Arts and social sciences
| We offer the opportunity to explore relevant and challenging issues within a varied, stimulating and academically rigorous environment. We provide learning support and guidance to ensure that whatever your educational background, you can develop your full potential. A degree is a major commitment and we want you to do well, which is why we provide strong academic support, a personal tutor and skills modules. |
 Professor Martin McQuillan Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| We have been providing teacher training courses for over 100 years at Kingston University. The School of Education offers a stimulating preparation for professional life. It is regarded by Ofsted (the government agency that monitors teaching standards in education) as a high-quality training provider across its primary and secondary courses. The School also has a lively and highly respected Early Years department providing a full range of courses for work-based learners in Early Years settings and in Special Educational Needs. |
 Andy Hudson Head of the School of Education |
Before you arrive and induction
- What do I need to do before I arrive?
Your tutors may ask you to do some reading before your first lecture. If so, you’ll get your reading list once you've completed the online stage of your enrolment.
- What happens when I arrive?
We hold an induction programme for new students. More information about this, your timetable and your start dates will be available once you've completed the online stage of your enrolment.
How we will support you
- How will you support my studies?
Tutors have set office hours so it’s easy to get one-to-one help and support if required. When you join the course, we assign you a personal tutor to help you throughout your time at the University. You can also get support from individual module leaders or the overall course leaders. Our academic staff are always happy to help.
- What if I need some extra help?
If you need some extra help with your assignments, come along to the Centre for Academic Support and Employability (CASE). It provides help for art and social sciences students at all levels in:- researching and presenting;
- structuring and editing traditional academic writing;
- structuring and editing multimedia texts; and
- referencing.
Read more about CASE.
- Is any English language help available for international students?
Our English language development programme offers free English language courses throughout the academic year. These focus on academic writing, communication and seminar skills, study skills and project work, and revision and exam techniques. Read more.
- What if I need extra English language support before I arrive?
You can take one of our pre-sessional language courses, which are specifically designed to prepare you for study at University.
The courses will not only develop your English language skills, but also give you experience of the methods and study skills used at a British university. We offer 15, 10 and five week pre-sessional courses. The course you join will depend on your English language level and the academic programme you will be studying at Kingston.
Your offer letter should tell you which pre-sessional course to apply for; if not, we recommend that you check with the admissions tutor or course director before applying. We advise allowing as much time as you can to prepare for your course.
- What disability and dyslexia support is available at the University?
The Disability and Dyslexia Support Service co-ordinates a range of support arrangements. Read more.
- Can I study a foreign language as part of my course?
Yes, all students have the opportunity to study a foreign language through the Kingston Language Scheme (KLS). Depending on the course you are studying, this can be either as an optional module integrated into your degree, or as an additional course. Languages on offer include Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (Chinese) and Spanish.
Courses are available at a range of levels to suit your current ability. As a first year student, you must apply within your induction week. Read more.
You might even want to consider spending some time working or studying abroad as part of your degree. Read more.
The campus and its resources
- Where is my course taught?
Arts and social sciences courses are based across two campuses – education and music courses are taught at the Kingston Hill campus and all other art and social science subjects are taught at Penrhyn Road (including business joint honours combinations).
Penrhyn Road campus is in the heart of Kingston, about a 10-minute walk from the town centre. Kingston Hill campus is about three miles from Kingston town centre. The free University bus links all the campuses and halls of residence, so it's easy to get around.
- What is it like there?
Penrhyn Road has a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Students from all campuses congregate here as it homes many facilities, including the gym, health centre and Students’ Union headquarters. The campus is constantly being updated – has recently benefited from the £16 million John Galsworthy Building, which brings together lecture theatres, flexible teaching space and information technology suites. A remodelled Learning Resources Centre (library) now houses a cafe and increased archive space, as well as a larger reception area and new entrance. Read more about Penrhyn Road.
What's new?: Penrhyn Road recently benefited from refreshed learning spaces and a new coffee zone – ideal for grabbing a latte and unwinding.
Kingston Hill is a modern hillside campus set in its own landscaped gardens. It has a real community feel thanks to its many on-site facilities, including teaching rooms and computer labs; halls of residence; and a bar, cafe and restaurant. We further improved the learning resources centre (library) in 2008 with a £5 million extension. The new Nightingale Centre includes a learning cafe, more PCs and extra study areas. Read more about Kingston Hill.
What's new?: We're currently working on a £30 million teaching building for the Kingston Hill campus, due to open in 2012. Building work will still be going on when you arrive but you'll be amongst the first to benefit from the new facilities.
