.  

The Humanities

The Bloomberg trading room offering students direct use of market trading data, information and analytics through a suite of Bloomberg terminals; the Community Legal Advice Centre allows law students to polish their legal skills while providing a valuable service to the community; and the moot courtroom enables students to build confidence in public speaking and presentation skill through practising their mooting skills.

The Sciences

The drop tower enables students to conduct experiments in a weightless environment; the space mission control room offers students the ability to take on the role of a mission controller for a simulated interplanetary aircraft; the heat chamber enables sport science students to study athletes preparing for extreme environmental conditions through climatic simulation; the scene-of-crime house helps forensic science students to develop their knowledge and skills; the ArchiLab allows students to test their ideas and propositions in sustainable building design; while the Psychology department boats a driving simulator, three eye-tracker systems and a CANTAB touchscreen, along with software research tools and psychometric tests. 

Medicine

The Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) suite offers therapeutic radiography students the ability to apply their understanding of administering radiotherapy treatment to patients; the diagnostic radiography suite is complete with two X-ray sets and a range of digitalimaging equipment; the modern clinical skills labs, for nursing and midwifery students, simulate a hospital ward for coaching and live feedback under video surveillance; the Practice Learning Suite offers a simulated home environment fitted with monitoring cameras for social work and nursing students to practice home visits and consultations; the outdoor learning environment and nature trail which enables trainee early years educators and primary teaching students to develop and lead curriculum-linked natural science activities with children; and a purpose-built paramedic simulation suite, enables students to carry out patient management in realistic home environments.

The Arts

There are music recording studios and a computer suite with iMac workstations. Film and media students benefit from a wide range of film audio- and video-editing facilities equipped with iMacs running software including Final Cut Studio Pro and the Adobe Creative Cloud. There’s access to a film studio facility with backgrounds and green wall, and an audio recording facility running Logic Pro and Pro Tools.  A Phantom HD Gold ultra-slow-motion camera capable of shooting at up to 1,000 frames per second is also available, as well as a well-equipped photography suite/ filming environment and an animation suite. The theatre resources for drama students include two studio spaces as well as seminar rooms, which are fully equipped and are supported by theatre technicians. Dance students have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including three rehearsal studios with fully sprung Harlequin floors. The University has their own dedicated newsroom for production of our student newspaper and website, with the latest equipment and software, including the Adobe Creative Cloud, which is used by the press industry.

Sporting Facilities

The University's Tolworth Court sports ground are located just a few miles from the campuses and have excellent facilities for outdoor sports and a two-storey sports pavilion housing changing facilities and showers, a cafe, bar and terrace. The ground covers over 20 acres and includes: 12 football pitches; two rugby pitches; three cricket squares (summer); an artificial cricket wicket (summer); an American football pitch; a lacrosse pitch; mini-soccer pitches; floodlit training areas; two netball courts; three tennis courts; and six/seven-a-side hardcourt football pitch.

Students' Union

Students' Union

The Students' Union runs a wide range of student societies, entertainment and activities, while it also aims to make life better for every Kingston University student by representing student views and ensuring your time at the University is enjoyable.

The University offers local volunteering opportunities in and around Kingston, with links to over 140 organisations. Whether you’re looking to volunteer abroad, run your own project or get involved with the local community, 

Kingston University offers over 90 active societies that organise and run weekly activities related to culture, faith, academia, arts, sporting activities and campaigns. From anime to chess, entrepreneurship to pharmacy, Nigeria to wine, you’re bound to want to get involved.

There are shops on two – one at Penrhyn Road and the other at Kingston Hill. Both are open student-friendly hours and are designed to be your one-stop shop for all those student essentials. There is also a specialist art shop based at our Knights Park campus. All four campuses have a restaurant on site, catering for all your needs – from salads and sandwiches, to freshly prepared hot meals, while there are also cafes in three of the University's learning resource centres, enabling you to check your emails or catch up with friends while enjoying a drink and a sandwich between lectures. 

The new-look Students’ Union offices at Penrhyn Road offers a meeting area for sports, societies and volunteers or any other activities that you are interested in. The area is full of comfy seating and a couple of pool tables to help you unwind. Two of our campuses have a bar, each with their own unique atmosphere. Hannafords @ Kingston Hill is a stone’s throw from the halls of residences. It is a comfortable, relaxed and modern venue with facilities including three pool tables, big-screen TV and three plasma screens with Sky Sports and Wii/ Xbox. The bar has regular quiz nights, pool competitions, guest DJs, student bands and everything else you would expect from your ‘local’, but with a bit more style. Knights Park Bar @ Knights Park is renowned as being one of the liveliest bars in Kingston and hosts an eclectic range of events from  bass-music nights to intimate open-mic sessions. 

