Kingston University

What Kingston University does

Kingston University London is a public UK higher education institution founded in 1899, operating from four campuses in Kingston upon Thames approximately 30 minutes from central London. It serves more than 20,000 students drawn from 140 countries, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across four faculties: Kingston School of Art, Business and Social Sciences, Health Science Social Care and Education, and Engineering Computing and the Environment. Its portfolio spans over 128 undergraduate courses, 126 postgraduate courses, foundation programmes, degree apprenticeships, and short courses. The institution has invested £118.7 million in facilities including a Bloomberg Trading Room and simulation labs.

The university's distinguishing product is its Future Skills Programme, the only UK programme fully embedding human-centric skills (problem solving, critical thinking, digital competency, empathy) as a core, assessed component across every undergraduate degree. It operates through a three-phase model (Navigate, Explore, Apply), with the final Apply phase launched University-wide in September 2025. Supporting infrastructure includes the Adobe Creative Campus partnership (providing digital tools across all disciplines), four Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes (KERIs), and enterprise programmes such as Studio KT1 (a student-run creative agency), The Nest (a 24-month business growth programme with up to £10,000 seed funding), and the Bright Ideas competition. The university achieved TEF Gold in all three categories (one of only 26 UK institutions) and 70% of its research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the REF.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees (domestic undergraduate, international undergraduate, postgraduate), with regulated domestic fees capped by government and higher international fees varying by course. Supplementary income streams include degree apprenticeship funding via the ESFA employer levy, research grants and contracts, and alumni donations. Distribution is multi-channel: UCAS applications for UK undergraduates (institutional code K84), direct applications via OSIS for postgraduates, the annual Clearing process, employer-sponsored apprenticeships, and a global international recruitment network supported by country-specific information pages and agent partnerships.

Name

Kingston University

Legal name

Kingston University London

Website

https://kingston.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kingston University London is a UK public university founded in 1899, serving over 20,000 students from 140 countries across four campuses, distinguished by its Future Skills Programme embedded across all undergraduate degrees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Competency-Based Universities (CBE) (EDAHALAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate degree programs
• Research and innovation
• Degree apprenticeships

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston Upon Thames

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Domestic Undergraduate Tuition Fees: UK and EU undergraduate students pay tuition fees regulated by the UK government, typically funded through Student Finance England loans.
2. International Student Tuition Fees: Higher tuition fees for international students from outside the EU/UK, variable by course and subject area.
3. Postgraduate Tuition Fees: Taught and research postgraduate courses with variable fees. Postgraduate Masters Loans available up to £12,858 for eligible UK students.
4. Degree Apprenticeship Funding: Funded by employer ESFA levy contributions; apprenticeships are fully funded for employed apprentices with no tuition fees charged to the student.
5. Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from Research Councils, government bodies, and industry partnerships for research degrees and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
6. Donations and Charitable Giving: Support from alumni and donors through the Kingston University community of donors, including student hardship fund and care leaver bursaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kingston University is a UK higher education institution delivering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across four faculties (Kingston School of Art, Business and Social Sciences, Health Science Social Care and Education, and Engineering Computing and the Environment). It also offers foundation courses, degree apprenticeships, short courses, research degrees through Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes (KERIs), and entrepreneurship programmes including Studio KT1 and The Nest. Its differentiator is the Future Skills programme, which embeds human-centric skills (problem solving, critical thinking, digital competency, empathy) as a core assessed component across all undergraduate degrees.

