Entry requirements
At Kent we consider all applications on their individual merit and welcome students from the USA with a wide variety of 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
College Board code
The University of Kent's College Board code is 9027. Please quote this number if you request for your official transcripts to be sent to us
Foundation programme
Students who have successfully completed their High School Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 are eligible to apply for our foundation programmes. We will also consider students who have taken the General Educational Development (GED) Programme, High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).
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.
“The IFP has helped significantly in my degree studies…”
Read our International Pathways blog and discover how the International Foundation Programme helped students Sarah Fong and Vivian Moreno develop the skills they needed to excel in their undergraduate degrees and progress to postgraduate study.
Undergraduate
For entry to a Kent undergraduate degree programme, US students typically need to have:
- A 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
- 3 SAT Subject Tests with scores of between 600-700 depending on the subject you are applying for OR
- 2 Advanced Placement (AP) tests with scores of between 4-5 depending on the subject you are applying for
Applicants will also be considered with the following:
- A combination of SAT Subject Tests and Advanced Placement (AP) tests.
- 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 basis
Second year entry
Students 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 Kent
American 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.
Postgraduate
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
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.
MBA
For details of our MBA programme, please see the MBA course page.
PhD
For entry to a Kent PhD programme, US students typically need to have completed a Master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.2/4.0 at an accredited university or college. Students who have completed a taught Master’s will need to show evidence of previous research experience.
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.
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.
English language requirements
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.
Loans for students from the USA
The University of Kent administers US Federal Direct loans, US Private loans and US Veterans Educational Benefits (or GI Bill) for students from the United States. Find out more...
Postgraduate Taught tuition fee deposit scheme for international-fee paying applicants
As of 1 November 2018, a deposit payment of £2,000 is required to secure your acceptance of an offer for a Postgraduate Taught programme at Kent. This deposit will be deducted from the overall tuition fee you are required to pay at enrolment.
We advise early payment of the deposit, and the final deadlines for us to receive your tuition fee deposit are:
- Postgraduate Taught Master's with a September start date: 1 July
- Postgraduate Taught Master's with a January start date: 1 December
The University reserves the right to withdraw your offer if the tuition fee deposit is not received by the relevant deadline. If this occurs, your application will only be re-instated subject to receipt of the deposit and places being available on your chosen course. If you are offered a place after the given deadline, an immediate deposit payment will be required to secure your place.
If you require a CAS for visa purposes, this will not be issued until the deposit has been received for your chosen course.
Please note: The deposit is only applicable to postgraduate programmes that start in the UK. A deposit is not required for postgraduate programmes that are taught exclusively at our centres in Brussels, Paris, Rome and Athens.
Applicants to Postgraduate Taught programmes with Kent Business School are currently only required to pay a £1,000 tuition fee deposit. Please see the Kent Business School Online Store pages for details.
Deferrals
The University will consider deferral requests for postgraduate applicants for up to one year if they have fully met the conditions of offer and have paid the fee deposit.
Further information
For full terms and conditions, including details of our deposit refund policy and application deferrals, please visit our Online Store. If you have any questions about the deposit scheme, please contact the Admissions Team via your online application portal or email international@kent.ac.uk.