King's Black Excellence (KBE) is a King's College London programme led by the Student Transition & Outcomes Department in the Student Success division.

Created with and for our students, KBE aims to enhance the student experience by being a dedicated space to find community, build belonging, develop skills and confidence, and explore wider opportunities across King's.

KBE recognises the importance of belonging, representation, and connection during university. Through a range of events, activities and opportunities, the programme supports students to feel connected, empowered, and able to thrive throughout their time at King's.

KBE provides opportunities throughout the academic year that support different stages of the student journey.

Current students can benefit from:

• Opportunities to meet and network with King's Black staff, academics, alumni and external professionals
• Community-building and cultural experiences that foster belonging
• Workshops and sessions that support academic confidence and success
• Employability and professional development opportunities to support career readiness.
• Opportunities to meet and network King's Black staff, academics, alumni and external professionals
• Student leadership and co-creation opportunities
• Information about services, support and opportunities available to you across the university
• Opportunities to celebrate achievements and recognise your contributions to the KBE community

Whether you're looking to expand your network, build confidence, develop new skills or simply meet other students with shared experiences, KBE offers opportunities to support your personal and academic journey.

KBE is open to Black and Mixed Black heritage home undergraduate students across all year groups currently studying at King's College London.

Whether you're a fresher finding your feet, a returning student looking to grow your circles, or a final year student making the most of your last year, KBE is here to help you build community, make connections, and thrive throughout your time at King’s.

The programme is free with no costs and supports all students from their first year right through to graduation, offering opportunities that complement different stages of the student experience.

KBE is a year-round programme with flexible participation that encourages ongoing participation while accommodating students’ other commitments. The programme is built around four interconnected stages across the year.

Belong: September - October

• Creating opportunities for students to build connections, develop friendships and become part of a supportive community. Including Welcome socials and Black History Month activities.

Develop: November - December

• Supporting students to build knowledge, skills, confidence and awareness of opportunities available to them while at King's. Including Academic Skills sessions, Career workshops and winter socials.

Thrive: January - February

• Providing opportunities for students to apply their learning, grow personally and professionally, and take advantage of opportunities that support future success. Including student-led socials as well as academic and career activities.

Celebrate: March - April

• Recognising the achievements, contributions and impact students have made across the year within the KBE community through the KBE Rewards & Recognition Scheme and End of Year Celebration Event.

Students are encouraged to engage with as many aspects of the programme throughout their time at King's.

Students who engaged with KBE reported that the programme helped them feel more connected to other Black students, strengthened their sense of belonging at King's, and increased their awareness of opportunities available across the university.

KBE creates a dedicated space where students can build meaningful connections, share experiences, learn from others, and access opportunities tailored to our students’ needs and aspirations in mind.

There is no application process. All eligible Black and Mixed Black heritage home undergraduate students are automatically part of KBE and will receive information about events, activities and opportunities throughout the year.

To make the most of the programme, we encourage students to:

• Look out for KBE emails and updates from Student Attainment
• Read our monthly KBE newsletter
• Self-enrol onto the KBE KEATS page
• Follow KBE on Instagram for the latest news, opportunities and highlights
• Take part in activities throughout the year

Instagram: @kingsblackexcellence

The KBE Community Fund provides an opportunity to provide grants for student-led ideas, activities and projects that enhance the experience of Black and Mixed Black heritage students at King's. The fund enables students to play an active role in shaping the KBE community by bringing forward initiatives that strengthen belonging, encourage connection, support personal development and create positive impact across the student community.

Please note: This fund is not for general living costs or hardship support. Students experiencing financial difficulty can find support by visiting our hardship funding webpage.

For any questions about King's Black Excellence, upcoming events, opportunities, or about the KBE Community Fund, please contact:

Email: studentattainment@kcl.ac.uk