King's College London Does Not Admit Directly with the Gaokao: Chinese Students Take the International Foundation Programme, Gaokao 540+, Priority Deadline March 5, 2027

In the "international applicants" section of its undergraduate course pages, King's College London states that China's gaokao, regular high school graduation results (huikao) and the Maple Leaf international school diploma cannot be used for direct undergraduate entry; students should first take the King's International Foundation Programme (KIFP). King's also does not accept foundation programmes outside the UK, or "Year 0" courses that form part of other universities' degrees.

Foundation programme entry requirements

The programme lasts one year and has four streams: Health, Life and Biological Sciences; Science, Engineering and Natural Sciences; Politics, Culture and Social Sciences; and Business and Economics. Each stream has different pathways with their own requirements. Below are the 2026 entry requirements from the pathway pages; 2027 requirements will be confirmed when applications open:

• Applying with the gaokao: 540/750 overall; pathways that include maths (such as computer science, or business and economics with maths) also require 65/100 or 97/150 in maths.
• Applying with high school grades: An overall average of 80% across the three years of high school; maths pathways also require 80% in Grade 12 maths.
• English: IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component; IELTS 5.5 (at least 5.0 in each) qualifies for the extended programme, which starts with a five-week online English course.

Applications and fees (2027 entry)

• Applying: Through the King's Apply portal, opening November 2026. You submit results (or predicted grades) from the last two to three years of high school, an English score and a personal statement; the application fee is £75 per stream. You cannot change stream or pathway after the course starts.
• Priority deadline: March 5, 2027. Applications received by then are guaranteed consideration and leave time to apply for university housing after an offer; later, some pathways may be full.
• Dates: The extended programme starts online on August 16, 2027; the standard programme starts on campus on September 27, 2027 and ends on June 2, 2028.
• Fees: £29,850 for the 2026/27 programme, £34,550 for the extended version; a £6,000 deposit (counted toward tuition) is due after receiving an offer.

Progressing to a degree

• Progression rates: In 2025, over 75% of foundation students progressed to King's undergraduate degrees; over the past five years, 65%–90% met progression requirements each year, and another 15%–20% went on to other UK universities.
• Guaranteed conditional offer: Most degrees guarantee foundation students a conditional offer or interview. Students apply through King's Apply to up to two King's degrees, without a new personal statement or UCAS.
• Grade conversion: Degrees requiring A*A*A or A*AA need an overall foundation grade of A (70%); AAA or AAB need B+ (65%); ABB or BBB need B (60%). A subject requirement of A* converts to A (70%) in that foundation module, A to B+ (65%), and B to B (60%).
• Degrees without a guarantee: Dentistry, Law (LNAT required), Medicine (UCAT and interview required; international places are capped by the UK government), Midwifery, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy. These also require a separate UCAS application.

Chinese students who want to apply directly to a King's degree need a recognised qualification such as A-Level or IB. For example, the Computer Science BSc requires A*A*A at A-Level (with A in maths) or 39 in the IB, with an application deadline of January 13, 2027.

Sources: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/computer-science-bsc/entry-requirements; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/international-foundation/programme; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/international-foundation/how-to-apply; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/international-foundation/fees-funding; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/international-foundation/progression; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/international/courses/computerscience. Check the official sources for the latest policy.