Choose your course

King's College London is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranked within the first 20 by QS World University Rankings in 2014. It is clear then why you chose to study at this institution. The first and most important (although often underestimated!) step of your application is choosing the right course. Start from the King's website, where you can browse courses by keywords. You can also download an overview of all postgraduate offers in the online prospectus. There are tons of options! If you're not quite sure whether you want to become a specialist in polar bears' reproduction yet, there are ways for you to find out what your dream course is. Check for postgraduate open evenings and campus tours on the website. Visits represent a great chance for you to clear your doubts, or even just “feel the vibe”. Keep in mind that this is where you'll spend some of the most exciting times of your life! Don't be afraid to ask: you can contact the programmes' directors, academics and current students. For this purpose, there is a Virtual Fair with videos, download materials, and even live chat opportunities. A few sample questions: what is the research in my field focusing on at the moment? Can I take optional modules from other Departments? What about foreign languages and joint Degrees? What conferences does the Faculty host? Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Check the entry requirements

So you've found your perfect postgraduate programme at King's College. It's time to find out if you've got all it takes! Remember that entry requirements vary for each course and you can read them on the programme's webpage or on the online prospectus. For the majority of postgraduate taught courses, a 2:1 honours degree is required. Many postgraduate research degrees will also require a master's degree. King's is an international university, very aware of the different academic paths around the world. If you undertook your undergraduate studies overseas, they will recognise the equivalence. If you are an international student, make sure to meet the English language requirements too. These vary depending on your Faculty of choice but simply mean that if your mother tongue is not English, you have to prove your English language skills with an English Proficiency Test. Typically, students take the IELTS or TOEFL test. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

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Personal statement

If you're applying for a Master or PhD, in order to be offered a place at King's College there's some writing for you to be done. A personal statement is basically a letter to the admissions panel, where you outline why you would make a great asset for their programme. This is not simply an extended version of your CV! It's usually good to start with a very personal paragraph (an anecdote, maybe) which tells the story of how you fell in love with the subject. Then you should move on proving this passion: your previous studies and extra-curricular activities related to the field, your publications and awards... It's not a bad idea to tell something extra about yourself: you speak other languages and love travelling, or maybe you care for animals and have volunteered in your local dogs' shelter. You definitely need to talk about King's too: why did you choose to study there? What do you expect from this programme? What are your academic and career goals? Some Master's programmes also ask you to write a short paragraph to outline the optional modules you'd like to take, and the topic you intend to write your final thesis on. PhDs applicants usually won't need to write a personal statement but are always required to submit a detailed research proposal. You will find guidance about how to write a research proposal on the department's website. Pretty much all PhD programmes (and some Master's too) will ask you to submit a written sample. This will typically be your Master's thesis or one other academic essay. Just a tip: check, double-check and ask someone else to check. Spelling and grammar mistakes could seriously compromise your application. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Reference letters

Reference letters are essential to both Master and PhD applications, at King's College and elsewhere. These are letters written by a person from your past in the position to describe your suitability for your intended studies: typically, previous professors or employers. King's College usually asks you to submit two reference letters. If you are applying for a Master, it's best to ask your undergraduate professors, while previous employers and supervisors are good options for PhD applicants. Your referees need to know you well and truly be excited about your future: “plane” reference letters are simply bad reference letters. They will need to describe in details your personality, writing and research skills and the projects you took part in, together with your attitude towards your peers and supervisors. In short, a good referee will describe you as special! Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Time to apply!

The new year has started, you have decided what to study next at King's College and made sure you have all it takes: it's time for you to submit your application! First of all, find out when the deadline is but don't worry, we can already tell you there is still plenty of time. For September 2016 entries, Masters' applications at King's usually close in early April (with some earlier exceptions!), while for PhDs we are talking about the 2nd of September. Keep in mind that usually, funding deadlines are earlier! International students are often required to apply earlier too. Sometimes, late applications may be considered subject to the availability of places. If you are a PhD applicant, remember that you are strongly advised to contact potential supervisors before you submit your application. Some Departments actually ask you not to apply if you can't find a supervisor. Applications are made through UCAS or the “King's Apply” website. Here, you will have to register, give your personal information and upload relevant documents. Check for the application fee. Not all programmes require the application fee but if that's the case, you won't be able to submit your application until you will have paid £30. At King's College, it is possible to apply for several programmes, but you will have to pay a separate fee for each application. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student