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

Kingston University offers support, community, understanding, creativity and spirituality, including a chaplain who will help you through your time at university. The Penhryn Road Campus has a faith and spirituality centre near the Student Union Offices. This place contains spaces for prayer, worship, meditation, reflection, meetings and discussion, as well as religious washing rooms and office space. 

Health & Wellbeing

Students living in halls or within the NHS catchment area can register with the Fairhill Medical Practice to access on-campus GP services during term-time. Services include medical and nursing consultations, contraceptive advice, and vaccinations. The Health Centre also offers complementary therapies such as massage, acupuncture, reflexology and nutritional therapy.  

Students can access a range of further health services such as one-to-one counselling, support and help with anxieties and phobias, daily drop in sessions for confidential emotional and academic advice, stress management workshops and smoking cessation workshops.

Career Facilities

The careers and employability service at Kingston University, KU Talent, helps students develop a range of skills that will equip them for life beyond university. These include job-hunting skills such as CV and application preparation and interview techniques, as well as all the other elements of the recruitment process. The service works closely with industry to ensure that we have up-to-date and relevant information about the labour market and sectors that are growing and developing. Interactive events are organised throughout the year, at which students can meet and network with employers and former students to find out about particular sectors and roles, and inform career choices. The team can also help students find internships and placements while at university, to develop their skills and experience. If students need part-time work to improve their finances, the team can help there too.

The Inspiring Talent mentoring programme enables final-year undergraduate students to be mentored by professionals who have gained graduate-level roles in the last three years. The scheme encourages students to build confidence and raise their aspirations, gain commercial awareness, bridge the gap between university and the world of work and, ultimately, support them in securing graduate employment. The scheme offers job-shadowing opportunities, assistance with all elements of the graduate recruitment process and dedicated training to develop both mentees and mentors.

All Kingston University students have the opportunity to study a language through the Kingston Language Scheme, free of charge. There are nine languages to choose from, and you will be awarded a certificate of achievement on successful completion of your course.

Kingston University is the number one UK university for helping students to develop their entrepreneurial side and launch their own businesses. There’s a range of support and advice available, including Bright Futures workshops and the Kingston Entrepreneurs Society. In 2014, for the fifth year running, the University was rated the most successful UK higher education institution for graduate startup companies.

Accommodation

Kingston University has 2,574 rooms available in the seven halls of residence, all of which have 24-hour cover with staff on hand to assist with any problems. About 80 per cent of the halls rooms have en-suite facilities. The remaining halls rooms are standard rooms where groups of between four and 10 students share bathroom facilities. The iQ Kingston residence has 100 self-contained studios with their own kitchen and shower facilities. The rooms are fully furnished, have internet access and are non-smoking. All you need to do is bring your own bedding, towels and cooking utensils.

International

English Language Requirements

Kingston University English Language requirements range from about 6.0 to 6.5 on the academic board IELTS. For more information check out the University's website as the requirements may be higher or lower depending on the course you wish to take.

Students who do not have the academic qualifications required for their undergraduate degree of choice can undertake our International Foundation Year. This combines academic subjects with English and study skills to prepare for degree-level study at Kingston University.

Students who do not meet the English language requirements for their course may be able to take one of our pre-sessional English courses. These courses are designed to develop English language skills and prepare for study at Kingston University. Students are also offered free English language courses to help with academic English during their studies.

International Support

The University has a thriving international student body and offers a comprehensive range of information and support services to help overseas students feel at home.

The University provides international students with lots of helpful, practical advice on how to prepare for life at Kingston University before you arrive – including information on what to pack, how much money to bring, insurance and the British healthcare system. Their specialist International Student Advisory Centre can advise on visas and immigration, including requesting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).  International students who apply for a place in halls of residence and meet the eligibility criteria are guaranteed a place during the first year of study. 

On arrivale, Kingston picks you up at the airport, gives you a guided tour of the University and local area, introduces you to staff and other international students, and provide you with lots of useful information on living and studying in London. There are a number of social events for international students, including a boat party on the River Thames and ‘international cafes’ where students can learn about other cultures over a cup of tea or coffee. There are also many student societies and sports clubs to get involved in. 

Media