KCL Admissions Statistics: What You Need to Know

Founded in 1829, King’s College London (KCL) counts 14 Nobel Laureates among its alumni and is ranked 6th in the world for research ‘power (opens in a new tab)’. It’s no wonder that you’re tempted to apply.

But, you want to know your real chances of securing a place. You don’t want vague statements about KCL being competitive.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We've gathered the latest KCL admissions statistics and broken down the numbers for different faculties. 

Whether you're aiming for Medicine or considering Business, you'll get a realistic picture of what you're up against. Read on to find out more.

Top 3 KCL Admissions Statistics 

• Overall in 2024, 37,363 UK-based students applied to KCL for an undergraduate course.

• Of those, 16,056 students received an offer.

• Out of the students who were made offers, 5,226 had their places confirmed after they had achieved the grades needed for their chosen course.

KCL Admissions Statistics: By Faculty

Below is a table of the number of 2024 applicants, offers made, and places confirmed for each of the faculties at KCL. 

Statistics are from KCL’s own undergraduate admissions data (opens in a new tab):

Key Trends from 2024

1.Getting an offer is much harder in some faculties than others

Dentistry and Law receive thousands of applications, but make few offers. 

Dentistry:

• Applications: 3,258

• Offers: 281

Law:

• Applications: 2,552

• Offers: 317

This shows us that these courses are very competitive. Many students apply, but only a small number are offered places. Arts and Humanities and Nursing, on the other hand, make offers to a much larger share of applicants, meaning students who apply there are more likely to receive an offer.

2.Demand to apply at KCL is very high

Across all faculties, there are more than 37,000 UK undergraduate applications for just over 5,000 acceptances. This shows that King’s College London is a hugely popular university, and competition is strong.

Lots of students want to study at King’s. Some subjects are much harder to get into than others, and courses linked closely to careers (like medicine and dentistry) tend to be both very popular and very competitive.

3. Arts and Humanities has the highest proportion of offers compared to applications

If you apply for a course in the Arts and Humanities faculty, you’re more likely to receive an offer than in any other faculty listed. Three-quarters of those students who applied in 2024 received an offer.

Offer Rate vs Acceptance Rate: What's the Difference?

These two terms get confused all the time. Here’s a clear explanation:

The offer rate is the percentage of applicants who receive a conditional or unconditional offer of admission. If 100 students apply and 20 get offers, the offer rate is 20%.

The acceptance rate is the proportion of applicants who actually take up and enrol in a place. This includes students who meet their conditional offer requirements.

You might get an offer, but if it's conditional on getting A*AA and you don't quite hit those grades, you may not end up with a place. The acceptance rate reflects the students who actually make it through the door.

What This Means for Applicants

It can be difficult to know what to do with all the data and stats. Understanding trends helps you see the big picture, but these trends shouldn’t put you off applying to the course and university you have your heart set on. You just need to be realistic.

• Assume the process is competitive, especially for high-demand courses. Don't underestimate how tough it is to get in.

• Aim to exceed entry requirements. Meeting the minimum isn't enough. Where possible, go beyond what's required.

• Make your application match your course. Choose subject combinations carefully. Make sure your personal statement directly addresses why you want to study your chosen subject.

• Consider your backup options. Apply to a mix of courses and universities. Include some "safer" choices alongside universities, like KCL.

• Use statistics as a tool, not a guarantee. These numbers help you understand competitiveness. They don't predict your individual outcome.

Remember, you're competing against other real students. Make your application as strong as it can possibly be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KCL’s acceptance rate?

In 2024, the offer rate was 43%. However, the acceptance rate was 14%. This means that only 11% of KCL applicants ended up enrolling onto their chosen course.

What Percentage of KCL Students Drop Out?

According to The Guardian (opens in a new tab), KCL has a drop out rate of 5.5%. This accounts for students who drop out of their course during the first year only.

Do I need A*s or perfect grades to get into KCL?

Not necessarily, but it helps. Minimum requirements vary by course. Some courses, like Medicine (opens in a new tab), require A*AA, including a grade A in Biology and Chemistry. Others, like History (opens in a new tab), require AAA, but don’t specify any must-have subjects.

Check the specific entry requirements for your course by using KCL’s Course Finder (opens in a new tab). Then aim to exceed them if possible.

Get Into KCL with Save My Exams

Securing a place at King’s College London is challenging, but it’s not impossible. Use these admission stats as one part of your application strategy. They help you understand what you're up against.

Every year, students who work hard, prepare well, and present strong applications earn places at KCL.

Focus on what you can control. Build the strongest application possible. And give yourself the best possible chance of joining the KCL community.

You can maximise your chances of getting an offer by using Save My Exams examiner-written revision resources. They’re built around what actually comes up in exams, helping you boost your grades and stay in control of your revision - without the overwhelm.

Explore our A Level revision resources and dedicated university guidance.

References

KCL - About (opens in a new tab)

KCL Undergraduate Admissions Data (opens in a new tab)

KCL - Medicine (opens in a new tab)

KCL - History (opens in a new tab)

KCL - Search for Courses (opens in a new tab)

The Guardian - University Rankings 2025 (opens in a new tab)