Commitment to research excellence

As a research student, you experience connections with world-leading researchers and research projects to stimulate your academic development. Please see our research & innovation webpages for more information on our research activities.

1. Choosing your course

The three main routes of entry to a research degree are listed below. Please ensure you read this in conjunction with any specific guidance provided via the relevant webpage for your course, which you can find using our postgraduate course finder.

• In the Sciences and Health Sciences, supervisors usually devise projects, attract funding and advertise them. You can find out more information about funding opportunities, scholarships and studentships on our funding database. If you require further information or wish to discuss the project in more detail, you should contact the named individual advertising the project.

• In the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Global Institutes you are often expected to devise your own research project. This is best done in conjunction with a potential supervisor so you should ensure that staff at King’s are undertaking research in the field that interests you. You can identify potential supervisors with interests in common with your own via the ‘staff and groups’ section on the relevant webpage for your course, which you can find using our postgraduate course finder. If you are sure they are the right person to supervise you, contact them directly, copying your correspondence to the relevant admissions office.

• If you need help in devising a research project but are unsure who might be the best person to supervise it, the King's research portal can give you a more detailed understanding of the range of expertise of specific academics and research activity at King's.

2. Review entry requirements

After you have chosen a course, read the entry requirements on the webpage relating to your course (which you can find using our postgraduate course finder) to find out if you fulfil or are expected to fulfil the minimum entry requirements, including English language requirements if relevant. The page also contains information on any specific application procedures for your course.

3. Check tuition fees and available funding

It is important that you consider the availability of finances to cover both the tuition fees and living expenses. Details are shown under the ‘Fees and funding’ tab of the web page for your course.

If you are unsure as to your fee status, please see our fee status page. Check the funding details on the relevant webpage for your course, which you can find using our postgraduate course finder.

Additional funding opportunities at King’s and advice on other sources of funding can also be found on our postgraduate funding pages. Don't forget to check deadlines carefully!

4. Submit your application

To submit a formal application, please register on our online application system King's Apply. If you have applied to King's previously, including via UCAS, you should already have an account. If are unable to access the online postgraduate application form, please contact our King's Advisors for advice.

Please ensure that you send in all relevant documentation with your online application, as otherwise delays will occur in processing your application. Usually this includes:

• A personal statement

• A research proposal and/or project approval form

• Transcripts of your previous qualifications (with official English translations if not originally in English)

• An academic reference. Please note you may be required to obtain a second academic reference at the request of the department

• Any English language qualifications that you have (if your first language is not English).

Some courses require specific additional documents to be submitted with the application, such as a sample of previous academic writing. Please check the ‘Entry requirement’ section in the course's entry on the postgraduate course finder for further details.

Please note that some research degrees will offer up to four entry points (September, January, April and July). Please check our online prospectus for details.

5. Track your application

Using King's Apply you can:

• Track the status of your application

• See if you've been invited to interview

• View your offer details

• Upload supporting documents, such as English language test results

• Contact us about your application.

King’s aims to make decisions on applications within 6-8 weeks, though some programmes operate a ‘gathered field’ process and may therefore take longer, as indicted on the relevant course page. Depending on the time of year it may also take longer to process applications, particularly around deadline periods. Please ensure that your online application form is as complete as possible at the time of submission to avoid unnecessary delays, and ask your referees to be ready to submit a reference promptly.