Product overview

Kingston University is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering centres on undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across four faculties (Kingston School of Art, Business and Social Sciences, Health Science Social Care and Education, and Engineering Computing and the Environment), supplemented by foundation courses, degree apprenticeships, and short courses. The university distinguishes itself through its sector-leading Future Skills Programme—a mandatory, assessed component embedded across all undergraduate degrees designed to develop human-centric competencies alongside subject-specific learning. Supporting this are enterprise and innovation products including Studio KT1 (creative agency), The Nest (business growth programme), Bright Ideas competition, Ideas Accelerator, and Fast Track Programme. The Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes (KERIs) provide research collaboration infrastructure. Partnerships with Adobe (Creative Campus) and participation in the Turing Scheme for study abroad further enhance the offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Courses Full-time and part-time undergraduate degree programmes offered across four faculties, with subject specialisms including fashion, graphic design, nursing, midwifery, engineering and geography. Available to UK and international applicants applying through UCAS.
• Postgraduate Courses Taught and research postgraduate degrees offered with flexible start dates and study modes, available to UK and international students via direct application through OSIS.
• Foundation Courses Preparatory programmes providing entry pathways to undergraduate degrees for both domestic students (science/engineering foundation years) and international students (International Foundation Year and Art/Design Foundation Diploma).
• Degree Apprenticeships Employer-funded higher and degree apprenticeships enabling employed apprentices to study for a relevant degree while earning through paid work. Includes programmes in nursing, engineering, surveying, and retail leadership.
• Short Courses Subject-specific short courses, workshops, and summer schools for personal interest or professional development across art and design, computing, and health and social care disciplines.
• Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes (KERIs) Four interdisciplinary research institutes delivering collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and postgraduate research degrees with industry and government partners.
• AI for Business and Innovation MSc New postgraduate masters programme launching September 2026, focused on human-centred, practice-based AI applications in business and innovation.
• Professional Placement Year Optional paid placement year available to home and international full-time postgraduate students after taught modules, with career support from the placements team.
• Studio KT1 University creative agency providing paid real-world project experience to students working on branding, illustration, digital campaigns, and animation for clients including BBC R&D, Canary Wharf Group, and Cass Art.
• The Nest 24-month structured growth programme for students and graduates with business ideas, offering up to £10,000 seed funding, tailored mentoring, and access to an enterprise community.
• Bright Ideas Competition University-wide competition for students to practice creativity, problem-solving, and clear communication while exploring or shaping business ideas, with expert feedback.
• Ideas Accelerator One-day bootcamp helping students and graduates fast-track business or self-employment ideas through interactive sessions on mindset, validation, marketing and sales.
• Fast Track Programme Intensive multi-week start-up validation experience for students and graduates ready to test and grow business ideas through customer discovery, mentoring, and business-building activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Defence Universities AllianceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Kingston University named founding member of the newly formed Defence Universities Alliance, one of 35 founding university members.
• Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partnership producing the Future Skills 2025 report 'Perspectives from East and West', examining employer skills requirements in UK and Singapore contexts. NTU contributed research examining emerging challenges posed by AI and the impact of Future Skills education.
• AdobecoreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe is a leading provider of digital solutions supporting Kingston University's Future Skills campaign as an Adobe Creative Campus. Through the partnership, Adobe and the University jointly identified how to help students gain critical Future Skills essential for the modern workplace. Adobe's digital tools empower students to develop these skills, ensuring they are ready to tackle workplace challenges. Adobe provides innovative tools and solutions that enhance digital literacy and creativity among students.
• John Lewis PartnershipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Lewis Partnership collaborated with Kingston University second-year students on the Explore phase of the Future Skills programme. Over 600 undergraduates across two Faculties created innovative business solutions for Waitrose & Partners, addressing AI adoption, supply chain optimisation, and climate risk resilience. This partnership exemplifies how business challenges can be embedded into education.
• Publicis MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublicis Media supports Kingston University's Future Skills campaign, emphasising the importance of nurturing creativity, problem solving and communication skills vital across all industries. The partnership helps strengthen career pathways and grow next generation talent.
• Sanofi PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal pharmaceutical company collaboration with Kingston University on vaccine research and public health initiatives.
• Royal Marsden NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership developing cancer support application (CanAdvice) with advice and monitoring tools for cancer patients.
• Driver Youth TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKUDYT partnership between Kingston University and Driver Youth Trust helping trainee teachers and schools support pupils who have challenges in reading and writing.
• Turing Scheme PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 partner universities across 30+ countries spanning five continents through the UK Government's Turing Scheme for study and work abroad opportunities. European partners include institutions in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. Worldwide partners include Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, USA and more.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Westminster: A post-1992 London university of comparable size (~19,000 students) with a similarly diverse student body and broad undergraduate/postgraduate portfolio, competing directly with Kingston for London-based and international applicants across business, arts and health programmes.
• Middlesex University: A modern post-1992 London university of similar size (~17,000–19,000 students) with a comparable international intake and broad portfolio, competing directly with Kingston for international applicants and employer partnerships in Greater London.
• London South Bank University: A post-1992 London university of similar scale (~17,000 students), strong in health, engineering and applied disciplines, competing directly with Kingston for the same London-based and international undergraduate pool.
• University of Greenwich: A modern London university with ~18,000–20,000 students, similar international intake and a comparable range of faculties, competing directly with Kingston in the South East London and broader UK applicant market.
• University of East London: A post-1992 East London university of similar size (~13,000–17,000 students), comparable in international student mix and subject breadth, competing with Kingston for non-traditional and international applicants in the capital.
• University of Roehampton: A South West London university operating across a similar London commuter footprint, broadly comparable in scale and student profile, and competing with Kingston in arts, social sciences and health/social care programmes.
• Brunel University London: A West London post-1966 university of broadly similar scale (~12,000–15,000 students) with overlapping engineering, business and health portfolios, competing with Kingston in the Greater London and international applicant pool.
• University of Hertfordshire: A post-1992 modern university of similar or slightly larger size (~25,000–30,000 students) with comparable subject breadth, share of international students and employer-led degree apprenticeship offerings.
• University of Bedfordshire: A modern post-1992 university of broadly similar size (~13,000–16,000 students), comparable in widening participation profile and international intake, competing with Kingston for non-traditional and international applicants in the South East.

Broad incumbents

• University of the Arts London: A larger specialist London arts institution (~18,000–20,000 students) and the most direct comparator for Kingston School of Art on graphic design, fashion and creative disciplines; broader and more established, but overlapping in subject-level competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KingstonUni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kingstonuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/KingstonUni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kingston-university-cp
• Instagraminstagram.com/kingstonuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@kingstonuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kingston University