Information for international students applying to study a postgraduate degree at Kingston University for 2024/2025 entry

Your journey to Kingston

If you're an international student applying for a postgraduate degree at Kingston University, this page can help you on your journey.

Keep reading for information on what to do before you apply and the steps to take after you've secured an offer. There are also details on applying for your student visa, and how to get ready for Enrolment and Induction.

You can also click on the blocks below to be taken directly to the information you need.

If you have any questions about studying with us, or what you need to do next, get in touch as we're here to help.

Tel: +44 (0)203 510 0106
Email: internationalenquiries@kingston.ac.uk

Before you apply

We are delighted that you are considering applying to study with us. There are a few things you can do before you start your application.

Chat with our students

You can chat to our friendly Student Ambassadors about what it is really like to study a postgraduate degree at Kingston University. 

Meet us in your country

You may be able to make an appointment to meet our staff in your home country, or book to see us at a virtual event.

We regularly visit countries around the world, attend educational fairs, hold interview preparation sessions and attend virtual events.

Attend an Open Day

Get a feel for Kingston by attending one of our virtual or on-campus Open Days.

You can chat to the course team and attend numerous specialist talks on things like finance, the visa process and accommodation options.

Join a webinar

Alternatively, if a smaller or virtual event is better suited to your needs, you could attend one of our virtual webinars. These are exclusively for international students who are thinking about applying for a place to study with us.

Are you ready to join us?

Awesome! Then it is time to submit your application.

You can apply for our courses online via the relevant postgraduate course page.

If you're using an international adviser or agent, they can assist you with your application.

More about how and when to apply

We'll be in touch

When you have submitted your application, we'll assess it and will be in touch if:

  • we need further information to assess your application
  • your course requires an interview
  • you need to submit a portfolio

You can find information about how to prepare your portfolio or interview on the individual course pages.

Once you've received an offer

When we have assessed your application, you'll receive an email from us confirming the outcome of your application relatively quickly. However, if you are required to submit a portfolio or attend an interview this will take longer – it is vital that you check your email regularly as this is how we will communicate with you. 

Congratulations if you have received an offer to study a postgraduate degree with us. There are a few things you need to do now:

Accept your offer

If your application is successful we will issue a conditional or unconditional offer letter.

  • Conditional – A conditional offer means that we have offered you a place dependent on you achieving certain grades in your exams or English language test. Your offer can only turn from conditional to unconditional when you prove that you have achieved the exam results we asked you to achieve and send us proof of passing those exams. You should send us your results as soon as they become available so that we can update your offer status to unconditional.
  • Unconditional – An unconditional offer means that we hold a place for you to study at Kingston. To secure your place, you need to accept the offer by making it Firm on OSIS. You can then apply for your Student Route Visa.

Log in to OSIS to accept your offer.

Sign up to our international webinars and web chats

We regularly hold webinars and web chats on a range of topics throughout the year so please sign up for as many as you like so we can continue to provide guidance and support.

Sign up to webinars now.

Get your results and send them to us!

You can only turn a conditional offer to unconditional by proving you have achieved the exam results we asked you to achieve and sending us proof of passing those exams. Only then can you start applying for a student visa – so it is vital you send us your results as quickly as possible.

We need proof of your exam results and your English language test results.

Check the status of your application on OSIS

Secure your offer with the deposit

After receiving and accepting your offer as Firm on OSIS, you must pay a £5,000 non-refundable deposit, which is treated as part of the first instalment of your tuition fee.

You must pay your deposit before you can request your CAS to start the visa application.

Pay your deposit now

Join our Kingston University Freshers 2024 (Official) group

Meet other applicants and ask questions by joining our official Facebook group for new September and January starters. We'll send you an invitation by email with details of how you can sign up.

Get help with budgeting

This is the time when you need to start planning and budgeting for your student life in London, so that your experience will be an enjoyable one.

Check our helpful guide to the cost of living in London to find out more about the average cost of university life and get top tips to cut costs or find extra funds.

Guide to the cost of living

Apply for an International Scholarship

As soon as you have an offer of a place, you're eligible to apply for one of our International Scholarships.

Each year we receive thousands of scholarship applications so please be aware that it is a very competitive process. You can read more about the application process on our website. Good luck!

