What Students Say
Likes
- Student support teams, infrastructure, study spaces, library, academic resources
Dislikes
- Graduation ceremony fee (should be included in tuition fee)
- Limited one-to-one time with academics
- Departments often in silos (lack of collaborative approach at times between departments)
Admission Experience
- I chose UK to pursue public policy due to its similarity with Indian parliamentary system. I particularly opted for King's due to high academic ranking as well as the optional Internship module offered under the degree. London is a great city to explore - both academic and non-academic experiences.
- My overall experience at King's has been great, I'm grateful for the academic and professional opportunities as well as extracurricular activities. The student life has been exciting. However, I expected a more practical approach with my degree (MA Public Policy) and was a bit disappointed to see the core modules be more theoretical.
Course Curriculum
The core modules were very academic in nature, a bit too theoretical for my liking. I had the option to select other modules which were more practical (and more engaging in my opinion). The internship module was interesting however my internship was just a month long and wasn't paid.
Faculty
- Seminars (where the class get divided into smaller groups post lectures) are a great way to have in-depth discussions with faculties as well as peers. Besides seminars, we can book one-to-one meetings with them also. Although, a lot of the times, the meeting duration is really short. Some of them also take a long time to reply to assignment-related queries over email. Most of them are really academically involved in the field, which is why it becomes tough for them to help us connect with organisations we're interested to work for (esp those involved in action-oriented work).
- The faculties overall are very intellectual, insightful and approachable. I loved the faculties who taught modules like 'New Political Economy of Media', 'Using Economics in Government', 'Evaluating Public Policy', and the like.
Campus Life
King's has 3 major campuses, I was based out of Strand. The Maughan Library is just beautiful. Campus life has been amazing at King's with lots of student-focussed events happening across the year. The opportunity to meet new people from different countries has been so exciting. I've been an active part of the hiking society and I've gotten to explore the scenic landscape of the UK, with hikes happening almost every weekend!
Placement
- Policy specific opportunities are contract-based. It's tough to get a job as an international student on a visa. The post study work (PSW) visa also costs 3000 GBP for 2 years, which a few companies sponsor if you get offered a job there. Although, even after securing a PSW visa (through self or company sponsorship), there is still no certainty about the permanency of a job.
- However, it is easier to get placed at higher education institutions (especially if you're willing to sponsor your own visa). For example: there are several research and professional teams within universities willing to offer jobs to recently graduated students. The jobs may not be policy-specific though.
Accommodation
I stayed at Northumberland House in a twin sharing room and I had to pay 215 GBP per week. A lot of my friends also opted for King's residences, which is a bit more expensive but has a bit more modern facilities.
Exams
- The IELTS score required was 7.75, I scored 8.5. GMAT or GRE not required for my course.
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Grade 10 - 89%
Grade 12 - 94%
Delhi University - 7.8 CGPA - I submitted an SOP with 3 LORs (2 academic and 1 professional). Make sure you ask your referees in advance for your LORs. When it comes to the SOP, be specific with what you are interested, why you've opted for the said course and why you wish to study at King's particularly. Avoid generic statements of making a change, and dive deeper into the specific experiences you've had which drives you towards pursuing the degree.
