K+ applications for the Summer Pathways 2026 are now open.

Summer pathways:

• Arts & Humanities (A&H)
• Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP)
• Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES)
• Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN)
• Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC)

Please click here to submit an application form. 

Applications will close Sunday 24^th May at 11:59pm.

For full details on who can apply, please see 'Who can take part?'

K+ is King's College London's flagship widening participation programme for sixth form and college students. 

The two-year programme prepares students for academic, social and cultural life at university. Students are organised into nine pathways based on what they would like to study.

Each year over 500 of the brightest Year 12s in London and surrounding areas are selected from thousands of applicants to take part. 

K+ offers unmatchable support from academics, current students, graduates, businesses and university staff to make sure that students are in the best position to apply, get the grades and have the best start to their university career and future. This is through academic taster sessions, study support, careers experience and tailored application help.

Students who successfully complete K+ also get a two-grade reduced offer for most courses at King's College London and a £1000 bursary in the first year if they decide to come to us.

The K+ pathways are aligned with the faculties at King’s College London. A faculty is a group of departments that teach subjects in a similar area of knowledge.

Applications for our Summer Pathways will open on 5 May.

Our Summer Pathways

Social Sciences & Public Policy (SSPP)

For students interested in: Economics, politics, geography, international affairs, development, and social policy

Please see the faculty website for department and course information

• European Studies: French, German, Spanish pathways; Policy and International Affairs

• Geography: Geography; Geography & Environmental Sciences

• Global Health & Social Medicine: Global Health and Social Medicine; Global Health and Social Science

• International Development: International Development

• Political Economy: Economics; PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics); Political Economy; Politics

• Education, Communication & Society: English Language & Linguistics; Social Sciences

• War Studies: International Relations; War Studies; War Studies & History

Arts & Humanities

For students interested in: Languages, literature, history, culture, philosophy, media, and creative arts

Please see the faculty website for department and course information

• Classics: Ancient History; Classical Studies with English; Classics and the Ancient World

• Culture, Media & Creative Industries: Culture, Media and Creative Industries

• Digital Humanities: Digital Media and Culture

• English: English; English with Film Studies

• Film Studies: Film Studies

• History: History; History & International Relations; History & Political Economy

• Languages, Literatures & Cultures: Comparative Literature; Comparative Literature with Film Studies; English & Modern Languages; Management & Modern Languages; Philosophy & Modern Languages

• Liberal Arts

• Music

• Theology & Religious Studies: Religion, Philosophy & Ethics; Religion, Politics & Society; Sociology, Politics & Religion

• Philosophy: Philosophy; AI & Philosophy; Mathematics & Philosophy

Nursing & Midwifery

For students interested in: Nursing careers across different specialisms

Please see the faculty website for department and course information

• Adult Nursing, Child Nursing, and Midwifery

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN)

For students interested in: Mental health, brain science, and psychology

Please see the faculty website for department and course information

• Neuroscience & Psychology: Neuroimaging; Neuroscience

• Psychology: Psychology; Psychology & Criminology

Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES)

For students interested in: Science, maths, computing, and engineering

Please see the faculty website for department and course information

• Chemistry: Chemistry; Chemistry with Biomedicine

• Engineering: Electronic Engineering; General Engineering

• Informatics: Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science; Computer Science with Management

• Mathematics: Mathematics; Mathematics with Statistics; Mathematics with Management

• Natural Sciences

• Physics: Physics; Physics & Philosophy; Physics with Astrophysics & Cosmology; Physics with Theoretical Physics

Spring Pathways Update

Our Spring Pathways are currently closed.

They will reopen in late 2026 for 2027 entry, for students who will be going into Year 12 in September 2026.

We welcome applicants that meet the criteria below and have an interest in studying at university:

• Currently in Year 12
• Live or attend a school in either Greater London or one of our target regions
• Attend a non-selective state school
• Have 8 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (including English and Maths), and within this a minimum of five grades 6-9
• Do not have a parent/carer who has completed university. Your application may still be considered if a parent/ carer is currently studying their first degree or graduated in the last ten years, or completed a degree in another country.
• Some of our pathways have further subject and grade requirements, these will be on the application form 

Please note, grade requirements may be waived for students who: 

• live or have lived in local authority care and/or
• are estranged from their parents, and/or
• are a forced migrant (including asylum seekers and refugees), and/or
• have Gypsy, Roma, Traveller heritage (inclusive of showmen and boaters)
• are currently living in a homeless shelter or sofa-surfing

For more details and to find out if your school is eligible, please look at our interactive map.

