Q. Can I submit my request over the phone?
A. No. All requests must be made in writing; either by post, or email. For more information please visit our making a request page.
Q. What information can I ask for?
A. You can request any information that the university holds in a recorded format. This can be electronic or physical format including emails, documents images, audio recordings and hand written notes.
Q. Do I need to identify the information I want?
A. Yes. If your request is not clear, the university can ask for clarification before responding.
Q. Will I get all of the information I ask for?
A. Not always. The university can only provide the information it holds in a recorded format. For information that is held, some may be exempt from disclosure under the Act. For more information, please visit our exemptions page.
Q. How long will it take for me to receive a response?
A. The university will generally respond to your request within 20 working days, the statutory deadline. For responses where a qualified exemption has been engaged, the university is legally able to extend the statutory deadline. For more information, please visit our exemptions page.
Q. What if the university doesn't hold the information?
A. If the information is not held under the terms of the Act, you will receive a response confirming this within 20 working days.
Q. Will I have to pay?
A. No, you do not have to pay to make a FOI request. King's College London follows the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. Accordingly, all requests that cost less than £450 to process (the ‘appropriate limit’) will be complied with free of charge.
The university does reserve the right to charge for disbursements. These will be clearly explained to you before any payment is requested. For more information, please visit our publication scheme page.
Q. Is there a limit to the number of requests that I can make?
A. No, but the university follows The Fees Regulations which state that requests received within 60 consecutive working days can be aggregated.
Q. Can I re use previously requested information?
A. You are free to use any information supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial research purposes. The information may also be used for the purposes of news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by publishing or issuing copies to the public, will require the permission of the copyright owner.
Q. What format will the information be supplied in?
A. Generally, information will be supplied by email in pdf format. When making a request you can state a preference of how you would like the information communicated to you. We will do our best to supply you with the information in this format. However, if this is not practical for us to do so, we will let you know.
Q. What if I am not happy with the response?
A. If you are not happy with the response provided, the first stage of appeal is to request an internal review. Please visit our Making a Request page for more information.