Research is core to King’s, what we do, what we care about and how we educate.
It is how we channel our creativity to further knowledge and understanding, challenge convention and deliver impact.
Our vision is to deliver research to inform and innovate. By providing the best environment, support and networks for our community – from postgraduate research students to senior academics – we strive to deliver world-leading research that is informed by and responds to the needs of society.
King’s scale and range of research have been steadily increasing. Our new research awards grew by 40% from between 2015–6 to 2020–21, reaching new high of £292 million in 2021–22.
Through proactive investment, we have strengthened our support for researcher development and research leadership, created state-of-the art facilities and enhanced our technical and professional support.
UK Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The 2022 REF confirmed King’s place as one of the UK's top research universities
- 6th in the UK for research power
- 3rd among UK multidisciplinary institutions for impact
- 6th in the UK for world-leading (4*) research
- 55% of research submitted rated 4*– up from 40% in 2014
International rankings
King’s is ranked 35th in the world and 6th in the UK by the Times Higher Education World Rankings (2023).
Supporting a thriving research community
- King’s holds a European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award, reflecting our sustained commitment to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
- King’s has held a Silver Athena Swan award since 2021 and a Bronze Athena SWAN award since 2016, highlighting our commitment to advancing gender equality.
- Across our nine faculties we hold 20 Silver and Bronze Athena Swan awards.
Find out more about REF and King's research outputs

King's maintains position among best universities for research excellence and power
King’s has today maintained its position among the UK’s best universities...

REF at King's
The Research Excellence Framework assesses research in UK

King’s Research Portal
Demonstrating the breadth and diversity of King’s research
Innovation at King's

Innovation at King’s
Collaborating for economic and social impact

Entrepreneurship Institute
The Entrepreneurship Institute supports entrepreneurial thinking, skills...
Research in our faculties

Arts & Humanities
How the arts and humanities can answer society’s big questions

King’s Business School
Our work spans the disciplines of management, business, economics & finance

Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
Scientific and clinical research, advancing treatments and therapies

Life Sciences & Medicine
Translation and adoption of research innovation into clinical practice

Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care
Applied clinical and health research, improving patient outcomes and care

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Translating scientific insights to interventions, to benefit patients

The Dickson Poon School of Law
Helping to shape policy and practice nationally and internationally

Social Science & Public Policy
Advancing scholarship on social, ethical and political issues of our time

Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences
Understanding our universe at all scales to change it for the better
Useful links

Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity
Enabling researchers to achieve research excellence.

Research jobs
Develop your research career at King’s

Find out more about King's Vision 2029
King’s Vision 2029 sets out our ambition to make the world a better place.

Internal research pages
Internal access only