FAQs for new students

Availability in Kingston University Halls for 2022 is extremely limited; further information about where to start your search for housing can be found here. If you have any questions about our availability you can book an online appointment to speak to a member of the Accommodation Team here.

If you are successful in your request for halls of residence, the Accommodation Team will be flexible in finding a start date that suits you, for most students this will be in the first two weeks of January 2022.

Yes, it is possible to move in on a different date, but you must inform the Accommodation Team of this request. Please ensure you do this prior to Monday 20 December 2021.

The first instalment of rent is due on 20 January 2022.

In order to pay by instalment, you will need to have set up a recurring card payment instruction (RCP) which enables the University to take payment on the instalment dates. This can be set up using either a UK or International credit or debit card. If you have not already set up an RCP for your accommodation fees, please do so by following this link to Kingston University's RCP page.

We have limited free parking in most of our halls of residence (except 75 Penrhyn Road and Seething Wells). You can speak to your site team at reception about parking upon arrival.

No problem, you can take our halls of residence virtual tour.

If you have any more questions about booking a room, choosing halls of residence, your halls licence, what to bring, arriving at halls or insurance, please visit the accommodation webpage or email the Accommodation Team.

The dates and values of your instalments will vary depending on your room cost and contract length. This will be detailed in your licence agreement and more information can also be viewed on our accommodation pages.

If you are a UK student resident in England and are aged under the age of 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate masters degree. Taught and research-based courses in any subject are eligible, excluding postgraduate certificates (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.

Eligible doctoral research students can also borrow funds to help with course fees and living costs.

Find out more information and apply for a loan, visit: www.gov.uk/masters-loan

You will only receive your student funding after you have completed your enrolment. Once you have enrolled we will confirm with the government you have started your studies at Kingston University, which will trigger the start of the payments into your chosen account.

You can find out if you are eligible for student finance at www.gov.uk.

You can call one of our money advisers on +44 (0)20 8417 7311, or email them at studentfunding@kingston.ac.uk.

If you applied for Student Finance with a different institution already, it's easy to change your details by logging into your account at www.gov.uk/student-finance and going to: 'Your Account' > 'Change your application' > 'University/college course'.

Before your enrolment can be completed you will need to have organised how you will be paying for your tuition fees. Listed below please find the different payment options available:

Postgraduate Masters Loan

If you are a UK student resident in England and are aged under 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate masters degree. Taught and research-based courses in any subject are eligible, excluding postgraduate certificates (PgCert) or postgraduate diplomas (PgDip). Funding is available for both full-time and part-time study and will be non-means tested.
Unlike the undergraduate tuition fee loan, the Postgraduate Masters Loan is paid directly to you rather than to the University so you will be responsible for arranging payment of your fees. You can do so via one of the options below or alternatively you can send a copy of your loan confirmation to AccountsReceivable@kingston.ac.uk and we can arrange a payment plan that is aligned to the dates you will be receiving your funding.

Instalments

We offer students the opportunity to pay their tuition fees in six instalments but only if a recurring card payment instruction (referred to as an RCP) has been set up.

This enables you to provide card details (UK or International) which the University holds securely and uses to take payment on the instalment dates. Please note that International fee-paying students will need to have paid 50% of their fee in advance and are then able to pay the remaining balance in six instalments once they have set up their RCP.

You can set up an RCP at www.kingston.ac.uk/rcp

Instalment dates can be viewed at www.kingston.ac.uk/fees-funding-and-payments/when-to-pay

Sponsorship

If your employer has agreed to fund your studies we will need to be provided with a Sponsorship Confirmation Form.

More information on what is required and a copy of the form can be viewed at www.kingston.ac.uk/fees-funding-and-payments/how-to-pay-your-fees/ listed under ‘Sponsorship' in the ‘Methods of Payment' section.

Payment in full

If you intend to pay your fees in full prior to commencing your studies you can do so by card securely online at www.kingston.ac.uk/epay

If you are planning to pay by International bank transfer this can be completed using our Western Union portal as we do not accept direct bank transfers – https://student.globalpay.wu.com/geo-buyer/Kingston

If you need some assistance in completing any of the above you can view helpful information and video guides at www.kingston.ac.uk/fees-funding-and-payments/how-to-pay-your-fees/ in the ‘Methods of Payment' section.

Hopefully the videos and advice we have online will help you to be able to get your payment method in place without any issues but if you do encounter any problems please do contact our Accounts Receivable team who will be happy to help.

You can call them on 020 8417 3333 or email AccountsReceivable@kingston.ac.uk

Whichever funding option you choose to use for your studies, it must be in place before your enrolment can be completed so we would recommend that you get it organised as soon as possible.

You can view your personal timetable in a number of ways, here are the options:

• Download the KingstonUni mobile app (on iOS and Android devices). Further instructions about how to use the mobile app can be found here. It is important to note that you'll only be able to log into the app fully when you have completed online enrolment. You can only enrol online once your applicant status is unconditional firm.
• You'll only be able to log into the app and access your timetable when you have completed online enrolment. You can only enrol online once your applicant status is unconditional firm.
• Your personal timetable is also available to view in the University VLE (Canvas) and also in SEAtS (Check in App). Further instructions on how to view these timetables can be found under Timetables > Information for students. You'll only be able to log into the app fully when you have completed online enrolment. You can only enrol online once your applicant status is unconditional firm.
• Don't have a smart phone? You can view your timetable via the Kingston webapp, which can be accessed via OSIS.

