king's college london distance phd

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Joint PhD Programme with King's College London

Background of King’s College London

King’s College London was founded in 1829 and is one of the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom according to latest QS World University Rankings.  It has nine academic schools of Arts & Humanities, Biomedical Sciences, Dental Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Law, Medicine, Natural & Mathematical Sciences, Nursing & Midwifery and Social Science & Public Policy. Its academic excellence enables world class teaching, research and innovation in the service of society.    The Joint PhD programme was introduced in 2010/11. It offers a valuable opportunity for students to pursue research in a wide range of disciplines as well as in topics that invite interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches at two premier universities in Asia and Europe.

Programme Features

Students admitted to the joint PhD programmes will:

• be registered as full-time students at both universities and be able to enjoy their full range of academic and various facilities;
• be guided in their work by faculty members from both universities, and be examined to the standards of both; and
• normally split their time of study equally between the two universities and spend the last 6 months of study in the home university.
• Interested applicants should first contact the Faculty concerned on available supervisors and subject areas
• King's College London postgraduate entry requirements and English Language proficiency requirements
• The University of Hong Kong research postgraduate entry requirements and English Language proficiency requirements
• To apply through the University of Hong Kong  (i.e. HKU as your home institution)
• To apply through the King's College London (i.e. KCL as your home institution)

Fees and Scholarships 

Joint PhD candidates will pay tuition fees to the admitting university for the whole period of candidature.  Applicants applying through the University of Hong Kong can apply for Postgraduate Scholarships .  Candidates who have outstanding academic performance or proven research records may apply for the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship  and Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme .    Students who pursue a joint PhD degree with King’s in Integrative Medicine may apply for the HKU Postgraduate Fellowships in Integrative Medicine . The Fellowships, offered by the LKS Faculty of Medicine, give preference to students enrolled in the HKU-King's College London Joint PhD programme with HKU being the home institution.  For enquiries about the Fellowships, please contact the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine directly.   

Award of Degree

Upon successful completion of the programme, a student will be conferred a PhD degree jointly awarded by the University of Hong Kong and the King’s College London.  

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• Universities /

King’s College London PhD: Acceptance Rate, Funding, Application Fee

• Updated on  
• Mar 13, 2024

If you are thinking of pursuing research in your field of interest from the world’s topmost universities, then you should consider King’s College London PhD programs. Known for its world-class teaching and research, the institute is a global leader in groundbreaking discoveries. This blog will explore the various disciplines these PhD programs at KCL span, including their funding, stipend, and acceptance rate. We will also take a look at their eligibility criteria and application process. Read on to know more!

This Blog Includes:

Why pursue phd from king’s college london, list of king’s college london phd programmes, king’s college london phd: funding, king’s college london phd: stipend, king’s college london phd: acceptance rate, eligibility criteria, documents required.

King’s College London is renowned for its academic excellence, alluring students from every corner of the world. Before we discuss the King’s College London PhD programs, let’s understand why you should study here.

So, here are some major reasons why you should study at King’s College London: 

Prestige: This institute is known for its prestige and high standards of education worldwide. Ranked #40 globally by the QS World University Rankings 2024, it demonstrated its excellence once again. 

Top-Notch PhD Programs: The institute offers a broad range of PhD courses, catering to various disciplines. The brilliant curriculum of these courses ensures that you acquire all the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in your career. 

Great Career Prospects: Due to the credibility of King’s College London, its graduates are highly sought-after by prominent companies and organisations around the world. 

Also Read:  Kings College London Courses: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Fees

The PhD programs at the institute span across various disciplines such as arts & culture, business & finance, health, society, technology & science. Let’s look at some specialisations offered in these disciplines to aspiring researchers:

• PhD Computer Science
• PhD Statistics
• PhD Immunology and Microbial Sciences
• PhD Philosophy
• PhD Psychological Medicine
• PhD Comparative Literature
• PhD Basic and Medical Biosciences
• PhD Management
• PhD International Relations
• PhD Public Policy
• PhD Global Health and Social Medicine
• PhD Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences
• PhD Geography
• PhD Bioinformatics
• PhD Dental and Health Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] Digital Humanities
• Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
• Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] International Political Economy
• Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] Robotics

The scholarships and funding opportunities at the prestigious King’s College London allow international students to pursue PhD here by offering them financial support. Here are some scholarships provided by the institute:

The average total pay range for a PhD student stipend at the institute is £17K to £21K a year, including base salary and additional pay. The average annual PhD student stipend base salary at the institute is £18K. 