More information about scholarships and bursaries 

Apply for accommodation

Once you've accepted your offer, you can reserve a room in our accommodation. With an impressive range of high-quality options to suit different needs, lifestyles and budgets, you can be certain we'll be able to help you find the best accommodation in one of the safest and happiest London boroughs.

Remember our accommodation costs include heating, electricity, and water and represent the best value and peace of mind that bills will not rise.

Apply for accommodation

Request your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

If you need a Student Route visa, you should request a CAS which is not automatically issued. Remember, you can start the CAS request process even if all your supporting documents are not ready via OSIS.

Review and approve your draft CAS

Our CAS team will tell you when your draft CAS is ready to view on OSIS, so please check your student record regularly for updates so you can review and confirm the information is correct.

Receive your final CAS Statement and apply for a Student Route visa

Follow the guidelines on how to apply for a Student Route visa on our webpages.

Complete the first part of a two-part enrolment process (online enrolment) and pay 50% of your tuition fees (late August onwards)

We will send you an invitation to complete the first stage of enrolment, the process to becoming an official Kingston student from late August (for September starters) and later November (for January starters). The first part is online, and the second part happens when you get to the University and takes place in person.

Access information about Welcome Week

Once you have completed online enrolment, we'll send you details of our action-packed calendar of activities during Welcome Week and how to book these events before you arrive.

Arrive in the UK

For most courses, you need to aim to be on campus to attend Welcome and Induction Week activities from mid-September (for September starters) or mid-January (for January starters).

Apply for your CAS and visa

If you are an international student, it's likely that you'll need a Student Route Visa to study a full-time degree-level course in the UK. It is important for you to start preparing for this as early as possible.

Before you can apply for your visa, you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and before you can request your CAS, you must hold an unconditional firm place to study at Kingston and have met all the conditions of your offer. Then and only then can you request your CAS.

We can issue a CAS up to six months before your course starts. So if you are unconditional firm in March, for example, you could apply for your CAS then.

The CAS and visa application process can take several weeks to complete, so please do apply as early as possible to enable you to arrive in Kingston on time.

Apply for your CAS and visa

Get ready for Enrolment

Keep an eye out for an email to guide you through the things you need to do before you can enrol – you will need to log in to our applicant portal (OSIS) in order to complete these steps.

Upload documents to OSIS

Items to upload to OSIS will include a photograph of yourself for your student ID card and various documents including exam results and passport pages.

You will only be asked to complete online enrolment once those tasks have been completed – so please do them as quickly as possible.

Pay your tuition fees

A minimum of 50% of tuition fees must be paid before you are able to complete the first part of Enrolment (online).

You can of course also pay your compete fees up front if you are able to do this – this will give peace of mind that no further money will be requested by the University to distract you part way through the year.

How to pay your fees

Complete the first part of a two-part enrolment process (online enrolment)

We'll send out your invitation to complete the first part of the enrolment process (online enrolment) from August – the process you must complete to become an official Kingston student. It should take around 30 minutes to complete – so find a good time and a quiet place to complete it carefully!

The second part of enrolment happens when you arrive on campus and is in person – you book an enrolment slot just before you arrive at the University.

How to enrol

Sign up for Welcome and Induction

We've got an action-packed programme of activities during Welcome Week to help you settle into your new university life.

It is vital you attend Welcome Week – students are much more likely to go on to do well in their course if they attend everything on offer during this fun and friendly week – many students make lasting friendships at this time and there are many activities and societies to sign up for.

We'll send you details of how to book activities over the summer.

Sign up for Welcome and Induction

Complete the second part of enrolment (on campus)

Welcome to Kingston!

The second part of enrolment and compulsory Check-In takes place on campus.

We'll send you details about how to book your appointment and what documents you need to bring with you to that appointment.

Keep an eye out for emails asking you to book your enrolment appointment.

Attend Welcome and Induction

Before formal teaching begins, a whole week is dedicated to your Welcome and Induction.

The week is designed to help you settle into Kingston, make connections and start your course feeling confident and ready to succeed.

Attend Welcome and Induction

Congratulations!

You made it to the end of your applicant journey – and the start of your life as a new postgraduate student.

Welcome to Kingston University!