Kingston University

Kingston University London is a public research university founded in 1899 initially known as the Kingston Technical Institute. It offered courses such as chemistry, nursing, dressmaking, clay modelling, electric wiring, and building construction. In 1930 the Kingston School of Art separated from the technical institute. However, in 1970 the College of Technology merged with the College of Art to become Kingston Polytechnic offering 34 major courses. In 1992 Kingston University received University status and became known as Kingston University.

The University has four campuses located in and around the town centre, Penrhyn Road campus, Kingston Hill campus, Kingston School of Art at Knight’s Park, and the Roehampton Vale, all of which are connected by the University’s free in-site bus service. Besides these, the university also has two other campuses in Friars Avenue and at Crammer Terrace in London. Each campus is easily accessible to students because of excellent transport links including two mainline train stations, a number of bus routes, and major motorways.

Teaching and research at Kingston University are divided into four faculties each offering several undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

These faculties are:

• Kingston School of Art
• Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education
• Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Computing.

Kingston University has 18,949 students in total (as of 2020) out of which 4,995 are international students from more than 140 countries around the world. Each faculty offers world-class facilities with the mission to provide the best education to its students. The University aims to prepare students for a diverse international environment with an inclusive curriculum. It provides its students and staff with the best chance to succeed in their studies and work.

• Kingston University is ranked among the UK’s Top 40 as mentioned in the 2021 Guardian University Guide.
• The University ranked third in London for education, fashion, and textiles and top in London for biosciences.
• An education at Kingston University prepares students for employment with its career-focused courses and teaching.
• It is one of the most diverse and multicultural universities in the UK and exposes the students to different languages and cultures.
• The university has a number of facilities for students such as various sports facilities, more than 3000 networked computers, free Wi-Fi among others.

Kingston University provides its students top-quality teaching, expert advice, and excellent work opportunities to ensure that they have the right skills and experience for a successful career. The University has a Career and Employability Service to help students to find a job after graduation or support them to find placements and part-time jobs during their studies. The career services are designed to help students become highly skilled, self-aware, confident, and employable individuals and develop key skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. The career service of the University offers practical support, workshops, and expert advice on CV writing and interview preparation. About 95% of graduates from Kingston University find work or further study six months after graduating.

Some notable alumni of Kingston University include:

• Ben Barnes (English actor and singer)
• Glenda Bailey (Former editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar)
• Caryn Franklin (British fashion and identity commentator)
• Eason Chan (Hong Kong singer and actor)
• Qubad Talabani (Iraqi Kurdish politician)

Student Services:

Kingston University provides a wide range of support services to its students to deal with matters ranging from finances, healthcare, and counselling. The University also has a Students’ Union which is run by the students for the students to improve university life and to deal with matters affecting them. The Library and Learning Services at Kingston University are available for students and staff to provide access to high-quality learning resources, e-books, journals, and study materials. The University also encourages students to do part-time work ranging from temporary contracts to regular part-time hours in order to earn extra money and also gain some learning experience.

Accommodation:

Kingston University guarantees accommodation to full-time students studying with it for the first time. There are a number of rooms available in their halls of residence giving students an opportunity to get to know their peers while living with people coming from different backgrounds. The halls are linked to the main University by a free bus service and accommodation is also available for disabled students.

Medical Services:

The University Health Centre offers a number of health services to the students like sports injuries clinics, health advice and vaccinations, free counselling and stress management workshops. Most international students pursuing a full-time course in the university are also entitled to free healthcare in the UK under the NHS system.

Sports facilities:

The University has a lot of space and modern facilities for students to play, train and workout in. There are more than 40 sports clubs like football, cheerleading, basketball, and hockey, for students to join. All sports clubs provide coaching and professional equipment.

Clubs:

There are more than 90 clubs and societies in Kingston University that enable students to connect and mingle with people who have similar interests in areas like music, dance and politics. Students may also start their own society and share their ideas with others.