King's College London
QS World 2026 number 31, the 4th oldest university in England (founded 1829, turning 197 in 2026). 5 campuses in London: Strand, Guy's, Waterloo, St Thomas' and Denmark Hill. 42,000 plus students from 160 plus countries (the 6th largest in the UK). Strong for Medicine, Law, Psychiatry/Psychology, Department of War Studies (unique worldwide). Acceptance approximately 13 percent international.
About King's College London
King's College London (KCL) was founded in 1829 by Royal Charter, as the Anglican response to University College London (UCL), which had been founded in 1826 as the first secular university. This tension also gave rise to King's Duel Day, 21 March, commemorating the duel between the Duke of Wellington (a KCL supporter) and the Earl of Winchilsea (a critic). KCL is the 4th oldest university in England, after Oxford, Cambridge and Durham. Together with UCL, KCL is one of the 2 founding colleges of the University of London federation.
What makes KCL unique: 5 campuses spread across central London (Strand as the main one, plus Guy's, Waterloo, St Thomas', Denmark Hill), each with a clinical or academic specialisation. 9 faculties: Arts and Humanities, Dentistry, Florence Nightingale Nursing (the world's first nursing school!), Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) (top mental health research worldwide), King's Business School, Dickson Poon School of Law (top 5 UK), Life Sciences and Medicine (the largest medical school in London), Natural Math and Engineering Sciences, Social Science and Public Policy (including the Department of War Studies, unique in the world, founded 1962). KCL has the 4th largest endowment in the UK, the largest in London.
For Romanian students, KCL is an ideal option if you want Medicine, Law, Psychology/Neuroscience, or International Relations/Security Studies. Typical profile: science-track BAC with Biology-Chemistry (Medicine), humanities or science track with very good English (Law, IR, War Studies). KCL is more accessible than Imperial or LSE in terms of selectivity and tuition. Top recruiters: NHS (Medicine), Big Law firms (Linklaters, Slaughter and May), MoD, Foreign Office, the UN, pharma companies. Notable alumni: Florence Nightingale, Thomas Hardy, Arthur C. Clarke, Peter Higgs (the Higgs boson), Desmond Tutu. Romanian community: KCL has many Romanian students in Medicine and Law thanks to its prestige plus a lower cost than Imperial.
How to apply to KCL
UCAS application (KCL code: K60)
You apply through UCAS, a maximum of 5 choices in total. KCL uses institution code K60. UCAS application fee: £28.95 for 5 choices. International deposit: £2,000 will need to be paid against first-year tuition once you receive an offer. Strategy for Romanians: KCL as a target (more accessible than Imperial/LSE), plus other Russell Group, plus a safety. A good combination: KCL + UCL + Edinburgh + Manchester + safety.
Deadline 14 January 2026 (Medicine 15 Oct)
Standard UCAS deadline for KCL: 14 January 2026, 18:00 UK time. Exception for Medicine, Dentistry: 15 October (the same as Oxbridge). UCAS Apply opens in September. KCL recommends applying in October-November for a conditional offer before Christmas. Applications are assessed as a gathered field, so the timing of your application does not change your chances.
Required tests: UCAT (Medicine), LNAT (Law)
KCL does NOT require TMUA, TARA or ESAT (unlike Imperial, UCL, LSE!). Only 2 required tests: UCAT (replaced BMAT in 2024) for Medicine MBBS and Dentistry BDS, and LNAT for LLB Law. UCAT: 2 hours, 5 sections (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Situational Judgement). Sittings July-September 2026. LNAT: 2 hours 15 min, multiple-choice plus essay. Sittings September 2026 - July 2027. For Romanians: both tests can be taken at Pearson VUE Bucharest.
Personal Statement (NEW 2026 FORMAT)
UCAS Personal Statement REFORMED for 2026 entry, structured into 3 sections with specific questions. Approximately 4,000 characters in total. Academic focus 80 percent, relevant extracurriculars 20 percent. For KCL Medicine: clinical experience, work shadowing, NHS or hospital volunteering. For Law: demonstrating analytical thinking, debate, mock trial. For War Studies: documented interest in history, politics, security. Predicted grades from your form teacher.
