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Information for international students studying in the UK

Each year, the University of Kent welcomes a large number of international students who have completed qualifications at UK providers. From foundation courses to degrees, we accept a wide range of UK qualifications.

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Entry requirements

At Kent we consider all applications on their individual merit and welcome students with a wide variety of UK qualifications and experience. Please note that some departments may have slightly different entry criteria.

If you have any specific queries or questions please contact us at internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

Foundation programme

We offer two types of foundation programme which enable progression onto a wide range of our undergraduate degrees: the International Foundation Programme (IFP) and 4-year integrated programmes which include a foundation year:

  • The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is for international students whose school-leaving qualifications are insufficient for direct entry to undergraduate study and/or whose English language standard is below the necessary level. The IFP gives you a year’s preparation in academic subjects, English language and study skills up to the required level for progression onto undergraduate degree study. The IFP is delivered at our Canterbury campus by University of Kent academics and successful completion of the programme provides entry into a wide range of Bachelor degrees in our faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences. We offer September and February start dates depending on your chosen pathway and the degree you intend to progress on to.
  • We offer 4-year integrated programmes which include a foundation year in Actuarial Science, Chemistry, Computer Systems Engineering, Electronic and Communications Engineering, Forensic Science, Mathematics, Pharmacology and Physiology, and Physics. These are designed for students with acceptable English language ability but school-leaving qualifications below the level required for direct entry to an undergraduate degree. Entry to these foundation programmes may require you to have studied specific subjects at high school.

Please note: you only need to take a foundation programme if your qualifications are not suitable for your chosen degree.

Undergraduate

At Kent, we encourage all those who have the ability to study at university to apply, and we accept a wide range of qualifications. Please see our General entry requirements for detail or use our online undergraduate prospectus to check the entry requirements for the course you are interested in.

NCUK International Year One

Kent Business School now accept the NCUK International Year One for entry to Year 2 of many of their undergraduate programmes. For details of NCUK centres in your country, please see the NCUK website.

If you are unsure whether your qualification will be suitable, please email our International Recruitment team.

Postgraduate

Please see our General postgraduate entry requirements for detail or use our online postgraduate prospectus to check the entry requirements for the course you are interested in.

If you are unsure whether your qualification will be suitable, please email our International Recruitment team.

MBA

For details of our MBA programme, please see the MBA course page.

PhD

If you would like to pursue a PhD at Kent, you should visit the relevant department website and our find a supervisor page to identify potential supervisors for your research and thesis. You are encouraged to then make direct contact with the appropriate academic to discuss your research proposal.

 

English language requirements

If you have recently completed a qualification in the UK, you may not be required to take a SELT (Secure English Language Test). Please email our International Recruitment team for more information.

Applicants will also need to meet University of Kent's standard English language requirements. These are set at a level that meets both the academic needs of the University and the minimum requirements for a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

Applicants for the International Foundation Programme or pre-sessional English programmes are required to have a UKVI recognised SELT (Secure English Language Test). These must be taken at one of the UKVI approved test centres.

Applicants for postgraduate programmes who have studied to at least Bachelor’s degree level entirely in the medium of English or who have worked in an English speaking environment may be considered for exemption from standard English language requirements on a case-by-case basis.  A letter confirming the medium of instruction of English will be required.

Pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

If you need to raise your English language skills, you can attend one of our intensive pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes. Satisfactory achievement on one of these courses can be used to meet Kent's English language entry requirements in place of other external language examinations.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

For the latest details on fees, see our course fees look-up table.

Funding

The University offers a wide variety of financial support and scholarships, including awards for academic, musical and sporting excellence. Scholarships include our International scholarships for undergraduate students and International Scholarship for Taught Masters Students.

For details of all the scholarships available, please use our scholarship finder.

How to apply

How to apply

Undergraduate applicants

Full-time courses

If you are from the UK or Ireland, you have to apply through UCAS

If you meet the following conditions, you may choose to apply through UCAS or directly on our website:

  1. You are NOT from the UK or Ireland.
  2. You do NOT pay home fee (i.e. you pay international or special EU fee)
  3. You have never used UCAS AND you do not intend to use UCAS in the future

 Please remember if you are eligible and intend to apply directly on our website, you should NOT use UCAS at any point. Submitting your application to both UCAS and our website will cause issues to your application.

Our dedicated international team are here to help support you through the application process. Please do get in touch if you require any advice or support. 

Special courses

If you are applying for a subject-specific foundation programme, you apply in the same way as for a three-year undergraduate degree.

Applications for our International Foundation Programme (IFP) can be made:

Part-time courses

Apply directly on our website.

Apply via our representatives

International students can also apply with the assistance of one of Kent's overseas representatives.

Late applications
A process called 'Clearing' takes place in July and August, running from 1st July annually. We will provide an updated list of all of the Kent degrees that still have places available once Clearing opens – this can give you another chance to apply. For more information on how the Clearing process works and how to apply, please see Clearing at Kent for details.

Postgraduate applicants

See how to apply for postgraduate study.

Important dates
  • For international students, the deadline for applications to taught Master's programmes is 31 July.
  • Although there is no fixed closing deadline for applications to the majority of our research degrees*, we strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible; no later than three months before your intended start date. The University has three PhD entry dates during the academic year: September, January and May. Entry to a Master’s by Research is in September only.

*Applications to PhD degrees for Kent Business School have a deadline of 31 July.

Contact us

If you have any questions about applying to Kent, please contact us.

 

Our representatives

Kent is officially represented by a number of professional agencies with offices in the UK. We work closely with them to ensure that you receive the best possible advice on your study options.

We make regular visits to our representatives’ offices to keep their staff up to date on University developments and advise prospective students on study opportunities. Whilst it is not compulsory, we do encourage you to consult a local representative. Their experienced staff will guide you on the best choice of course and provide you with practical advice on your application.

Find a representative near you:

Office location Representatives
Birmingham
Cardiff
Coventry
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Huddersfield
Leicester
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Newcastle
Oxford