Equality, diversity and inclusion, access and participation

Explore the many aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion at Kingston University, including access and participation and the University's Access and Participation Plan (APP).

Why Kingston University is great for inclusion, diversity and equality

At Kingston University, we’re dedicated to helping all students achieve their potential. Our programmes are designed to provide the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed for future success. Our institution focuses strongly on equality, inclusion and support for everyone.

Here’s what makes Kingston special:

Fair access for everyone
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to study at university. That’s why we’ve developed initiatives to support students from all backgrounds, ensuring access to higher education through tailored programmes and resources.
Diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do
Kingston is proud of its diverse community, and we actively promote equality across all aspects of university life. From reducing gaps in degree outcomes to providing targeted support, we are committed to making Kingston a welcoming place for everyone.
Recognised for our leadership in equality
Our efforts in inclusion have been nationally recognised, including the prestigious Race Equality Charter Award. We’re continually improving to ensure all students feel valued and empowered.

Our achievements and commitments

The Race Equality Charter (REC) is a framework created by Advance HE through which higher education institutions can identify and reflect on institutional and cultural barriers impacting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff and students.

Kingston University serves an immensely diverse student population and has always engaged with student race equality. We were one of the first six universities to receive the Race Equality Charter Bronze award in 2015/16 and our latest Bronze Renewal award in 2024 is valid until 2029.

The University has been commended for its sector-leading work on reducing the degree awarding gap for students. We are now applying this same drive and commitment to improving progression and outcomes for BAME staff across the organisation.

Race Equality Charter Action Plan

As an organisation, we have learned a huge amount from the Black Lives Matter movement of Summer 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate impact on BAME communities.

As a result, we are constantly reviewing and updating our race equality action plan to ensure it is fit for purpose, addresses structural inequities, and achieves sustainable change and progress.

Progress made so far

There has also been important progress at the University, driven by the newly formed Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network:

The University has now explicitly stated its commitment to race equality by endorsing the Race Equality Pledge
We have introduced a Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Lead for Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Professor Many Ure
We have created a Senior Leadership Team Sponsor for Race Equality
We have appointed three Race Equality Charter co-chairs
The University has been undertaking a review and restructure of EDI governance within its governance structure to ensure the EDI objectives and actions are met and fully achieved – results will be used to shape our EDI objectives and strategy for the next five years

We look forward to sharing further progress and achievements moving forward.

Significant and persistent degree awarding gaps are found across the higher education sector. This has been a long-standing issue and concern for universities.

What is a degree awarding gap?

A degree awarding gap refers to the difference between the proportion of students from one group awarded a first class or upper second degree, compared with another group. For example, it may refer to the gap between the proportion of White students awarded higher grades compared with the proportion of Black students.

At Kingston we have long believed that addressing such gaps is an essential part of advancing equality and social justice, and have made it a strategic priority.

Kingston's commitments

Like most other universities, Kingston still has significant degree awarding gaps between White and Black students, White and Asian students, and students previously in receipt of Free School Meals and those who were not.

Kingston University has set the following targets:

Reduce the degree awarding gap between White and Black students to 4% by 2029/30
Reduce the degree awarding gap between White and Asian students to 3.2% by 2029/30
Reduce the degree awarding gap between students previously in receipt of Free School Meals and those who were not to 7.5% by 2029/30

These targets also form part of our Public Sector Equality Duty commitments.

How is Kingston reducing the degree awarding gap?

Inclusive Curriculum Framework

Central to our approach has been our award-winning Inclusive Curriculum Framework. This framework ensures courses reflect the learning experiences of our diverse student body, are accessible to everyone and no-one is disadvantaged.

Value-added metric

We have also developed a value-added metric, which measures how far our students' grades differ from the sector average, with the same entry qualifications and subjects studied.

The value-added approach allows us to isolate student attainment from the effects of subject and entry qualifications, and means we can focus attention on the institutional factors that may contribute to differential outcomes. It also helps us more accurately measure our progress.

A culture of equality

We are working hard to create a whole-institution culture of inclusivity across our courses and services. This will improve the experience and academic success of all our students.

Research

We are contributing to change through leading and contributing to key sector research projects in this area.