Interview (Medicine, Dentistry)
KCL DOES interview for Medicine MBBS and Dentistry BDS (NOT for the other courses). Format: MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews), usually 7-8 stations of 5-8 minutes each, assessing communication skills, ethics, problem-solving, motivation, clinical understanding. Pre-pandemic face-to-face, now hybrid online/in-person. For Romanians: intensive preparation needed, 2-3 months, focused on ethical medical scenarios, communicating with patients, NHS awareness. The other KCL courses make their decision on UCAS plus tests plus predicted grades, without an interview.
Conditional offer + Bacalaureat
Conditional offers based on predicted grades. For the Romanian BAC: BAC average of 9-9.5+ and 9-9.5+ in the specialist subjects (varies). The equivalent of A*AA-AAA at A-Levels. Medicine MBBS: 9.5+ required, plus Chemistry 9.5+ and Biology 9.5+. Law: 9-9.5+ plus IELTS 7.5+. Plus IELTS 6.5-7.5 depending on the course. After the BAC in June-July, you confirm you have met the conditions. Final answer in August. You start in September.
Costs for Romanians
International Tuition 2026-27 (£27,100-£40,450/year)
Total cost (3 years BSc / 5-6 years MBBS)
No need-based aid
KCL does NOT offer need-blind/need-aware like the US Ivy League. For international undergraduates, there is NO need-based financial aid. Scholarships are merit-based, highly competitive. KCL has the 4th largest endowment in the UK but prioritises research grants and PhD funding, not undergraduate aid.
Merit-based
King's Living Bursary: for students with financial need (up to £4,500/year). King's Undergraduate International Scholarships: merit-based, variable value, highly competitive. King's International Foundation Scholarship: for those on the Foundation Programme. For Romanians: apply separately from UCAS, deadlines vary (usually April-May). Limited in number.
Full Overseas fees
Since 2021, EU citizens (Romanians) pay full Overseas fees. You NO longer have access to UK Student Loans. Exception: settled status pre-Brexit or Irish citizenship. KCL CAS visa requirement: proof of funds for tuition plus £1,334/month living costs (~£12-15k over 9 months in London). Plus a £2,000 deposit in the first year.
Want to apply to KCL?
KCL is more accessible than Imperial/LSE but still competitive (approximately 13 percent acceptance). For Romanians: it does not require TMUA/TARA/ESAT (an advantage!), but Medicine requires UCAT plus an MMI interview, Law requires LNAT, plus a BAC of 9-9.5+ predicted grades, IELTS 6.5-7.5 per course. Our mentors from KCL guide you step by step. The mentoring session is 100% free.
Talk to a mentorFrequently asked questions
KCL vs UCL vs Imperial vs LSE, which do we choose for a Romanian?
KCL is better for: Medicine MBBS, Dentistry BDS, Psychology/Neuroscience (IoPPN), Law LLB, War Studies/IR, Nursing. UCL is better for: general multidisciplinarity, Architecture (Bartlett), Education (IOE). Imperial is better for: pure Engineering, AI, Quantum Computing (NO Humanities, NO Law). LSE is better for: Economics, Finance, specialised Politics. Selectivity: LSE ~6-12 percent, Imperial ~14 percent, KCL ~13 percent, UCL ~24-28 percent. KCL is more accessible on tuition than Imperial or LSE for non-Medicine courses. For Romanians focused on Medicine: KCL is the optimal route (the largest medical school in London).
How many Romanians study at KCL?
KCL has students from 160 plus countries, ~30 percent international in total. The Romanian community is well represented, especially in Medicine MBBS and Law LLB, plus War Studies/IR. Estimate: ~100-150 Romanian students between UG and PG at any given time (varies by year). The King's Romanian Society organises social and networking events, especially for future doctors. KCL is very popular among Romanians for the combination of prestige plus accessibility.
What admissions tests do I need for KCL?