Also Read:  King’s College London Notable Alumni: List of Famous Graduates

With an overall acceptance rate of 13% , King’s College London PhD programs may have been even lower, since the institute doesn’t officially disclose PhD program-specific acceptance rates. The acceptance rate of the postgraduate programs at KCL is 29%. 

Please make sure you meet the eligibility requirements to pursue a King’s College London PhD program before you jump into the application process. So, here are the admission criteria for these programs at the institute: 

• The minimum level accepted for the English language proficiency proof is an IELTS score of 6.5. A grade of C or above in GCSE English is also accepted at the institute. 
• It is useful to possess a master’s degree, or related work experience in your selected area of interest.  
• Moreover, all applicants should usually have the normal minimum entry qualifications for registration specified in the King’s Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degrees. This is usually a 2:1 in a relevant field. 

King’s College London PhD: Application Process

Are you now ready to learn about the admission process? If yes, then follow the application process given below to apply for a King’s College London PhD program:

• Find 2 academics willing to supervise you, and you can look for supervisors by searching for academics through the institute’s Research Portal .
• Then, initiate your online application through myApplication .
• Once you complete your application form, fill and submit your Project Approval Form. 

Here are the documents you need to submit during your application process:

• Personal Statement
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Copy of Valid Passport
• Academic Certificates
• UK Student Visa
• Reference Letters
• Letter of Recommendation
• Acceptance Letter

Relevant Reads:

Answer: Yes, the institute offers top-notch PhD programs and outstanding research facilities to students.

Answer: A PhD here is of three years (full-time) and four to six years (part-time).

Answer: King’s College London is ranked #40 in QS World University Rankings 2024, demonstrating its academic excellence. 

We hope this blog gave you all the information regarding the King’s College London PhD. For more such content on study abroad programs, subscribe to Leverage Edu today. Thank you for reading!

Disha Kaira

Disha is an electrical engineer turned writer passionate about bringing a spark (and accuracy) to whatever content she comes across. Whether it's UI/UX Design or writing blogs on abroad education, she relishes every chance to learn and test the limits of her creativity.

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PhD Research

We’re proud of our thriving community of research students, who enhance our research output and develop and contribute to our impact and engagement work.

King’s is a research-intensive university with a global reputation for academic discovery and teaching. We recognise the importance of nurturing postgraduate research students and equipping them to excel in the academy, in public service, and in industry. 

We host around 200 students undertaking doctoral research. They have the opportunity to work with academics from across the School of Security Studies, which is comprised of the War Studies and Defence Studies Departments, and is the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to producing world-leading research on defence, security and international relations.

PhD students are a vital element of King’s research community and culture, adding considerably to research productivity whilst providing role models for those undergraduates who are considering studying for a higher degree.

The Department of War Studies is recognised by the British Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Research Centres and groups

Our research centres and groups.

War Studies Research MPhil / PhD

The Department is proud of its thriving community of research students. A recent HEFCE study found that King's College London is the most successful university in Britain in terms of PhD completion rate. The Department of War Studies is recognised by the British Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council and is therefore able to benefit thinking and policymaking not just in the UK, but across the world.

• View Course

Before applying for an MPhil/PhD you will need to consider a potential supervisor. Please consult the academic profiles for more information on the supervisory interests of staff and make contact with them directly regarding your application. Only when you have an agreed supervisor can you progress to make a formal application through the Admissions Office. 

Look up our people

At the heart of your application is your research proposal. The ability to identify and propose a viable research project is a major indicator of your potential for doctoral study.

Email your research proposal and personal statement to your proposed supervisor. Your research proposal should explain precisely the field of study that you wish to contribute to, as well as any current research gaps, what you want to do, and how you propose to do it. Meanwhile, your personal statement should outline your reasons for pursuing doctoral research.