Access, participation and inclusion

2025-26 fee information

Provider name: Kingston University
Provider UKPRN: 10003678

Summary of 2025-26 course fees for new entrants

*Course type not listed by the provider as available to new entrants in 2025-26. This means that any such course delivered to new entrants in 2025-26 would be subject to fees capped at the basic fee amount.

Inflation statement: Subject to the maximum fee limits set our in regulations, we will increase fees each year using RPI-X.

Table 1a: Full-time course fee levels for 2025-26 new entrants

Full-time course type	Additional information	Sub- contractual UKPRN	Course fee
First degree		N/A	£9,535
Foundation degree	Pharmaceutical & Chemical Science - Year 1	N/A	£9,535
Foundation year/Year 0 (classroom based)	Classroom based	N/A	£5,760
Foundation year/Year 0 (non-classroom based)	Studio/lab based	N/A	£9,535
HNC/HND	*	N/A	*
CertHE/DipHE	*	N/A	*
Postgraduate ITT		N/A	£9,535
Accelerated degree	*	N/A	*
Sandwich year		N/A	£1,260
Turing scheme and overseas study years		N/A	£1,385
Other	*	N/A	*

Table 1b: Sub-contractual full-time course fee levels for 2025-26 new entrants

Sub-contractual full-time course type	Sub-contractual provider name and additional information	Sub- contractual UKPRN	Course fee
First degree	Boomsatsuma Education Limited	10088539	£9,535
First degree	Cardiff and Vale College	10034450	£9,535
First degree	Royal School of Needlework (The)	10020436	£9,535
Foundation degree	Brooklands College - SEN and Inclusive Practice - Year 1	10000950	£7,300
Foundation degree	Morley College Limited	10004432	£7,700
Foundation degree	REACH ACADEMY TRUST- Early Years - Year 1	10058737	£7,700
Foundation degree	Reach Academy Feltham- Early Years - Year 1	10037673	£7,700
Foundation degree	Richmond Academy Feltham - Early Years - Year 1	10005469	£7,700
Foundation degree	South Thames Colleges Group - SEN and Inclusive Practice - Year 1	10003674	£7,300
Foundation degree	The LETTA Trust - Early Years - Year 1	10064599	£7,700
Foundation degree	University of Exeter - Year 1	10007792	£8,695
Foundation degree	West Thames College - Early Years - Year 1	10007434	£7,700
Foundation degree	Whitefield School - Early Years - Year 1	10045652	£7,700
Foundation year/Year 0 (classroom based)	South Thames Colleges Group - Classroom based	10003674	£5,760
Foundation year/Year 0 (non-classroom based)	*	*	*
HNC/HND	South Thames Colleges Group - Year 1	10003674	£5,760
CertHE/DipHE	*	*	*
Postgraduate ITT		*	*
Accelerated degree	*	*	*
Sandwich year	*	*	*
Turing scheme and overseas study years	*	*	*
Other	*	*	*

Table 1c: Part-time course fee levels for 2025-26 new entrants

Part-time course type	Additional information	Sub- contractual UKPRN	Course fee
First degree	*	N/A	£7,143
Foundation degree	*	N/A	*
Foundation year/Year 0 (classroom based)	*	N/A	*
Foundation year/Year 0 (non-classroom based)	*	N/A	*
HNC/HND	*	N/A	*
CertHE/DipHE	*	N/A	*
Postgraduate ITT	*	N/A	*
Accelerated degree	*	N/A	*
Sandwich year	*	N/A	*
Turing scheme and overseas study years	*	N/A	*
Other	*	N/A	*

Table 1d: Sub-contractual part-time course fee levels for 2025-26 new entrants

Sub-contractual part-time course type	Sub-contractual provider name and additional information	Sub- contractual UKPRN	Course fee
First degree	*	*	*
Foundation degree	*	*	*
Foundation year/Year 0 (classroom based)	*	*	*
Foundation year/Year 0 (non-classroom based)	*	*	*
HNC/HND	*	*	*
CertHE/DipHE	*	*	*
Postgraduate ITT	*	*	*
Accelerated degree	*	*	*
Sandwich year	*	*	*
Turing scheme and overseas study years	*	*	*
Other	*	*	*