 |
This profile of King's College highlights this medical school's entry requirements, typical offers, student numbers, competition ratios, teaching and learning methods, course structure, demographics and history. Is King's College one of your target medical schools? This medical school can be added to or removed from your personal shortlist |
King's College London offers an integrated five-year medical degree, in partnership with famous institutions such as Guy's, St Thomas's, and King's College Hospitals. The course boasts a wide breadth, teaching students in non-core subjects such as humanities and social sciences. Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, cadaveric dissection, and clinical placements.
Key information dashboard
For convenience, here is an at-a-glance summary of key information related to King's College medical school.
Links in this dashboard can help you check which other UK medical schools are similar to King's College with regard to points listed here.
Be sure to check our notes in sections below for more details about each of these points.
King's College medical school establishment date: 1998
Years of course: 5
Total medical students: 2080
Average year cohort: 416.0
Region: London
Subject prerequisites:
Biology (strictly required)Chemistry (strictly required)
Interview format:MMI
Admissions test:UCAT
A Level typical offer:A*AA
Advanced Higher typical offer:AA
IB typical offer:35 points
General teaching method:
CBL, Integrated
Anatomy teaching:
Dissection
Intercalation mode:Optional intercalation
Typical offers
A Levels must include Chemistry and Biology.
Passes in practical element required in science subjects.
GCSE results must include grade 6/B in both English Language and Mathematics.
Advanced Highers must include Chemistry and Biology.
Results must include grade A in Advanced Higher Chemistry and Biology.
Scottish Highers must be in one sitting.
For Scottish Highers, if only one of Chemistry or Biology is offered at Advanced Higher, the other must be offered at Higher level at grade A.
National 5 results must include English and Mathematics with grade B if not offered at Higher.
IB applicants must achieve 7,6,6 required in Higher level, including Chemistry and Biology.
Offer of 35 points includes Theory of Knowledge / Extended Essay.
As explained on the website. numerous widening participation schemes are available.
Prospective applicants who have taken part in widening participation programmes within King's, are part of Realising Opportunities, or who believe they meet any other widening participation criteria should contact the admissions team for advice before making an application.
Total students and cohort sizes at UK medical schools
For uniform comparison of medical student admissions each year across all UK medical schools, we rely on annual reports from the Office for Students (OfS) entitled 'Medical and dental intakes'.
| Admission year | Total students admitted this year | Home places | International places |
|---|---|---|---|
2020-21 |
445 students in this cohort | 415 Home students | 30 International students |
2019-20 |
425 students in this cohort | 395 Home students | 30 International students |
2018-19 |
425 students in this cohort | 385 Home students | 40 International students |
2017-18 |
395 students in this cohort | 370 Home students | 25 International students |
2016-17 |
390 students in this cohort | 360 Home students | 30 International students |
2015-16 |
390 students in this cohort | 365 Home students | 25 International students |
Competition data
Competition ratio data reported here is from the 2019-20 admissions cycle, as confirmed by MedSchoolGenie Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from this period.
Please note: Due to ongoing impact of Covid-19 since March 2020, UK medical schools have not yet released competition ratio data for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. Applicants should keep in mind that coronavirus-related lockdowns and other restrictions affected the entire UK education sector, so competition ratios were most likely distorted during 2020-21. MedSchoolGenie will update here when further competition data becomes available.
Applicant percentages of success
From reported competition ratios, it's possible to calculate percentages of success at various stages of the application process.
Numbers of applicants competing in latest admissions cycle
Based on reported numbers of applicants securing places, we can use competition ratios to estimate how many applicants have been competing at each stage of the most recent admissions cycle.
Please note: Estimates of competition factors from 2020 onwards may be less reliable than in previous years because UK medical schools have not yet reported competition ratios for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. MedSchoolGenie will update here when more recent data on competition ratios becomes available.
Teaching and learning
Integration of medical science with clinical teaching throughout.
Mandatory intercalated BSc in year 3.
Mixture of lectures and seminars, including cadaveric dissection.
Small group and case-based teaching in clinical blocks.
As explained in this medical school's summary of its course structure and teaching programme, King's "provides an innovative and integrated curriculum ... of medical science with clinical teaching throughout with focus on learning in close contact with patients.... [Years 2 -5 include] small group and case-based teaching in clinical blocks."
As explained in discussion of intercalation on this medical school's website, "The course is divided into three ‘Stages’ with an optional intercalation year between Stages 2 and 3." There is a broad range of intercalated degrees available, taken between years three and four.
Phase one (year one):
Phase one introduces students to biomedical and population sciences through modules such as ‘Physiology and Anatomy of Systems' and ‘Genes, Behaviour, and Environment'. Students also receive teaching in clinical skills in preparation for phase two.
Phase two (years two and three):
Phase two brings together science and clinical practice, teaching students about the human life cycle and common disease processes. Students attend clinical placements to gain an appreciation of holistic patient care. There is a broad range of intercalated degrees available, taken between years three and four.
Phase three (years four and five):
Phase three takes place in years four and five, preparing students for clinical practice through simulated teaching and inter-professional training. Opportunities are available to conduct quality improvement projects and develop research skills.
Reported demographics
This chart highlights gender and disability data reported by King's College to the General Medical Council (GMC), which has compiled this information into spreadsheets as part of its medical school annual return (MSAR) data sets.
Please note this data is retrospective, and that future numbers can vary from preceding years.
For comparison, we also include below all demographic data reported by this medical school to General Medical Council.
| Reporting year | Female students | Male students | Students with declared disability | Students without declared disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 56.4% female students | 43.6% male students | 13.8% students with disability | 86.2% students without disability |
| 2016-17 | 56.1% female students | 43.9% male students | 10.9% students with disability | 89.1% students without disability |
Medical school history
This medical school in its current structure was formed by the 1998 merger with the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals. Until 2005 it was known as GKT School of Medicine.