King's College London ranks among the top 40 universities in the world according to esteemed agencies like QS, THE, and US News & World Report. King’s College London is a research-led university, and part of the famous Russell Group institutes, offering cutting-edge teaching and research. The university is located in London, ranking 1st in QS Best Student Cities 2025.

KCL is ranked 7th in UK, by QS World University Rankings, 2025. The university ranks at #23 in UK according to The Guardian, 2024. It also ranks 6th in UK, according to THE World University Rankings, 2024.

King's College London is known for its outstanding programs in the medical field and humanities. The university ranks at #2 in nursing, #5 in dentistry, and #13 in medicine according to QS World University Rankings, 2024. EduRank has ranked Clinical Psychology program of the university at 6th in the world. The university has secured the 15th place in the world for psychology program, according to THE World University Rankings. The significant factors that make KCL a globally recognized institute are as follows:

  • Welcoming Faculty: The university has committed lecturers to teaching modules in cutting-edge methods. It is a suitable place for Indian students requiring assistance in their courses in UK.
  • Academic Excellence: Multiple courses in KCL are ranked among the top 100 in the world, across all major disciplines. The university enhances both learning and teaching experience through innovative practical exercises.
  • Research and Technology: KCL is known for world-class research facilities, technical services and technology platforms. The university has research expertise in imaging, biological, medical, physical, materials sciences and digital technologies. The university even offers its research facilities to collaborators and external researchers.
  • Graduate Employability: The university is ranked 7th in UK according to THE Graduate Employability Ranking, 2023-24. KCL graduates are employed in top companies like KPMG, EY, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Western Union and other reputed companies.
  • Recreational Opportunities: The university offers excellent recreational activities through 400+ societies, sports, and, other student activity groups. The award-winning independent students' union provides free membership to all enrolled students.
  • Alumni Networking: KCL reportedly has an alumni network of 40,000 members from 172 countries. The students and graduates can network with King's alumni to contact employers and advance their careers.

King's College London World Rankings

The overall global ranks of King’s College London are #=40 and #38, respectively by QS World University Rankings, 2025 and THE World University Rankings, 2024. CWUR has ranked the university at 42nd in the world. These rankings are based on a range of parameters like academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, international students ratio, sustainability, and more. The ranking trends of the university over the years are provided below:

King's College London World Rankings

Ranking Body 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
QS World University Rankings #=40 #40 #37 #35 #31
THE World University Rankings - #38 #35 #35 #35
The Guardian (UK Rank) - #23 #29 #23 #42
US News and World Report Best Global Universities - #33 #33 #33 #34

King's College London Rankings: Engineering Rankings

KCL has its multiple engineering programs ranked among the top 150 in the world. The Department of Engineering at King's College London combines conventional engineering and modern technologies. These synergies include computing and telecommunications, robotics and medicine, signal processing and digital creative media. Check out the ranking trends of various engineering courses in KCL, below:

King's College London Rankings: Engineering Rankings

Ranking Body Program Ranking 2024 Ranking 2023 Ranking 2022 Ranking 2021
THE World University Rankings Computer Science and Engineering #96 #101-125 #101-125 #95

QS World Subject Rankings

Computer Science and Information Systems #61 #63 #58 #62
Mechanical Engineering #201-250 #201-250 #151-200 #201-250
Electrical and Electronic Engineering #=94 #95 #89 #114
Engineering and Technology #=122 #129 #118 #156

The Guardian

Electronic and Electrical Engineering #51 #56 #59 #60
Computer Science and Information Systems #17 #44 #31 #43

ARWU (Shanghai Rankings)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology #301-400 #201-300 #301-400
Biotechnology #201-300 #101-150 #51-75
Computer Science and Engineering #101-150 #101-150 #101-150
Biomedical Engineering #32 #51-75 #48
Materials Science and Engineering #401-500 #401-500 #301-400
Telecommunication Engineering #51-75 #14 #49
Mechanical Engineering #201-300
Automation and Control #151-200 #151-200 #151-200
Environmental Science and Engineering #51-75 #40 #35
Electrical and Electronic Engineering #36 #45 #51-75

King's College London Medical School Rankings

King's College London has excelled in the field of medical sciences, and hence, it caters to a plethora of top-ranked programs. The Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine is one of the largest research and education centres in the world. The faculty has extensive global partnerships and progressive collaborations. Over 5000 students in this faculty are supported by 500+ leading scientists and educators. The state-of-the-art research of KCL in medical and life sciences field is exemplary. The modern and multidisciplinary neuroscience program at the university is highly regarded. The King’s College London medicine world rankings are as follows:

