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How To Get Into King’s College London: Tips and Strategies

28/02/2025•18 minute read

Are you a student in Years 10-12 aspiring to study at King’s College London? If yes, you might have many outstanding queries about how to get into the fourth oldest university in England and one of the top 25 universities in the world. This blog will explain everything you need to know about King’s College London acceptance rates, entry requirements and how to stand out in a highly competitive admissions process.

How Difficult Is It to Get Into King’s College London?

King’s College London is London’s most central university, with five campuses linked through the heart of the capital, enabling King’s to build partnerships with key London institutions and form international conversations. Known for its dedication to and research, King’s has played a major role in many of the advances that shape modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar. With an overall acceptance rate of 9.8%, King’s College is known for its rigorous admissions process and, typically, only a small percentage of applicants are accepted each year.

Let’s take a look at King’s College London’s acceptance rate over the past five years:

King’s College London Acceptance Rates Over the Last 5 Years

Year	Applications	Admitted Students	Acceptance Rate
2023	69,300	6,810	9.8%
2022	70,090	7,320	10.4%
2021	67,390	8,460	12.6%
2020	57,470	7,875	13.7%
2019	53,849	6,991	13%

Source: King’s College London Admissions Reports

Crimson Education’s Oxford Admissions Success

Crimson Education students have had unprecedented success with King's College admissions so far. In recent admissions cycles, 562 Crimson students were accepted into King's College London and over 2,890 students entered other top 10 UK universities representing one of the highest success rates worldwide. This success is a testament to our expert admissions support, team mentorship approach, and dedication to crafting applications that stand out. Want to know more about our premium personalised support? Book a consultation with our academic advisors to learn how we can help you or your child.

What Does King’s College London Look For in Applicants?

King’s College London not only evaluates applicants based on their academic performance but also puts strong emphasis on extracurricular projects, and personal interests. Here are the key factors that admissions officers mostly value:

1. Academic Excellence

Strong A-Levels (A*AA to AAA) or IB (International Baccalaureate) grades (35-38)
Good GCSEs for some programmes (C or above)
Admission test scores for specific programmes (e.g., UCAT for Medicine)
English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL for non-native speakers)

2. Supercurricular Activities

Evidence of critical thinking and problem solving skills: Participation in academic research projects, summer programmes or essay competitions
Independent reading and passion for the chosen subject: King’s College values intellectual curiosity and going beyond classroom learning
Relevant work experience: shadowing professionals, volunteering, etc.
Supercurriculars demonstrating leadership: Head Boy/Girl, founder or leader of a club, etc.

3. Admission Tests

Some courses at King’s College London require additional admission tests, such as:

UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) for Medicine or Dentistry
LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) for Law and Politics

4. English Language Proficiency

Non-native speakers must provide proof of English language proficiency through an acceptable qualification such as: (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

IELTS: Minimum 7.0 overall
TOEFL: Minimum 100

The full list of the main entry requirements can be found on the university’s website.

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A Checklist of Essential Documents for Completing Your King's College Application via UCAS

You will need to submit a list of important documents when applying to King's College London university via UCAS:

A complete UCAS application form with personal information, course choice and education history
Personal Statement: A compelling personal statement demonstrating your interest in the course, what you aim to achieve and your broader career aspirations. UCAS has announced changes, replacing the traditional 4000-character personal statement with three shorter essay prompts for students applying in 2025 and onwards.
Transcripts: Official stamped copies of your school grades and qualifications.
Predicted grades: If you are still due to take your final exams, your school or college must provide predicted grades to be submitted in the application.
Admission Tests: Some courses, such as Law, Politics, Medicine, require subject-specific admissions tests (e.g, LNAT, UCAT). You have to make sure you register for these by the deadline.
English Language Test Scores: International students must prove their English language proficiency by providing IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent test scores if English is not their mother tongue language.
Letters of Recommendation: Written by your teachers or tutors who can provide views about your academic ability and potential.
Written Work Samples or Portfolio: Some courses such as History, Philosophy or Arts require you to submit written work examples or a portfolio showcasing your existing creations.

Are you planning to apply to King's College London soon? Follow us on our Instagram to keep up to date with the latest UK university admissions news and save-worthy tips!

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Into King’s College London?

1. Show Passion for Your Chosen Subject

King's College London values students who exhibit genuine passion for their chosen field of study. Most students who apply to King’s College London demonstrate high grades, thus it is important to think about how else you can stand out. To increase your chances, you must showcase your enthusiasm in your application in your unique ways. For example, highlighting relevant experiences, projects, or research activities can demonstrate your commitment and interest. Discussing how these experiences have shaped your academic journey and influenced your aspirations is an authentic way to showcase your passion and shine through.

2. Perfect Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is an opportunity to make a compelling case for yourself. Use it wisely and start early!

