King's College London

 

Overview: 

King's College London was established by royal charter in 1829. It has a long history of welcoming International students which contributes to the vibrant international community situated int he center of one of the most exciting cities in the world. Explore the International student pages to learn more about applying, entry requirements, and what it's like to live and study at King's College. This program is specific to the Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy departments and you must be majoring in one of these areas to participate..

Fact sheet: 
PDF icon Click here to download. (114.78 KB)
Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
  • a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in the United Kingdom.

 

Partner Information: 

King's advisors are on hand to answer any questions you may have about the application process, entry requirements and more to make sure you have the information you need and guide you through your next steps to study at King’s. Please provide your name, contact details and (if known) your course(s) of interest to help us provide you with the best service.

Get in touch with them via the details below:

*Please note the + should be replaced by the exit code relevant to your country, which is normally 00. Here’s a full list of country exit codes: https://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html
Submit your enquiry
 

Location Description: 

King's College London is ranked one of the top 10 UK universities in the world and is based in the heart of London. King's has five campuses: its historic Strand Campus in central London, three other Thames-side campuses (Guy's, St Thomas' and Waterloo) nearby and one in Denmark Hill in South London. King's is generally regarded as par of the "golden triangle" of universities located n the cities of Oxford, Cambridge and London.
The Strand campus is the founding campus of King's and is located on the Strand in the City of Westminster sharing its frontage along the River Thames. The Strand Campus houses the Arts and Science faculties of King's, including the faculties of Arts and Humanities, Law, Business, Social Science & Public Policy and Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (formerly Physical Sciences  & Engineering).

Housing Description: 

Accommodation is not guaranteed, and you may need to look for private housing in London.  Students must read King's application guidance before applying as this will explain everything you need to do.  Failure to read the guidance will result in delays in your application being processed.

Academic Description: 

 

At King's College, courses are taught in English. Credits taken at King's are equivalent to credits received at Pitt according to a 4:1 ratio. For example, 60 credits at King's will transfer as 15 Pitt credits. All credits taken at King's require approval by both your academic advisor(s) and study abroad program manager. Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   

 

Courses taken at King's will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
For further information on the modules offered, please visit King's website.
 
DEPARTMENTS OR MODULES WITH RESTRICTIONS:
For students nominated under a specific departmental agreement, they will be required to take at least half of their modules from the nominated department regardless of their major.  We cannot guarantee registration on any specific module, so students should be flexible on what they take.
 
We would appreciate if you could pay close attention to our restricted departments, which are listed at the bottom of our Guidance for Overseas Partners & Advisors page.  Our main restrictions apply to English Literature, History, Film and Informatics (Computer Science), with additional restrictions to European and International Studies, Global Health and Social Medicine and Law.  Students should be aware of these restrictions when applying to King’s in the first instance, as well as whether or not we actually offer modules in their major to avoid disappointment.  Students will be advised how and when to apply for modules if they are not in the initial priority groups.
 
We cannot sign any Learning Agreements until students have been registered on their modules.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING PROOF OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY:
Please refer to our undergraduate and postgraduate English language entry requirements (Band B).  Admissions may request a letter from the student’s home university as proof of English proficiency if applicable.  They will provide the template which must be followed exactly.
 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Astronomy
Grading: 

Unlike Pitt, King's grading scale assigns numerical values between 0 – 100, with 100 representing the highest grade achievable. It is important to understand that few students in the British system receive grades higher than 70.
For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. 
Unlike Pitt, King’s grading scale assigns numerical values between 0 – 100, with 100 representing the highest grade achievable. It is important to understand that few students in the British system receive grades higher than 70. For more information about the grading scale at King's, see their explanation.
For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. 

King's College London will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are receive. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “SAO Staff.”  

 

Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received. 

Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.

 
 

Program Fees: 

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.  

 

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 

 

 

Items Billed by Pitt

 

In-State

Out-of-State

Tuition*

$10,077

$19,260

Mandatory Fees

$600

$600

Study Abroad Fee

$400

$400

Total Billed by Pitt*

$11,077

$20,260

 

*The tuition rate listed is defaulted to reflect the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. For Pitt students of another Pitt school or campus, the tuition rate will reflect the home school or campus. See posted rates on the Institutional Research page.

 

 

How Much To Budget: 

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit 

$2,000

Room & Board

$6,325

Personal Expenses

$4,250

 

The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by King's College and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages.The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters. 

 

Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the King's website for more information, and visit our budgeting page for more information. 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at King's College London for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). King's College academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, King’s College academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Because King’s College academic calendar varies significantly from Pitt’s, exchanging for only the fall semester is not possible. However, if a single semester at King's is desired, then the Spring (or second) semester is the only option. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells

Greetings! I manage the Arts and Sciences and Exchange and am the Pitt in Spain Program Manger. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and am an Adjunct professor of Anthropology who has taught in the Anthropology, History, Sociology, and Africana Studies departments at Pitt and CMU. I did my fieldwork on Color Classification in Cuba and have led many ground breaking experiential student trips to Cuba. I love learning about different cultures and want to help facilitate students being able to travel abroad to learn about the world. I look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals of a global experience.

 

Schedule a Zoom appointment with me below or get in touch with me through email to discuss exchange options and your future global experience.

 

E-mail: 
smwst20@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

Appointment Link: https://pathways.campus.eab.com/pal/mT8JxcvuBG

 
 
Don't see a time that works for you? Just send me an email!

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to King's College London. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review King's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Birmingham. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to King's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
 
The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:  

  • Application Form 
  • Copy of Valid Passport 
  • Official Pitt Transcript 
  • Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment 
  • Statement of Intent or Purpose 
  • Resume or CV 
  • Official Language Evaluation 
  • Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations 
  • Up to 2 passport photos

 

Additional Information: 

Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency either through the IELTS or the TOELF. Please check with King's College London regarding these requirements.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING PROOF OF ENIGLISH PROFICIENCY:
Please refer to our undergraduate and postgraduate English language entry requirements (Band B).  Admissions may request a letter from the student’s home university as proof of English proficiency if applicable.  They will provide the template which must be followed exactly.

Insurance Requirements: 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, the United Kingdom requires Pitt students to purchase additional coverage through their national health plans, depending on the length of the exchange. See the details here.  

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

 

For those without British nationality, students must obtain either a Short Term Student Visa (6 months or less), or a Tier 4 Visa (more than 6 months), to study in the United Kingdom. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review King's website. Also, check the British Embassy or consulate closest to you for additional information. King's College will provide general direction after formal admission on for how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  
 

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)

 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from London. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!