- What resources are available?
Our high-tech Learning Resource Centres (LRC) house a wide range of resources and services including texts, periodicals, journals and dissertations and audio-visual materials. Remote access to LRC databases means that you can access facilities online from anywhere in the world. Read more about University-wide study resources, such as the library and IT facilities.
The Department of Music also has a range of professional studio facilities; three recording and five editing rooms; and a workstation suite containing 27 Apple iMac computers. Our collection of musical instruments includes some 40 pianos, two harpsichords and an extensive range of orchestral, classroom, early and electronic instruments.
The Department of Psychology has new state-of-the-art psychology laboratories, which are equipped with PCs with statistical analysis and experimental control software. The labs include:- specialised labs for participant observation – with video monitoring and recording apparatus;
- a sound-attenuated psychoacoustics lab;
- a cognitive lab; and
- a physiological lab.
The Journalism Department has a dedicated newsroom, fully equipped with industry standard PCs, web design uploading and layout software, phone lines, digital TV and PA newsfeed. Journalism students work both on The River, a newspaper edited and written by journalism students, and on the newspaper's online version. Working in both print and online media will give you valuable experience in the convergent skills employers are increasingly looking for.
The Department of Film and Television includes a specialist suite of laboratory spaces for the practical video production modules. These have recently been equipped with sophisticated equipment for editing and working on video materials.
The Drama Department is based at the Reg Bailey Building on our Penrhyn Road campus. There are two equipped performances spaces and well as various teaching and rehearsal rooms. The staff are also based in the building, which is entirely dedicated to drama.
- Where can I find out about disabled access?
For more information about access at these campuses and across the University, visit DisabledGo.
- How do I get to the campuses?
View our maps of the University and directions to get here. You can also look at our campuses on Google Streetview.- View the Kingston Hill campus on Google Streetview:
- View the Penrhyn Road campus on Google Streetview:
Welcome to FASS
Here you can find out more about getting ready to study an arts or social sciences course, including education courses (view our full list of arts and social sciences courses to check whether this applies to you).
Please note that this information only relates to courses taught at Kingston University – if you are attending a partner college, they will get in touch with you with the relevant information.
"There is a difference between the work that you do at A-level and at University, but there is plenty of help available to make sure that you don't struggle with it. In your first semester particularly many assignments are structured to help you gain the skills you use throughout your degree."
Rachelle, English Language and Communication student
"I find that Uni gives you a lot of independence. You are more in charge of your studies and it's your own responsibility to get your work done. But you also have more chance to socialise and meet people."
Sarah Jayne, History student
"I have just 10 hours of lectures a week, but I have to do a lot of independent study. My course is quite practical – my marketing coursework was developing a new chocolate product!"
Marketa, Sociology and Business student
"I have a personal tutor who I can talk to anytime, plus the admin staff in the faculty support my studies really well. I feel like if I need the support, it is there."
Simon, Music student
"Kingston Uni constantly tries to make the experience of teaching better each year. I have professors who are very passionate about their classes so I enjoy learning."
Ghada, International Relations with Law student
"Timetable clashes can be a problem for joint honours students. However, faculty staff always try their best to ensure you are happy and doing modules that are important to you."
Natasha, Law with Human Rights student
"I use the teacher resource library a lot. The rooms I use for classes look similar to classrooms you would find in a school, and this helps when thinking in the mindset of a teacher."
Seb, Primary Teaching student
"The University has a Centre for Academic Skills and Employability where you can go and get essays and assignments checked for grammar etc before you hand them in, so if you're worried you can always ask them for advice."
Paula, Creative Writing with History student
"Don't worry if you hit a wall as the tutors are always ready to help out at the drop of a hat. What's even better is they won't judge you if you get stuck – they just want you to do really well."
Vicky, Drama with English
student
"I wouldn't describe a degree as easy – it is a challenge but one worth taking. If you're interested in your subject, don't be put off by the workload as you learn how to deal with this and the tutors are always willing to help with any struggles you may be having."
Lou, Creative Writing and Journalism student
"The lecturers are very supportive and you are able to communicate with them effectively through our StudySpace intranet."
Rachelle, English Language and Communication student
"Time management can be tricky for some people – it's best to try to have a few hours a week that you set aside for studying but going out and socialising is important too! You just need to find that balance, which is different for everyone."
Ellie, Psychology student
Look around the campus
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| Coombehurst studio | Journalism newsroom |
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| Learning Resources Centre | John Galsworthy Building |
View a google map of: