How to apply for postgraduate study
Whatever your reason for choosing Kingston University for your postgraduate journey, we're here to make applying as simple and stress-free as possible. On this page is everything you need to know to get started.
Before starting your application, it's important to check that you meet the course entry requirements.
Entry criteria
Most of our postgraduate courses require a 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent. However, at Kingston University, we know that potential isn’t always defined by academic grades. That’s why we take a holistic approach to postgraduate admissions. Applicants who don’t hold the required grades but can demonstrate potential in other ways are encouraged to apply.
International applicants
You can use our country guides to check qualification equivalencies, English language requirements, and to find approved representatives who can support you.
Funding your postgraduate studies
Student finance
If you are a UK student, a resident in England, and are aged under 60, you will be able to apply for a Postgraduate Masters Loan from Student Finance England.
You could borrow up to £12,858 to help with tuition fees and living costs.
This loan is paid directly to you and can be used flexibly to suit your needs.
Repayments are income-based and only begin once you are earning over the threshold.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Taught and research-based courses in any subject are eligible, excluding postgraduate certificates (PGCE or PgCert) or postgraduate diplomas (PgDip). Funding is available for both full-time and part-time study. The loan will be paid directly to you and will be non-means tested. It can be used towards the fees for your course or you can spend it on living costs.
There are also loans available for eligible doctoral research students.
Please note: PGCE students are not eligible for postgraduate loans. However, they may be able to apply for teacher training funding.
Studentships
For a doctoral research course, there are a few studentships available every year from one of the six Research Councils or the Arts and Humanities Research Board. These are also available for international students to apply to and can help with course fees and living costs.
When to apply
We recommend applying early, especially if you need a student visa.
If you are an international applicant we have a detailed admissions timeline, so check if you still have time to secure your place at Kingston.
Ready to apply?
Applying is straightforward. There are several routes, depending on your circumstances.
Submit your application directly through our Online Student Information System (OSIS).
To apply:
- Go to the course page you're interested in.
- Choose your preferred start date.
- Click ‘Apply now’ to begin your application for that specific intake.
It’s quick, easy, and tailored to the course and date you’ve selected.
Applications for our PGCE Primary and Secondary courses will need to be submitted via the Department for Education (DfE) Apply system
The ‘Apply now’ button on our PGCE course pages will take you directly to the DfE Apply system. Alternatively, you can go straight to: gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training
Many of our Secondary PGCE courses are eligible for DfE bursaries of up to £29,000, including subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.
A small number of postgraduate courses require an application to be submitted via UCAS. For MSc Adult Nursing and Master of Social Work (MSW), the ‘Apply now” option on these pages will take you to your UCAS hub to complete your application. For more information view our undergraduate 'How to apply' webpage.
If you are interested in a research, rather than a taught, postgraduate degree, we have specific information on our Research Degrees webpage, with details of subjects available and how to apply.
What you'll need to submit
To help us assess your application as quickly as possible, regardless of how you apply, please ensure you upload the following documents at the time of submission.
A copy of the photo page of your passport. If your documents are under a different name, please include evidence of your name change.
Certificates and transcripts for qualifications achieved. If you're still studying, include this information in your application.
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence of meeting our English language requirements we accept a wide variety of qualifications.
Explain why you are applying to Kingston, why the course you’ve chosen interests you, and how the course will be used in the future. If you are an international applicant, please explain why studying in the UK interests you.
These might include a CV, a portfolio, a research proposal, or a work experience letter.
What happens after you apply?
Once you've submitted your application, our Admissions Team will assess your documents and personal statement. If anything is missing, we'll be in touch via your applicant portal.
If your application is successful, you’ll receive either a conditional or unconditional offer from us.
- A conditional offer means we still need some documentation before we can confirm your place for example, your final academic transcript, English language results, or a reference.
- An unconditional offer means you’ve met all the entry requirements and your place is confirmed.
You’ll be able to view your offer and any conditions via your official offer letter and through the application system you used to apply.
Once you receive your offer, the next step is to accept it through the system you applied with (OSIS, UCAS, or DfE Apply).
The sooner you accept your offer, the sooner we can:
- provide personalised advice on your next steps
- guide you through visa, accommodation, and enrolment processes
- start preparing your journey to Kingston.
Accepting your offer early gives you the best possible start.
Need to speak to someone?
If you have any questions about the application process, you can email our admissions team.
