University of Kent, details of University of Kent

Kingston

University ranking

• 2010  82
• 2009  89
• 2008  82

History

• 1992 Kingston Polytechnic becomes Kingston University.
• 1970 The College of Technology and the College of Art merge to form Kingston Polytechnic.

Location and Transport

• Central London is 25 minutes away by train.
• A historic town centre packed with shops, bars and clubs.
• Royal parks and the River Thames are within walking distance.
• Inter-site bus service.

Accommodation

• 2,400 rooms in halls across 5 sites, 70% en-suite.
• All rooms are non-smoking and have internet access.
• Each site is manned 24 hours a day.
• More information about accommodation at Kingston is available here.  

Entry standards

League Table

• Average tariff points for full-time first year degree students in 2005–6 was 230.
• Entry requirements vary from course to course and the university looks at more than just A-level results.
• The university also considers past academic performance, people’s interest in the subject and commitment/motivation.
• For more information on entry standards at Kingston, visit the website.  

Bursaries and Scholarships

In receipt of full Maintenance Grant  £310–1,000

In receipt of partial Maintenance Grant £310–1,000

Progressing from outreach Bursary

• Tuition fees (2009): £3225.
• Placement year fee will be around £610. Fees for year abroad will be around £1,535.
• Every student entering the university as a member of the local Compact Scheme will receive an extra £300 a year.
• 25% of additional fee income to be earmarked for bursaries.
• Eligibility for bursaries to be assessed using UUK/SLC model bursary scheme (HEBSS).
• For more information on bursaries and scholarships at Kingston, click here.

Student mix

• A fairly evenly balanced gender mix. 2005–6, 48% male, 53% female.
• A growing proportion of overseas students (9% in 2005–6, 8 % in 2004–5, 7% in 2003–4).
• A high and above benchmark proportion of students from state schools (95% in 2005–6).
• 6.7 applications for every one place.

Course flexibility

• Many courses are available on a part-time and sandwich course basis.

Teaching standards

League Table

• Under the old QAA system, Kingston received ‘excellent’ scores for 14 subjects, covering every faculty.
• National Student Survey 2006, overall satisfaction rates out of 5 included Teacher Training 4.6, Early Years Education 4.3, Architecture/Building 4.2.

Research standards

League Table

• RAE 2001: 4 ratings – History, European Studies, Art and Design, Art and Design History.
• 3A ratings – Nursing, Subjects Allied to Medicine, Engineering, Materials, English, Business.
• 3B ratings – Earth Sciences, Music, Computing.

Academic strengths

• Architecture, aeronautical engineering, forensic science, geography, geology, illustration and animation, law, mathematics, nursing and midwifery, social sciences and surveying.

Student facilities, including Library and Computing

League Table

• The remodelled Learning Resources Centre at the Kingston Hill campus includes a new internet café.
• Virtually all course modules are now available on Kingston’s pioneering web-based learning management system, Blackboard.
• Significant investment in installing the latest computer technology across all campuses and university sites.

Disability services

• For information about the disability services at Kingston, telephone +44 (0)208 417 4282, minicom + 44 (0)20 8547 8847, email disability@kingston.ac.uk or dyslexia@kingston.ac.uk, or visit the website. 

Students’ Union

• Union bars: The Space, Penrhyn Road; Hannafords, Kingston Hill; Knights Park Bar, Knights Park.
• Union shops: Penrhyn Road and Kingston Hill.
• More information about the students' union at Kingston is available here.

Sport

• The Students’ Union run 30 sports clubs, including Cricket, Skydiving, Sub-Aqua, Mountaineering, Hockey, Fencing, Football, Athletics, Taekwondo, Badminton.
• Sports facilities include Tolworth Court sports ground with playing fields for football and a floodlit hard court area for tennis.
• Recently refurbished fitness centre with a dance studio and gym featuring a range of high- specification equipment.
• More information about sport at Kingston is available here.  

Recent/prospective new builds

• Major redevelopment activity has led to significant improvements on all four Kingston campuses.
• A new six-storey building providing a contemporary teaching and learning environment.
• A significantly revamped Learning Resources Centre at the Kingston Hill campus.
• Extra classroom and office space at the Roehampton Vale campus.

Availability of part-time work

• The Jobshop programme helps students find full-time part-time, summer and graduate jobs.
• For more information on part-time work while at Kingston, visit the website.  

For further information

• www.kingston.ac.uk
• admissions-info@kingston.ac.uk
• Kingston University, River House, 53-57 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1LQ
• +44 (0)20 8547 2000
• Travel and maps