Kingston University

History

• 1992 Kingston Polytechnic becomes Kingston University.
• 1970 The College of Technology and the College of Art merge to form Kingston Polytechnic.

Location and transport

• Central London is 25 minutes away by train.
• A historic town centre packed with shops, bars and clubs.
• Royal parks and the River Thames are within walking distance.
• Free inter-site bus service.

Entry standards

• Average tariff points for full-time first year degree students in 2009–10 was 243 (the 2010–11 data is expected to show 281).
• Entry requirements vary from course to course and the university looks at more than just A-level results.
• The University also considers past academic performance, people's interest in the subject and commitment/motivation.
• Applications had increased by twice the national average at the start of 2011, enabling the University to reduce the numbers recruited through Clearing.

Student mix

• Kingston’s mission is to be an inclusive university, open to all who can benefit from higher education. It has one of the most ethnically-diverse student populations of any UK university and many undergraduates are the first in their family to experience higher education. Kingston has been one of the UK’s fastest-growing universities during recent years.
• A fairly evenly balanced gender mix. 2011, 48% male, 52% female.
• Proportion of overseas students 9.8% in 2011.
• A high proportion of students from state schools (96.6% in 2009–10 with a benchmark of 93.9%).
• 5.8 applications for each accepted place in entry 2010.

Course flexibility

• Many courses are available on a part-time and sandwich course basis.

Teaching standards

• Under the old QAA system, Kingston received 'excellent' scores for 14 subjects, covering every faculty.
• National Student Survey 2011 – across the University 79% agreed with question 22 "Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course". In English based studies 92% agreed, in Initial Teacher Training 90% agreed, in Medical Science and Pharmacy 88% agreed, and in Communications Studies 86% agreed.

Research standards

• The University's research grant from HEFCE has nearly tripled as a result of its excellent performance in the 2008 RAE.
• The 2008 RAE identified quality of at least an internationally recognised standard in 70% of Kingston University's research submissions.
• Thirty per cent of research submissions were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent across the 18 units submitted.
• In all units, at least 10% of research was classified as internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
• Kingston was the highest rated new university in Business and Management Studies, with 10% of the research submitted classified as world-leading.
• Other particularly strong performers include Nursing, where 15% of the research submitted was rated as world-leading and History of Art, Architecture and Design, where 50% of the research submitted was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Academic strengths

• Architecture, aeronautical engineering, forensic science, geography, geology, illustration and animation, fashion, law, mathematics, nursing and midwifery, social sciences and surveying.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• The remodelled Learning Resources Centre at the Kingston Hill campus includes a new internet café.
• Virtually all course modules are now available on Kingston's pioneering web-based learning management system, StudySpace.
• There has been significant investment in installing the latest computer technology across all campuses and university sites.
• There have been extensive upgrades of Kingston's library facilities at the heart of each campus. The Learning Resource Centres, bringing together library, computing and multi-media facilities, are at the forefront of thinking about how students learn.
• Libraries encourage interactive and group learning, offering both group and individual study areas, and Learning Cafés providing food and drink offer a comfortable place for staff and students to meet up and discuss their work. There are bookable study rooms with multimedia facilities and specially equipped spaces dedicated to meeting the needs of disabled users.
• The main LRCs are open 24 hours a day during term weekdays and a high tech self issue system makes borrowing books, DVDs and other resources much quicker and easier. Shared receptions and helpdesks act as the first port of call for all enquiries - whether related to study, or to wider issues such as financial or careers advice.

Disability services

• For information about the disability services at Kingston, telephone +44 (0)208 417 4282, minicom + 44 (0)20 8547 8847, email disability@kingston.ac.uk or dyslexia@kingston.ac.uk, or visit the website.

Students' Union

• Union bars: The Space, Penrhyn Road; Hannafords, Kingston Hill; Knights Park Bar, Knights Park.
• Union shops: Penrhyn Road and Kingston Hill.

Sport

• The Students' Union run 30 sports clubs, including Cricket, Skydiving, Sub-Aqua, Mountaineering, Hockey, Fencing, Football, Athletics, Taekwondo, Badminton.
• Sports facilities include Tolworth Court sports ground with playing fields for football and a floodlit hard court area for tennis. The sports ground has recently undergone a major redevelopment including upgrades to the playing surfaces and the construction of a large sports pavilion.
• Recently refurbished fitness centre with a dance studio and gym featuring a range of high- specification equipment.