Each platform offers a unique student experience that is not available on other platforms.

• KU Mobile App – our mobile app is an all in one platform that links many of the University's key services as well as your timetable - refresh rate for updates is around 30 minutes.
• Canvas – can display non-timetabled events such as assessment deadlines that are otherwise not timetabled – refresh rate for updates is around 2 to 3 hours.
• SEAtS – Enables students to 'check in' to their timetabled activities - refresh rate for updates is twice daily.

After completing your online enrolment, you'll start to see, within 48 hours (Monday to Friday), your individual teaching timetable for the first block teaching block (September to December). Your timetable will emerge during September as your modules, workshops and lectures are added to it.

While we'll make every effort to keep changes in your timetables to a minimum, we may have to make some alterations as we work to provide the most suitable on-campus and online experience for you - we need to consider room capacity and timings to ensure health and wellbeing on campus in line with government guidance on social distancing and increased cleaning routines.

Your final timetable will be confirmed in your course induction meeting at the start of term. We would kindly ask that you do not share your timetable with other students who have not received their personal timetable yet, as each student's timetable is different.

If you are studying at a partner institution, you will receive your timetable from your partner institution.

Particularly at the start of term there could be a delay to viewing your timetable. If you can't see your timetable, it is most likely because your module registration data is still being processed. It means you're still in the process of being attached to various modules. You can seek further information about your modules at your Student Office.

While we will make every effort to keep changes in your timetables to a minimum, we may have to make some alterations as we work to provide the most suitable on-campus and online experience for you - we need to consider room capacity and timings to ensure health and wellbeing on campus is in line with government guidance on social distancing and increased cleaning routines.

Ask advice from your Student Office, it may mean changes to your student record or your timetable have yet to be processed. Staff in the Student Office will be able to investigate and assist you with your query.

While we'll make every effort to keep changes in your timetables to a minimum, we may have to make some alterations as we work to provide the most suitable on-campus and online experience for you. We need to consider room capacity and timings to ensure health and wellbeing on campus in line with government guidance on social distancing and increased cleaning routines.

If a lesson is cancelled your Student Office will notify you by email and/or on Canvas, please ensure you regularly check your Kingston email account for updates. We also recommend you register your Kingston email account on your smart device.

We make every effort to ensure that students are kept informed of any last minute changes to their timetables but occasionally these cannot be avoided. However, if you arrive at your class to find that is has been cancelled and you have not had any prior notification, then we do want to hear about it. You can report a cancelled teaching event on the KU mobile app via the 'Tell Us' tab. We'll then contact your faculty to find out what has happened and they will get back to you as soon as they can with an explanation.

We recommend that you check your timetable daily as rooms for classes could change but we endeavour not to make any changes wherever possible.

As soon as your Student Office has processed your transfer and amended your modules your correct timetable will be active, if in doubt contact your Student Office.

No, you need to attend your allotted class, otherwise this could have implications on overcrowding in the rooms and for attendance monitoring (i.e. you may be marked as absent in your assigned class). If you need to make a permanent change to your timetable, please see below.

You can request changes to your seminars up to the end of the second week of teaching. The University will permit requests to make timetable changes for the following exceptional circumstances:

• Medical reasons
• Childcare responsibilities (normally this would relate to your own children)
• Caring responsibilities.

Depending on which School and Faculty you belong to you may be able to request changes for evidence-based employment commitments.

All requests for timetable changes must be submitted to your student office using the standard form. Please note that evidence to support your request must be submitted with your completed form.

There is no automatic right of time off for religious obligations, but the University will try to make reasonable adjustments wherever it can. It is your responsibility to contact your personal tutor as soon as possible if there is a conflict.

To log on to each of the different platforms used to access your timetable, you'll need your 'K' number and your password. Your 'K' number would have been sent in your confirmation letter and the password that you would have selected at your first stage of enrolment.

If you are having problems logging in contact the IT service desk.

You can find further information about timetabling and its services at My Kingston. Select My University from the drop down menu, select My Timetable and the information for students.

The mobile app may appear to be displaying the incorrect time on your smart device, the mobile app will display the time that is synced with your device. Please ensure the local time on your device is set to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). See How to change the time zone on your phone.

As stated in the University Timetabling and Scheduling Policy, every effort is made to limit the amount of core timetabled teaching on a Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, it is sometimes necessary to schedule teaching on a Wednesday afternoon if no other teaching slots are available. In these instances, approval must be sought from the Head of Timetabling.

Occasionally it may be necessary to schedule tutorials or elective modules on a Wednesday afternoon. In these instances, wherever possible, there will be alternative tutorial slots for you to move to or other elective modules that you could choose.

For further help, please contact your Student Office or the Union of Kingston Students.

Module and room timetables can be accessed from the timetable menu on OSIS.

You can search for rooms on the KU mobile app, click on 'Find' then 'Room Finder'. All room codes follow the same basic naming convention:

Detailed maps of your campus can be found on MyKingston.

1. The first two letters relate to the campus
2. The next two letters relate to the building (for example, JG=John Galsworthy)
3. The remaining numbers tell you the floor number and room location.