If your proposed supervisor and/or Admissions Tutor encourages you to apply, you will need to submit an online application via the application portal:  King’s Apply .

Preparing a research proposal can take time. A good research proposal typically includes the following components:

A clear statement of the proposed research question

An explanation of the importance and originality of the proposed topic

A section outlining the key literature and academic work associated with your proposed topic

A section describing not only your proposed methodology, but also an explanation of why this methodology is the most appropriate for the proposed topic

An overview of the key research questions that you wish to answer

A prospective chapter outline of the proposed thesis

A timetable showing a realistic plan, including critical milestones, for the completion of your research and writing within three years

A concluding section showing why this research should be conducted specifically here, within the Defence of War Studies, rather than anywhere else

Based at King’s, the ESRC London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP) offers studentships and training to students across the College. Both Home and International students will be eligible for funding as of the 2021/22 academic year and LISS DTP’s training courses are available to all students in the Department of War Studies. You can find more information on the  DTP’s website .

Many War Studies applicants are also eligible for funding from the AHRC London Arts & Humanities Partnership, which similarly offers studentships and training to KCL students. You can find more information  on their website .

Further information

People in the Department of War Studies

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Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities at King's College London

Home > Academics > International and National Dual Degrees > Dual degree with King's College London

Dual degree with King's College London

Two-Year Dual-Degree

Programme in French and English

France & United Kingdom

King's College London and Sciences Po have expanded their historic partnership by initiating a joint Graduate Programme in International Affairs. This programme allows participating students to obtain in two years of studies with a year each in Paris and London, both a Master's degree offered by the Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) and a Master's degree offered by one of a number of schools and departments within the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy at King's College London.

Spanning a wide range of disciplines and bilingual teaching (in French and English), this selective programme will allow students to customise their training at both universities, and also to benefit from the numerous opportunities, networks and services offered on both sides of the Channel.

Programme of studies

With this collaboration, King's and Sciences Po are inaugurating a new and flexible dual degree which bridges seven programmes on the Sciences Po side with over 30 degree programmes on the King's side. As a result, students can design their own path of study from the many potential degree combinations in international affairs in both Paris and London.

This dual degree program is aimed at graduate students planning careers in diplomacy and other areas of social and public policy at the national, European and global level. 

Year 1 at Sciences Po

During the first year of the Dual Degree, students may join any one of the  seven Master's programs  offered by the Paris School of International Affairs.

Students will take 60 credits at Sciences Po. 

For more information on the Dual Degree structure at PSIA please  visit the website .

Year 2 at King's College London

The second year runs from October until September of the following year. 

Students will enrol in degree programs offered at King's College London within the following schools and departments (to be confirmed by King's) :

Russia 

• MSc Russian and Eurasian Politics & Economics

Department of Political Economy

• MA Politics and Economics of the Middle East 
• MA Political Economy
• MA Public Policy

Department of European & International Studies

• MA European Studies
• MA International Political Economy

Department of War Studies

• MA Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies
• MA Conflict, Security & Development
• MA Intelligence & International Security
• MA International Conflict Studies
• MA International Peace & Security
• MA International Relations
• MA Terrorism, Security & Society
• MA Strategic Communications
• MA National Security
• MA War Studies
• MSc China and Globalisation 
• MSc Emerging Economies and International Development  
• MSc Leadership and Development    
• MSc Political Economy of Emerging Markets  
• MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding
• MSc Global Affairs
• MA Development Studies

Application process

Candidates to the dual degree apply through Sciences Po’s website .

An estimated maximum of 25 students is expected to be admitted and enrolled per academic year. Prospective students must meet admission criteria for the chosen Master's programmes at both schools. 

Eligibility

The dual degree is open to all candidates worldwide.

Applicants do not have to be already enrolled at Sciences Po or King's to apply for the dual degree. 

Tuition fees

Students must pay the tuition fees applicable in their host institution (Sciences Po for Year 1 and King's for Year 2).

For further information, please visit the following links:

• Sciences Po for Year 1
• King's College for Year 2

At Sciences Po

Questions regarding admission procedures (application, requirements, etc.): Admissions contact form

Catarina Laranjeira , Assistant Dean for Admissions, Paris School of International Affairs -  Email

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