Recent/prospective new builds

• Major redevelopment activity has led to significant improvements on all four Kingston campuses.
• In recent years, the university has revitalised its four campuses, opening three impressive new buildings as part of a £123-million investment programme which will run to 2018.
• The centrepiece of the project - the £20-million six-storey John Galsworthy Building at the heart of the Penrhyn Road campus - incorporates lecture theatres, flexible teaching space and information technology suites as well as a Knowledge Centre giving students a spacious setting in which to complete course work either in groups or at a laptop bar.
• Among the facilities in the new buildings are multiple projection systems, video conferencing, interactive displays and built-in voting systems.

Availability of part-time work

• The Jobshop programme helps students find full-time, part-time, summer and graduate jobs.
• For more information on part-time work while at Kingston, visit the website.

Notable alumni

• Phil Allsopp M.S. DArch, RIBA, Architecture Dip (Hons) 1974 – President and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
• Glenda Bailey OBE, Fashion BA (Hons) 1983; HonMDes 1994 – Editor-in-Chief, Harper's Bazaar.
• Steve Bell, Business Studies BA (Hons) 1977; HonMBA 1994 - President, KeySo Global LLC.
• Ed Carpenter, Fine Art (Sculpture) BA(Hons) 1997 –Product and furniture designer.
• Richard Deakin MBA, CEng, FRAeS, Aeronautical Engineering BSc(Hons) 1987; HonDEng 2007 – Senior Vice President, Thales Group.
• Mel Ewell, Geography BSc (Hons) 1981 – Chief Executive, Amey plc.
• Paul Harbidge, Geology BSc (Hons) 1993 – General Manager, Exploration, Randgold Resources.
• Ruby Mc Gregor-Smith, Economics BA (Hons) 1985; Hon DLitt 2011 – Chief Executive, MITIE.
• David Nash OBE, Fine Art BA (Hons) 1967, HonDDes 1999 – Royal Academician.
• John Richmond, Fashion BA(Hons) 1982; HonMDes 1994 – Fashion designer.
• John Tiner CBE, Accountancy Foundation 1976 – First Chief Executive of the UK Financial Services Authority.
• Hamish Anderson, Law LLB (Hons) 1969; Hon LLD 2009  – Solicitor.
• Jonathan Asherson, Mechanical Engineering BSc (Hons); HonDSc 2010 – Regional Director SE Asia, Rolls-Royce.
• Fiona Banner, Fine Art (Painting) BA (Hons) 1988; HonDFine Art 2007 – Artist.
• Ben Barnes, Drama with English Literature BA (Hons) 2004 – Actor.
• Malcolm Brown, Geology BSc (Hons) 1976; HonDSc 2007 – Senior Vice President, Exploration, BG Group plc.
• Richard Bryant, Architecture Dip(Hons) 1975; HonDDes 1998 – Architectural photographer.
• David Chipperfield CBE, RA, RDI, RIBA, Architecture 1976; HonDDes 2008 – Principal, David Chipperfield Architects.
• Lawrence Dallaglio OBE, Urban Estate Management 1996 – International rugby player.
• Maureen Duffy, Business Studies BA(Hons) 1981; HonMBA 1997  – Chief Executive Officer, Newspaper Marketing Agency.
• Gail Emms, Sports Science BSc(Hons) 1998 – British badminton player.
• Caryn Franklin, Graphic Design BA(Hons) 1981 – Fashion writer and broadcaster.
• David Kay OBE, Law BA (Hons) 1978; HonLLD 2010 – Barrister.
• David King MBA, Deng, CEng, FRAeS, Aeronautical Engineering BSc (Hons) 1970; HonDEng 1999 – UK Chief Inspector of Air Accident.
• Graeme Mew, Law BA(Hons) 1980 – Barrister.
• Jasper Morrison, 3D Design BA(Hons) 1982; HonDUniv 2007 – Designer.
• Brian O’Rourke, CEng, MRAeS, FIMechE, MIMMM, Aeronautical Engineering BSc(Hons) 1976; HonMEng 1997 – Chief Composites Engineer, Williams F1 Engineering Ltd.

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