I chose the university for its high global ranking (15th in the world) and excellent reputation. I was also impressed by their focus on psychiatric and neurological research which is what I am interested in pursuing.
Course Curriculum :
The curriculum was very diverse and covered a wide range of topics within my chosen field of neuroscience. Each topic was taught by professors who had several years of research and training in that particular topic and hence they were always prepared to answer any questions the students had. We were also given training on other aspects of research such as how to write applications for grants and how to use our knowledge to come up with topics to research. Towards the end, students were also allowed to select an elective from a list of different specializations which was very useful as we could learn exactly what we were interested in. Overall, I was very happy with the broad range of topics that I was exposed to in my master's.
Exams :
GRE scores are accepted but not a requirement for most biological degrees. I scored 160 in Verbal and 160 in Quant for a total of 320/340. They also require proof of English knowledge test which can either be IELTS or TOEFL. I took the TOEFL exam and scored 116/120 (Reading- 29, Listening-30, Speaking-30, and writing-27). Only the English language test is compulsory. A score of at least 100/120 (TOEFL) and 7/9 (IELTS) is required for postgraduate programs. No other exam is required.
Placement :
Campus placements are not a concept in UK universities. However, KCL has a careers and employability service that all students can sign up for which helps by giving advice on how to improve yourself as a job candidate and organizing several networking events for students to make connections. They are also able to help students secure part-time jobs during term time and will help students who approach them with employment queries. Overall, KCL has one of the highest employment rates for graduates all across the UK. Even within KCL, there are always several jobs advertised for research assistants and technicians which are open to all who meet the eligibility requirements. From the MSc Neuroscience graduates, most students go on to do Ph.D. in prestigious institutions. Some students pursue a medical degree after they complete the neuroscience degree and others go on to work in pharmaceutical and other science-based industries. The average salary for a neuroscience graduate is 30,000 GBP which is eligible for the increase. After a Ph.D., the salary can increase to 40,000-50,000 GBP.
Internship :
No. I am focusing on applying for Ph.D. programs.
Events :
Every campus at King's College has a student union area that hosts several social events throughout the year. At night these student Unions turn into bars and have an active nightlife. Departments also organize several talks and seminars by eminent personalities in different fields which are free and open to all. In terms of extracurricular activities, kings have several sports clubs as well as other clubs and societies including an Indian society. These societies organize several events, parties, and gatherings that all members can attend. There is also an extremely well-equipped gym at the central campus that had several fitness classes such as yoga and Zumba which can be availed for a small subsidized fee. Students at king's college are known to have a good work life and social life and I have seen it to be true.
Fees :
27,000GBP (Standard international student fee).
Scholarship :
No, I didn't receive any scholarship.
Faculty :
The faculty and staff are very helpful and always available by email. They usually respond to emails within 3 working days and expect the same from the students. They are always willing to set up meetings if you require their help or have any questions. Furthermore, they are also extremely understanding and compassionate towards students and their mental health and are always there to assure you that there are there to help. The institute of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience at kings has excellent faculty that study a wide range of topics which is perfect when the student is trying to select an advisor for their thesis. Everyone can find a professor that is working on something they're interested in. The institute has faculty that collaborate with extremely high-ranking institutes and amazing labs from all over the UK and the world such as Cambridge and UCLA.
Hostel :
King's has several accommodation options to choose from including post-graduate-only accommodation for those who do not want to mix with undergraduate students who tend to be noisy. On average the accommodation would cost £800 a month which is typical of London prices. My accommodation was extremely clean, spacious, and architecturally beautiful. The staff was extremely helpful and polite. I also found the place quite safe as one could only access the buildings using key cards that were added to your ID card. The kitchens were very spacious and had plenty of storage space. The accommodation also had a common area for students to relax or play games. There was a laundry room and a gym as well for all students to access.