Good news for Romanians: KCL does NOT require TMUA (like Imperial/LSE), does NOT require TARA (like UCL), does NOT require ESAT (like Imperial/Cambridge)! Only 2 required tests: UCAT (replaced BMAT in 2024) for Medicine MBBS plus Dentistry BDS, sittings July-September 2026; LNAT for LLB Law, sittings September 2026 - July 2027. The other KCL courses (CS, Business, Psychology, War Studies, History etc.) do NOT require an admissions test. For Romanian applicants to non-Medical/Law courses this means the focus is solely on BAC predicted grades plus the Personal Statement plus IELTS.
Can I get into KCL with the Romanian Bacalaureat?
Yes, the Romanian BAC is accepted at KCL. Typical threshold: BAC average of 9-9.5+ and 9-9.5+ in the specialist subjects. The equivalent of A*AA-AAA at A-Levels. By faculty: Medicine MBBS requires a science-track BAC with Biology-Chemistry at 9.5+ and Chemistry 9.5+ and Biology 9.5+; Law LLB requires an average of 9-9.5+ plus a competitive LNAT; Psychology requires Biology 9+ and strong English; War Studies/IR requires demonstrated interest in history/politics. Predicted grades from your form teacher on the UCAS form.
What IELTS do I need for KCL?
The minimum KCL IELTS varies by course: Standard (most courses): 6.5 overall, no component below 6.0. Good level: 7.0 overall, no component below 6.5 (many Humanities, Social Sciences, Business). Advanced level: 7.5 overall, no component below 6.5-7.0 (Law LLB, Medicine MBBS, English Literature). TOEFL alternative: 100+ overall. For Romanians: aim for IELTS 7.0 plus for a competitive profile. Valid for 2 years. An international high school taught in English may waive IELTS.
How much do 3 years at KCL cost in total for a Romanian?
3 years BSc/BA Humanities, War Studies, Politics: ~£125,000-£145,000 total all-in. 3 years LLB Law: ~£135,000-£160,000. 3 years BSc Psychology, Neuroscience: ~£135,000-£155,000. 4 years MEng Engineering/CS: ~£165,000-£220,000. 5 years MBBS Medicine: ~£260,000-£310,000. 6 years MBBS extended: ~£300,000-£380,000. Annual breakdown: tuition £27-40k plus accommodation central London £15-21k plus living £6-8k equals ~£48-69k/year. Plus: a £2,000 deposit in the first year. By comparison: KCL is ~£10-20k/year cheaper than Imperial for equivalent courses.
Can I stay in the UK after graduation? Graduate Route?
Yes, through the Graduate Route visa. After graduating from any KCL degree (BSc, MSc, MEng, MBBS, LLB), you automatically have the right to 2 years on the Graduate Route (3 years for a PhD) to look for a job in the UK without a sponsor. Visa cost: £822 plus £1,035/year IHS. KCL graduate salaries: Medicine MBBS: £32-37k/year starting in the NHS Foundation Year 1, rising over 5-7 years to £55-80k. Law LLB: £45-65k starting at Big Law firms (Linklaters, Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy). War Studies/IR: £30-45k at think tanks, the Foreign Office, the UN, MoD. For Romanians: the NHS sponsors a Skilled Worker visa for international doctors post-Foundation training, so the route to staying permanently in the UK is good.
Which are the best KCL courses for global careers?
For Medicine/Healthcare careers: MBBS Medicine (the largest medical school in London), BDS Dentistry, BSc Nursing (Florence Nightingale Faculty, the world's first). For UK/international Law careers: LLB Law (Dickson Poon, top 5 UK). Top recruiters: Linklaters, Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy. For International Relations / Security / Defence careers: BA War Studies (UNIQUE worldwide), BA International Relations. Top recruiters: the Foreign Office, MoD, the UN, NATO, think tanks. For mental health, neuroscience research careers: BSc Psychology, BSc Neuroscience (Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, top worldwide). For finance/consulting careers: BSc International Management (King's Business School), BSc Economics.
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