King's College London Medical School Rankings

Ranking Body Program Ranking 2024 Ranking 2023 Ranking 2022 Ranking 2021

QS World Subject Rankings

Medicine #13 #13 #16 #17
Nursing #2 #2 #2 #2
Pharmacy and Pharmacology #22 #20 #17 #19
Dentistry #5 #9 #9 #5
THE World University Rankings Clinical, pre-clinical, and health #13 #10 #12 #16

The Guardian

Pharmacy and Pharmacology #37 #35 #30 #35
Medicine #27 #26 #29 #31
Dentistry #14 #14 #12 #15
Mental health nursing #48 #52

ARWU (Shanghai Rankings)

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences #49 #13 #21
Medical Technology #5 #4 #4
Clinical Medicine #26 #29 #29
Public Health #30 #23 #28
Dentistry and Oral Sciences #5 #4 #3
Nursing #10 #17 #14

King's College London Business Rankings

The Guardian has ranked King's College London at #9 in 2024 for its well-structured ‘Economics’ program. KCL has secured 12th place in UK for Business and Management according to The Guardian. The business programs in KCL often include placements of 12 months to provide hands-on learning opportunities from industry experts. The ranking trends of business programs in King's College London are as follows:

King's College London Business Rankings

Ranking Body Program Ranking 2024 Ranking 2023 Ranking 2022 Ranking 2021

QS World Subject Rankings

Business and Management Studies #=87 #97 #102 #102
Economics and Econometrics #=116 #138 #139 #136
THE World University Rankings Business and Economics #64 #56 #79 #101-125

The Guardian

Accounting and Finance #26
Business and Management #12 #9 #12 #30
Economics #9 #26 #12 #12

ARWU (Shanghai Rankings)

Management #151-200 #151-200 #201-300
Economics #101-150 #151-200 #151-200
Business Administration #20 #151-200 #201-300

King's College London Natural Science Rankings

King’s College London has several natural science courses ranked among the top 50 in the world, according to QS, THE and other renowned agencies. The university is known for offering multidisciplinary natural sciences degrees with 1 year in industry. Explore the global and national ranking trends of natural science courses at King’s College London, here:

King's College London Natural Science Rankings

Ranking Body Program Ranking 2024 Ranking 2023 Ranking 2022 Ranking 2021

QS World Subject Rankings

Biological Sciences #=32 #37 #46 #57
Natural Sciences #=125 #117 #127 #145
Geography #24 #23 #26 #23
Physics and Astronomy #=83 #88 #79 #94
Mathematics #68 #71 #72 #82
Environmental Sciences #139 #101-150 #101-150 #101-150
Chemistry #=89 #83 #87 #147
Earth and Marine Sciences #201-250 #201-230 #151-200

THE World University Rankings

Psychology #15 #8 #12 #11
Life Sciences #35 #39 #39 #36
Physical Sciences #93 #91 #94 #97

The Guardian

Chemistry #49 #53 #20 #29
Mathematics #61 #65 #58 #55
Physics #46 #46 #40 #45
Geography #36 #25 #32 #41
Psychology #8 #7 #6 #2

ARWU (Shanghai Rankings)

Earth Sciences #301-400 #401-500 #301-400
Geography #10 #15 #18
Physics #101-150 #101-150 #101-150
Atmospheric Sciences #301-400 #201-300 #151-200
Ecology #151-200 #301-400
Chemistry #301-400 #301-400 #301-400
Mathematics #101-150 #151-200 #151-200

King's College London Humanities Rankings

King's College London has marked its place among the top 25 institutions for Arts and Humanities according to both QS and THE WUR, 2024. The university has a wide variety of institutes catering to art and humanities disciplines. These institutes play a pivotal role in engagement with art and culture, combination of art with technology and more. A subject-wise ranking trend of humanities courses at KCL is provided in the following table:

Ranking Body Program Ranking 2024 Ranking 2023 Ranking 2022 Ranking 2021

QS World Subject Rankings

History #23 #21 #17 #14
Classic and Ancient History #11 #18 #12 #26
Law and Legal Studies #15 #15 #15 #16
Communication and Media Studies #27 #26 #29 #23
Arts and Humanities #=22 #18 #27 #30
Education and Training #21 #22 #23 #27
Politics #12 #13 #13 #17
Social Sciences and Management #=41 #42 #42 #52
Social Policy and Administration #=27 #39 #40 #48
Linguistics #101-150 #101-150 #101-150 #101-150
English Language and Literature #15 #15 #16 #14

THE World University Rankings

Education #35 #32 #31 #23
Social Sciences #33 #44 #70 #54
Arts and Humanities #20 #23 #30 #26

