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Employer Engagement

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Our Doctoral Researchers & Research Staff

Research is core to King’s, what we do, what we care about and how we educate. Our enquiry-driven research delivers transformative insights with the power to advance and accelerate global progress.

King's Strategy 2026

Research is core to King's - it's how we channel our creativity to further knowledge and understanding, challenge convention and deliver impact - there are significant benefits in recruiting candidates with advanced degrees.

Our researchers bring a wealth of talent including including significant skills in independent research and analysis, project management, written communication, motivation and reflection and possess unique insight into their area of research.

Whilst many will choose to stay within academia, an increasing number are seeking opportunities in corporates, the public sector and NGOs and charities, posessing existing work experience to bring their own networks.

King's has one of the largest concentrations of doctoral researchers of any university in the UK, with 4,275 working towards a PhD, conducting full-time research over a period of three or four years.

As part of their research they will be expected to write a thesis outlining their results and have access to a range of training and support from the King's Doctoral College.

 FACULTY PG Researchers
Arts & Humanities 502
Business School 142
Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences 158
Law 76
Life Sciences & Medicine 1,040
Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences 695
Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care 118
Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience 802
Social Science & Public Policy 742

Updated: 6 October 2025

Over 2,000 individuals are employed by King's in academic departments and research centres on 'short-term' research contracts having recently completed their doctoral studies.

These individuals often continue into permanent academic careers but it is also seen as a step towards gaining specialist knowledge and building a relevant portfolio to take into other career paths.

 FACULTY Research Staff
Arts & Humanities 50
Business School 20
Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences 55
Law 7
Life Sciences & Medicine 854
Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences 238
Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care 77
Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience 706
Social Science & Public Policy 156

Updated: 10 October 2024