What are honorary appointments?
Honorary appointees:
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contribute to the scholastic - education and/or research - endeavours of King's College London,
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are given access to King’s library facilities, IT facilities, including a King’s affiliate email account, are allowed under the King's College London Academic Regulations to be second or third supervisor of research degree students. First supervisor can only be undertaken by a King's College London adjunct appointee employed by a KHP Trust, a King's College London member of academic staff, or a King's College London-employed career development fellow,
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are permitted to hold research grants as a co-PI where they have a permanent member of King’s College London staff acting as co-PI on the project,
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are not employed by King’s College London,
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are not emeritus titles such as Emeritus Reader or Professor,
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are not conferred on King’s College London employees,
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are not normally conferred on employees of another higher education institution,
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are not equivalent or the same as the King’s Health Partners’ Passport – i.e. the mechanism by which to gain permission to work at any of the designated King’s Health Partners sites, and
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will be expected to comply with King's financial, academic and IT regulations.
Honorary appointment levels
The following honorary titles are conferred in accordance with the clinical level of the applicant:
| Appointment level | Clinical level |
|---|
|
Honorary lecturer
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Non-consultant level, or equivalent – i.e., SPR or speciality doctor
|
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Honorary senior lecturer
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Consultant level/ general practitioner principal/ senior allied health-related professional or NHS healthcare scientist (normally AfC8 or above)
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Honorary reader
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Consultant level/ General Practitioner/ senior allied health-related professional/ NHS healthcare scientist with significant levels of experience and outputs, equivalent to a King’s employed academic Reader in research, education, or professional reputation
|
|
Honorary professor
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Consultant level/ General Practitioner/ senior allied health-related professional/ NHS healthcare scientist with significant levels of experience and outputs, equivalent to a King's employed academic Professor in research, education or professional reputation
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What are adjunct appointments?
Adjunct appointments are available to highly engaged, research-active clinicians who are employed by one of the King's Health Partner Trusts and who have a King's Health Partners Passport. See adjunct appointments for more information.
Adjunct appointment levels
The following adjunct titles are conferred: Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Adjunct Reader, and Adjunct Professor, with each appointment made at the level of the approved honorary appointment. As such, applicants seeking adjunct status are expected to have in place – or to simultaneously apply for - an honorary appointment at King’s College London. When an individual is promoted via the annual academic promotions process, adjunct titles are promoted to the same level of the appointee’s honorary title.
Length of honorary and adjunct appointments
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Honorary lecturer and honorary senior lecturer appointments are for a fixed duration, up to 5 years with further renewals being subject to completion of the application process, and conditional upon continued employment with the clinical institution (NHS, GP practice or equivalent).
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Honorary appointments to locum clinicians are limited to the duration of their current contract of employment, where they will have had a minimum of 6 months' employment at the time of application.
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Honorary reader and honorary professor appointments may be appointed for either a fixed duration, up to 5 years, or may be indefinite/open-ended, conditional upon continued employment with the clinical institution (NHS, GP practice or equivalent).
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Adjunct appointments are for a fixed duration, up to 5 years with further renewals being subject to completion of the application process.
Appointments can be withdrawn by King's with immediate effect where circumstances make this necessary.
Please direct all enquiries to folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk.
Who is eligible?
All applicants must:
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contribute to King's College London's scholastic education and/or research endeavours,
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have the right to work in the UK – confirmed by their current employer,
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not be the subject of a disciplinary or capability process, and
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not be the subject of an investigation of non-compliance with regulations by the applicant’s employer.
The following are ineligible for honorary or adjunct appointments:
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King’s College London employees,
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Emeritus Readers or Professors, and
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academics employed at another higher education institution - such individuals would normally be considered for visiting appointments, which are fixed term and with defined duties/contributions to education and/or research.
How to apply
All applicants should ensure they are using the latest application forms, as these are undergoing revisions and are subject to change. The application form and guidelines can be found here. Applicants who are unable to access this link are asked to email folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk to request the application form.
Applicants seeking Reader and Professor level appointments should refer to the section on Honorary Reader and Honorary Professor Applications for further details on the application process.