The Guardian

English #19 #34 #15 #21
History #19 #27 #12 #34
Law #4 #7 #6 #6
Languages and Linguistics #18 #24
Music #26 #33 #23 #16

ARWU (Shanghai Rankings)

Hospitality and Tourism Management #151-200 #151-200 #201-300
Education #101-150 #101-150 #76-100
Political Sciences #31 #26 #31
Communication #51-75 #51-75 #76-100
Sociology #51-75 #51-75 #76-100
Public Administration #51-75 #51-75 #51-75
Law #76-100 #101-150 #101-150

King’s College London US News Subject Rankings

The US News has placed over 10 courses at King's College London among the top 50 in its recent subject rankings. The significant rankings of various courses in KCL are as follows:

Subject

Rankings 2024

Arts and Humanities

#22

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

#65

Ecology

#259

Clinical Medicine

#32

Engineering

#263

Education and Educational Research

#76

Economics and business

#135

Computer Science

#154

Chemistry

#444

Social Sciences and Public Health

#29

Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health

#18

Physics

#62

Endocrinology and Metabolism

#21

Immunology

#48

Molecular Biology and Genetics

#42

Psychology

#2

Neuroscience and Behaviour

#17

Oncology

#82

King's College London Miscellaneous Rankings

King's College London has proven its progress not only in academics but also in other aspects. British people are warm, and friendly towards international students. Some of the miscellaneous rankings achieved by KCL are as follows:

Ranking Body

Parameter

Latest Rankings

QS WUR

Europe University Rankings - Northern Europe

#7

QS Sustainability Ranking

#=44

US News

Best Global Universities in Europe

#7

Best Global Universities in the UK

#5

CWUR

National Rank

#5

Regional Rank (Europe)

#12

Research Rank

#55

Education Rank

#57

Faculty Rank

#28

Employability Rank #570
Scimago Institutions Rankings World Rank #64
UK Rank #5
EduRank World Rank #68
Europe Rank #10
UK Rank #7
England Rank #6
London Rank #3

As King's College London ranks among the top 40 in the world, admission to the university is quite competitive. The university is globally renowned for maintaining its position among the top 50 universities for decades. The university is one of the 275 private colleges in the world, as per the Forbes Rankings. The university has King Charles III as its Royal Patron. However, the lifestyle in London is quite expensive. Indian students are advised to look for reasonable residences across the 3 campuses. With ever-improving academic facilities and research opportunities, King’s College London truly lives up to its reputation in the world.

FAQs

Ques. Is King's College London a top 10 university?

Ans. Yes. King’s College London is ranked among the top 3 universities in London according to QS World University Rankings, 2025. King’s College London ranks at #9 in UK according to QS World University Rankings, 2025. The university ranks at #=40 in the world according to QS World University Rankings, 2025. Times Higher Education has placed King’s College London at #38 in the world according to the latest THE World University Rankings, 2024.

Ques. Why is King’s College London ranked high?

Ans. King’s College London has retained its 40th global rank for 2 years, according to QS World University Rankings, 2025. The university ranks at #=44 in QS Sustainability Ranking, 2024. According to QS, the factors which contributed most to the high rank of QS WUR are:

  • Academic Reputation (90.3%),
  • International Faculty Ratio (99.1%),
  • International Research Network (98.6%),
  • International Students Ratio (99.5%), and,
  • Sustainability (96.2%).

Ques. What is King's College London ranked in QS?

Ans. King’s College London ranks at #=40 in the world, according to QS World University Rankings, 2025. The university ranks at #3 in London and #9 in UK according to QS World University Rankings. 

Ques. Is KCL or UCL better ranked?

Ans. University College London ranks at #4 in the UK, while Kings College London ranks at #9 in the UK, according to QS World University Ranking, 2025. University College London ranks at #9 in the world according to QS World University Rankings, 2025, slightly higher than King’s College London, ranked at #=40.

Ques. Is King’s College London an Ivy League?

Ans. No, King’s College London is not an Ivy League institute. However, it is one of the highest-ranked institutes in the world. KCL is one of the 24 prestigious members of the Russell Group. These are some world-class research-intensive universities with distinguishing characteristics.

Ques. What are the top-ranked courses in King’s College London?

Ans. King’s College London is recognized for its excellence in the medical field. The university is ranked at #2 in Nursing, and #13 in medicine according to QS World University Rankings by Subject. The university ranks #5 and #14 in Dentistry, according to the latest QS and THE rankings, respectively. Furthermore, KCL has secured the 17th position in UK for Computer Science and Information Systems according to The Guardian.