King's College London

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

King's College London (KCL) is a prestigious public research university located in London, England. It was founded in 1829 under royal charter by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington as a response to the secular establishment of London University (now UCL), earning a reputation as a center for Anglican education. In 1836, King's became one of the two founding colleges of the University of London. Although officially established in the 19th century, King's medical teaching traces back to St. Thomas' Hospital, with recorded teaching as early as 1561. Over the 20th century, King's expanded significantly through a series of mergers, including with Queen Elizabeth College, Chelsea College of Science and Technology, the Institute of Psychiatry, and the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, among others. Today, King’s operates across five main campuses in central and south London and has additional locations in Oxfordshire and Cornwall. Its academic structure comprises nine faculties with various departments and research centers. In 2023/24, King’s reported an income of £1.271 billion, including over £250 million from research. It holds the largest endowment of any London university and ranks among the top UK universities by enrollment and applications. King's is a member of the Russell Group and a founding institution in academic networks like the Francis Crick Institute and King's Health Partners. Known as part of the UK's “golden triangle” of elite universities, King’s has a strong reputation in medical teaching and biomedical research. It is home to 14 Nobel laureates and has produced many prominent alumni in politics, science, and the arts. In 2024, King Charles III reaffirmed royal patronage, continuing a tradition of monarchical support that has lasted since its founding.