Support statements
All applications must include a statement of support from the applicant's employer as follows:
| Applicant employment status | Employer sponsor role |
|---|
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Consultant, non‑consultant clinician, or senior healthcare professional employed by an NHS Trust or equivalent - in a substantive or locum position
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Clinical Director
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GPs or equivalent senior healthcare professional employed through a GP practice or equivalent
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GP Practice Senior Partner
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Healthcare Scientist employed by an NHS Trust or equivalent
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Line Manager
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Locum GP
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Applicants should provide the notification from their e-portfolio of their latest successful appraisal
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King's sponsorship
All applications must be endorsed by the appropriate King’s College London academic sponsor as follows:
| Contribution type | Academic sponsor required |
|---|
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Research at King’s College London
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Head of School, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London
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King’s College London Biosciences Education Undergraduate Teaching
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Dean of Bioscience Education, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London
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King’s College London MBBS/Medical Education Undergraduate Teaching
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Dean of Medical Education, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London
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King’s College London Postgraduate Teaching
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Dean of Bioscience Education, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London
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King’s Health Partners’ Postgraduate Teaching
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Director of Education & Training, King’s Health Partners
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Approval process
Applications for all levels of adjunct appointments and honorary appointments below reader level are considered by the Faculty Executive Board. Academic appointments to honorary reader and honorary professor levels are subject to additional approval processes (see section on honorary reader and honorary professor applications for further details).
Honorary and adjunct applications are approved where (i) the individual successfully demonstrates an appropriate level of academic achievement in the field, along with an assessment of grants, studentships, publications, clinical excellence, and clinical eminence appropriate for the type and level of appointment being sought; and (ii) the individual has clear plans to make a significant contribution to the academic activity and/or broader university life of King’s College London. All applicants are also expected to demonstrate a commitment to our Principles in Action and to contribute to the broader welfare of the university and their discipline.
Please direct all enquiries to folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk.
Promotion of existing honorary and adjunct appointees
Where an appointee with an existing Honorary Lecturer title at King’s College London wishes to apply for promotion to Honorary Senior Lecturer, applications should be made to the Faculty Executive Board via folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk using the standard honorary application form.
Applicants with an existing appointment who are seeking promotion to either Honorary Reader or Honorary Professor should refer to the relevant sections of the Honorary Reader and Honorary Professor Applications section.
Please direct all enquiries to folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk.
Honorary reader and honorary professor applications
All applicants for honorary reader and honorary professor appointments are expected to contribute to both education and research, in line with the Academic Performance Framework, and be able to demonstrate clinical excellence and eminence.
How to apply
The application process outlined in the table below will be adopted for applications to reader and professor level - the appropriate application process is based on the level of appointment sought and status of the applicant:
| Sought application level | Application status | Application process |
|---|
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Reader
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Applications from individuals seeking an Honorary Reader appointment who have held an equivalent appointment at a UK higher education institution of equal standing to King's College London
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Faculty Executive Board approval process
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Reader
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Applications from individuals seeking an Honorary Reader appointment who have not held an equivalent appointment at a UK higher education institution of equal standing to King's College London
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Honorary Reader promotions process
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Reader
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Applications from individuals seeking promotion from an existing honorary appointment to Honorary Reader
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Honorary Reader promotions process
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Professor
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Applications from individuals seeking an Honorary Professor appointment who have held an equivalent appointment at a UK higher education institution of equal standing to King's College London
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Faculty Executive Board approval process
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Professor
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Applications from individuals seeking an Honorary Professor appointment who have not held an equivalent appointment at a UK higher education institution of equal standing to King's College London
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Annual academic promotions process
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Professor
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Applications from individuals seeking promotion from an existing honorary appointment to Honorary Professor
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Annual academic promotions process
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Where applicants for reader or professor titles have held an equivalent appointments at a UK HEI of equal standing to King’s College London, applications should be made using the standard application form and submitted for approval by the Faculty Executive Board via folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk.
Applications are considered by the Faculty Executive Board on a monthly basis, with subsequent approval being sought from the Senior Vice President & Provost (Health) and Principal/President of King’s College London, in his/her capacity as chair of the Academic Staff Committee.
Applicants who are unable to access the link above are asked to email folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk to request the application form.
Where applicants are seeking either promotion or appointment to Honorary Reader with no prior equivalent appointment at a UK HEI of equal standing to King’s College London, the Honorary Reader Promotions Process will be used. Details of this process can be found here.
Applicants who are unable to access this link above are asked to email folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk to request the relevant documents.
For applications to Honorary Professor where the applicant has not held an equivalent position at another HEI or is applying for promotion from an existing honorary appointment, the Academic Promotions process should be used.
Applicants who are unable to access this link are asked to email folsmadmin@kcl.ac.uk for assistance.