For K+ participants living in areas outside of London we can cover the cost of travel to and from London for K+ events.

How to apply

For Schools:

• We are always grateful to teachers and support staff who encourage applications to the K+ programme amongst their students.
• If your school is a non-selective state school located in one of our target regions, the K+ Team will be running a free online K+ Summer School Information Session when Summer School applications open later this year. If you would like to sign up to receive a reminder so you can share this opportunity with your students, please click here and complete the form.
• Teachers in non-selective state schools in eligible areas can download our recruitment pack to spread the word to their students. Download files here.

For Students:

• Applications for K+ Spring Schools are now closed.
• Students can only submit one application for the Summer School, so please choose your pathway carefully.

Students will join us for an induction event with their parents and carers to launch the programme and meet their K+ cohort. Induction will help students to get to know each other, K+ staff and the King’s campus.

Shortly after induction students will participate in a non-residential spring or summer school where they will engage in academic lectures, careers experiences and bespoke skills-based workshops. There will also be plenty of opportunities for students to delve into topics related to their chosen K+ pathway. After the school students and their supporters will be welcomed back to campus for a conference celebrating their work.

Throughout K+ Year 12 staff are on-hand to empower students in their decision-making, enabling them to make informed choices on their next steps.

In the second year of the programme, K+ students will have opportunities to come together with the entire cohort, meeting other Year 13s from across all nine of the subject pathways. Our focus turns to supporting students through the final year of their A Levels and in transitioning to their next exciting chapter, university.

Through four core on-campus events throughout the academic year, students will receive information, advice and guidance on navigating the UCAS application process, student finance, skills for success at university and what to expect from life as a university student. The core events are:

• K+ Year 13 Induction - September/October
• Preparing for university – Study Skills - December
• Preparing for university – Student Life - March
• K+ Graduation – Summer.

The programme ends with our graduation event in the summer, providing an opportunity for students to celebrate the end of the K+ programme and the completion of their A Levels.

In addition to our four core events, K+ Year 13 students also receive opportunities to take part in revision workshops as they prepare for their final exams, receive personal statement guidance and gain support with admissions interviews (for those applying to Medicine or Dentistry). 

Aspire

Aspire is a network within K+ for Black and Mixed Heritage students that prepares and empowers students by exploring the realities of being at university through the current black student experience. Aspire was co-created with the African and Caribbean Society at KCL and works closely with K+ to provide an experience that informs, enriches and primes students for success. Students can look forward to hearing the experiences of current ACS students, taking part in cultural activities, and getting a head-start on joining the black student community at King’s. 

Pride Power

The Pride Power network is open to K+ participants who identify as LGBTQ+ or active allies. It is a safe space for students to build relationships, develop confidence and celebrate LGBTQ+ culture.

Joining information will be sent to successful applicants.

King’s+ is a student support programme for eligible undergraduates at King’s College London. All students who have completed K+ will automatically be enrolled. King’s+ students receive a regular newsletter from us with key information to enhance the student experience; we'll tell you how to access everything from wellbeing support to studying abroad. In addition, King’s+ organises informal social events to enable students to meet likeminded people from similar backgrounds and build networks.

Our K+ 2025–2027 cohort will be split into two intakes: a Spring Cohort and a Summer Cohort.

Spring Cohort

Please note: Applications for the Spring School are now closed.
The Spring Cohort is open to the following pathways: Business, Law, Life Sciences & Medicine, and Dentistry.

Key Dates

• Spring Induction (Law, Business, Life Sciences & Medicine & Dentistry):
  Saturday 21 March 2026
• Spring Schools (Law, Business, Life Sciences & Medicine & Dentistry):
  Tuesday 7 April – Saturday 11 April 2026
• Life Sciences & Medicine & Dentistry Conference:
  Saturday 2 May 2026
• Law & Business Conference:
  Saturday 9 May 2026

Summer Cohort

Summer Pathways:
Arts & Humanities (A&H); Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP); Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES); Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN); Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC).

Applications for Summer School pathways will open later this year.
If you would like to register your interest, please complete this form.

Key Dates

• Summer Induction (All Summer Pathways):
  Saturday 18 July 2026
• Summer Schools (Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience; Arts & Humanities):
  Monday 27 July – Friday 31 July 2026
• Summer Schools (Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care):
  Monday 3 August – Friday 7 August 2026
• Summer Schools (Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences; Social Science & Public Policy):
  Monday 10 August – Friday 14 August 2026
• Summer Schools Conference (All Pathways):
  Saturday 29 August 2026

You must be able to attend all events to apply for K+.