External partners
The University has very close links with organisations that advise us and help with projects. For example:
- some of our students studying for an Illustration and Animation MA have had books published while at Kingston University;
- postgraduate computing students recently worked on a real-world project improving end-to-end customer care at Vodafone;
- students on the Business Information Technology BSc have carried out projects for client organisations ranging from Hitachi to the London Underground;
- undergraduate English Language and Communication BSc(Hons) students have undertaken research projects on communication in workplaces such as Top Shop, South West Trains and Barclays; and
- we are the only affiliate of the International Space University in the UK and have contributed more students to its summer schools and masters programmes than any other institution in the country.
Recent work experience placements have taken place at:
- the research department of the V&A Museum, the Design Museum and the Geffrye Museum for students on the Curating Contemporary Design MA;
- BBC News and Current Affairs and The Guardian for postgraduate politics students;
- industrial companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly, plus public institutions, such as hospitals, for undergraduate science students; and
- commercial organisations, such as Lloyds TSB and Nestle UK Ltd, for undergraduate business students.
Staff expertise
Many of our lecturers are also practitioners or researchers, so they are up-to-date with all the latest ideas and trends. For example:
the Small Business Research Centre has undertaken work for sponsors including HSBC and the Bank of England; - the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing's emphasis on commercially-useful research means its research groups have worked with companies such as Jaguar Cars, Dunlop Aviation and the Environment Agency; and
- Sir Peter Hall, who founded the Royal Shakespeare Company and is Chancellor of the University, has led masterclasses for drama students.