Craft concise and well-structured answers to your essay prompts* that highlight your unique qualities, aspirations, and motivations for choosing King's College London.

Tailor your answers to align with your chosen programme and discuss how your experiences and interests align with the university's values. Be specific, genuine, and articulate your thoughts clearly.

*UCAS has announced changes, replacing the traditional 4000-character personal statement with three shorter essay prompts for students applying in 2025 and onwards.

3. Letters of Recommendation

Strong letters of recommendation can significantly enhance your application.

Choose recommenders who know you well academically or professionally and can speak about your strengths, achievements, and potential. Establish meaningful connections with teachers, mentors, or supervisors who can provide detailed and specific insights into your abilities and character.

Brief them about your goals and provide any relevant supporting materials to assist them in writing impactful recommendations.

4. Research King's College London Initiatives

King's College London offers various initiatives, programmes, and research opportunities.

Explore these offerings and identify those that align with your interests. Participating in these programmes can demonstrate your early interest and enthusiasm for King's College London and your dedication to academic exploration.

Research opportunities or work experience within your field of study can also enhance your application, demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and help you stand out from other applicants.

Life After King’s College London

Graduating from King’s College London opens doors to prestigious career opportunities and a global alumni network. Many King’s graduates go on to become leaders in their respective fields, including medicine, law, politics, and business.

Notable Alumni from King’s College London:

Florence Nightingale - Founder of Modern Nursing
Thomas Hardy - Renowned Author
Virginia Woolf - Influential Writer & Feminist
Peter Higgs - Theoretical Physicist, Nobel Prize Laureate
Benicio del Toro - Academy Award-Winning Actor

The average base salary of King’s College graduate is around £26,000.

Final Thoughts

Applying to King’s College London is a challenging but rewarding journey. By understanding the university’s expectations and strategically preparing your application, you can significantly increase your chances of admission.

If you need additional support with the application process, you can book a consultation with one of our expert academic advisors. They can provide individualised and highly informed support in every aspect of your application.

Crimson Education Admission Support and Resources

Crimson Education offers a highly personalised, end-to-end admissions support service led by former Oxford and Cambridge admissions officers, Oxbridge alumni mentors, and subject experts. Our approach provides premium comprehensive support tailored to each applicant, designed to maximise success in the competitive admissions landscape. Here’s a closer look at the services we offer.

Strategy & Application Support for UCAS Applications
When you join Crimson, we begin with an Initial Consultation in the first week to set your goals and assess your needs. In the second week, we develop a personalised Roadmap outlining each step of your journey, with monthly strategy sessions to keep you focused and on track.

Our support includes:

Customised Roadmap: Our in-platform roadmap keeps every step of the UK application process organised and focused, with real-time updates to track your progress.
Candidacy Positioning: We assess your profile and develop an application strategy to emphasise your strengths and distinguish you from other international applicants, in line with the latest admissions trends.
University Selection: Our advisors recommend universities based on acceptance rates, personal preferences, location, and overall fit.

Personalised Essay Support & Strategy
Our Essay Mentors provide expert guidance on crafting your UCAS Personal Statement, helping you navigate the three key essay prompts. With personalised one-on-one brainstorming sessions and access to a database of 1,000+ sample essays, we ensure your narrative is compelling, authentic, and aligned with university expectations.

Tailored Interview Preparation
For students applying to courses with interview requirements, our Interview Mentors provide targeted interview preparation. This includes tailored mock interviews with subject-specific questions developed by mentors who have passed Oxbridge or medical interviews, as well as personalised feedback to help you present your ideas confidently.

VIP Personal Statement Review
Our VIP Personal Statement Review service brings an extra level of insight from a senior Crimson Strategy team member, such as a former Oxbridge admissions officer, senior tutor, or current Oxbridge supervisor, to refine and polish your statement.

Academic Tutoring and Supercurriculars Development
In addition, our academic resources offer personalised tutoring for essential entrance exams, such as the UCAT or LNAT, tailored to your target universities and subjects. We also help students engage in relevant supercurricular activities that deepen their knowledge in their intended field of study.

Research Opportunities through a Summer Programme
Through Crimson’s Summer Research Programme, students engage in a six-week intensive research course to produce publication-ready papers, supported by over 30 hours of instruction from PhD fellows in small online classes. Students can select from fields like International Politics, Computer Intelligence, Economics, and more, working with professors from Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

Comprehensive UCAS Application Guidance
We offer end-to-end UCAS application support, from test prep to personal statements, extracurriculars to interview prep. We also provide strategic advice for reference letters and support with post-application communication, supplementary information requests, and additional university choice consulting for those admitted to multiple universities.

Crimson’s comprehensive approach ensures that you navigate each step of the admissions process with clarity and confidence. Book a consultation with one of our Academic Advisors to see how our personalised support can elevate your journey to Oxford, Cambridge, and other top UK universities.