USA

Foundation requirements

If you do not have the qualifications, study skills or English language ability you need to take the degree of your choice, you can apply for one of our foundation programmes. We offer two types of foundation programmes: an honours degree with a foundation year and the International Foundation Programme (IFP).

For honours degrees with a foundation year, entry requirements vary depending on the degree you are applying to. You can check the requirements here.

You can study the International Foundation programme at the University of Kent International College (UK IC), run in collaboration with Oxford International on our Canterbury Campus. The International Foundation programme is for international students who may not meet the academic or English language requirements. You can check the entry requirements for the country you have studied in on the Oxford International College webpage. 

Undergraduate requirements

If you are studying, or have studied, the International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate, or A levels please see our general entry requirements for details.

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

For entry to a Kent undergraduate degree programme, US students typically need to have:

• High School Graduation Diploma with a minimum final GPA of 3.2/4.0 PLUS one of the following: SAT with a score of between 1290 – 1380 depending on the subject you are applying for OR ACT with a score of between 27-29 depending on the subject you are applying for OR 2 Advanced Placnt (AP) tests with scores of between 4-5 depending on the subject you are applying forApplicants will also be considered with the following:
• An Associate Degree with a GPA of at least 3.2/4.0 1 or 2 years of a US Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.2/4.0
• International Baccalaureate Diploma and Certificates as per standard University of Kent requirements
• College-level classes/honors classes on a case-by-case basisSecond year entryStudents who have completed 2-3 years of a Bachelor’s degree in the US with a minimum GPA of 3.2/4.0 may be considered for 2nd year entry to a Kent undergraduate programme provided they have taken sufficient classes in their major.Note about studying Law at the University of KentAmerican students who wish to apply for any of our LLB (Law) programmes can also apply to the University of Kent upon completion of the qualifications listed above, since law is considered an undergraduate subject in the UK. It is not necessary to complete an undergraduate degree in the USA first and then apply for the LLB.Students who have already completed their undergraduate degrees in a non-law subject but who wish to obtain an LLB can also apply for entry to the Senior Status LLB, which allows you to complete the LLB in two years rather than three.

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.

Some, but not all, postgraduate programmes require your undergraduate degree to have a related major. Some postgraduate programmes may require work experience in a relevant field or at a certain level.

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

For entry to a Kent postgraduate degree programme (Master’s), US students typically need to have completed a four-year undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s or First Professional degree) at an accredited university or college.

Exact requirements will depend on the postgraduate degree you are applying for and the institution you have studied at. For programmes that require a 2:1 we usually ask for a final GPA of 3.2/4.0.

Students from highly ranked institutions may be accepted with a GPA of 3.0/4.0

For programmes that require a 2:2 we usually ask for a final GPA of 3.0/4.0. Students from highly ranked institutions may be accepted with a GPA of 2.8/4.0

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.

• English language requirements for undergraduates
• English language requirements for postgraduates

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.

Pre-sessional course information

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.