Discover first-hand insights from a current student and an academic about what it’s like to study with King’s, a founding Russell Group university.
At King’s College London, we’re proud to offer world-class postgraduate programmes to enquiring minds across the globe. We also regularly host online information webinars and Q&A sessions featuring King’s faculty members and current online students. This way, you can make an informed decision on your future.
Read on to discover the key takeaways from our latest virtual open day, with advisors, an academic and a current student in attendance.
The panel
Jeremy Whitty (Programme Director): Leads the Global Medicines Development MSc.
Aylin (Student Support Advisor): Supports students, offering non-academic guidance throughout their studies.
Rob (current student): Rob is Canadian and currently based in Germany, working full-time as an equities day trader. He is enrolled on the Global Finance Analytics MSc.
The Q&A session
Rob, what was your main reason for choosing King’s and this online programme in particular?
Rob: Flexibility, without a doubt. You’re not confined to a specific time zone, and the programme allows you to review lectures when it suits you. I also appreciate that you take one module at a time, structured in blocks, which helps keep the focus manageable.
How is content structured? Are there weekly deadlines to keep you on track?
Rob: For the Global Finance Analytics MSc, we have one core lecture each week that lasts about two hours. Then there’s a second session to address any problems or questions. This goes on for six weeks, and then you have an assessment that covers everything you’ve learned.
In the modules I’ve taken so far, the assessment is entirely based on final submissions, so there haven’t been many weekly deadlines. That said, we’re encouraged to complete the weekly tasks, like problem sets, before the next lecture to stay on top of things. Some modules, especially quantitative ones, may include weekly deadlines to keep students on track.
How much time per week should students expect to spend on their studies?
Rob: I usually spend around 20 hours per week studying, if you include lectures, readings, and assignments. But that number can go up, especially during assessment weeks.
20 hours is a fair average, but sometimes it spikes - especially during assessment weeks. For example, in one of my quantitative modules, I spent closer to 30–35 hours in the final week because I was going over problem sets again and again.
How did you find the transition into the programme once you were accepted?
Rob: I didn’t have a clear plan when I started - I just knew I wanted to do it. The first couple of weeks were definitely an adjustment. I was figuring out how to balance my time and get familiar with the platform.
But after two or three weeks, I got into a good rhythm. The key for me was just starting and then refining my schedule along the way. Now I’ve found what works, and I’m able to stay on top of things.
Have you felt like part of a student community while studying online?
Rob: Yes, definitely. My classmates and I keep in regular contact via WhatsApp groups, which are especially useful during assessments. We share questions, help each other with problem sets, and just stay connected. We support each other, especially around assessment times, which is incredibly helpful.
When it comes to faculty, they’ve been very responsive. I’ve emailed professors when I’ve struggled with certain problems, and they’ve either sent me extra practice materials or walked me through things.
I can also book a slot with my Student Support Advisor any time, and they’re always just a message away on Microsoft Teams. It’s very efficient.
Overall, it’s been really easy to connect with everyone — students, professors, and support staff alike.
Jeremy: To add to that, some of our departments organise events that bring students together. For example, in the Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, we often organise online get-togethers for students. These are great opportunities to connect with peers, learn what’s going on across the centre, and build a sense of community.
We also bring in guest lecturers and industry contributors, who offer their insights and often share their contact details, creating networking opportunities.
Studying online — especially late at night — can feel isolating. So we do what we can to keep everyone connected and engaged.
Aylin, can you tell us more about the online learning platform?
Aylin: Our learning platform is called KEATS, which stands for King’s E-learning and Teaching Service. It’s based on Moodle, and yes, it shares a name with the poet John Keats, who briefly studied at King’s. Our KEATS platform is also available as a mobile app, which is perfect if you want to access content while on the move.
Once you’re in the platform, it’s quite user-friendly. At the top, you’ll find quick links to things like student records and the library. There are also digital skills modules you can self-enrol in. This makes it especially useful for online learners.
Each programme has its own page, with a programme handbook, contact details for faculty, grading and citation guidance, and more. You’ll revisit this area throughout your studies.
Then, each module has its own section. You’ll see information about what’s expected, webinar schedules and links, access to webinar recordings, assessment information, and content for each week — core readings, quizzes, and more.
You’ll also have a welcome call with your Student Support Advisor before you start. On this call, we’ll give you a short demo of KEATS to help you get familiar with the platform. Honestly, once you start using it, it’s very straightforward.
What can students expect in terms of support and resources throughout their studies?
Aylin: As your Student Support Advisor, I’m here for any general or non-academic queries and to connect you with the right teams.
We’re available seven days a week, from 7AM to 7PM UK time. We’re also around on weekends to accommodate students in various time zones. We aim to respond to messages within 24 hours, and even faster if something is urgent.
We schedule regular check-in calls throughout your journey, just to see how things are going. These also help us spot potential issues before they become problems. For example, if you fall behind in a module, we’ll reach out to see how we can help. We’ll support you through any challenges and help guide you to other services if needed.
King’s has a wide range of resources — academic skills support, wellbeing services, career advice, digital learning skills, writing workshops, library support, mental health services, and more.
It’s a holistic approach. We understand you’re juggling your studies with work, family, and life in general, and we’re here to help.
Jeremy: Academic and pastoral support is central to our approach. We know students are investing not just money, but also two years of their lives into these programmes. So, we have a duty to make it the best experience possible.
Even though it’s an online programme, it doesn’t feel remote. The relationships that form between students, faculty, and support staff are very real.
By the end of two years, you’ll know your tutors well, and we’ll know you. We want every student to feel like they’re part of a vibrant, well-supported community.
Can online students use campus facilities or attend in-person events?
Aylin: Yes, absolutely! If you live in the UK or ever visit London, you’re more than welcome to visit the campus. You can pick up your student ID and use campus resources like our beautiful libraries, including the Maughan Library, which is a stunning historic space.
Graduation is open to online students, and we strongly encourage you to attend. You’re definitely part of the King’s community.
How do online assessments and exams work?
Jeremy: At King’s, we continuously review our assessments to ensure they’re fit for purpose. One of our core principles is designing assessments that mirror real-world professional challenges.
For the Global Medicines Development MSc, we don’t use traditional exams like timed essays. You won’t be asked to write long, abstract essays or academic reports with no practical relevance, especially in a world where tools like ChatGPT exist.
Instead, assessments are authentic, applied tasks: proposals, briefing documents, structured analyses, and presentations.
We also use multiple-choice questions and short quizzes to ensure core content is understood. And each week includes a short reflection task, where students explain what they’ve learned, why it’s important, and how it applies to their goals.
These reflections help students develop critical thinking and stay engaged throughout the module, rather than just cramming at the end.
But across all our programmes we design every module to be rooted in real-world practice. That way, when students graduate, they’re not just academically qualified. They can also talk confidently about industry challenges and processes. It’s essentially academic learning, plus business acumen.
How suitable are King’s programmes for recent graduates?
Jeremy: The short answer is: they tend to be very suitable.
Our cohorts are intentionally diverse. We usually have a mix of experienced professionals and recent graduates. The experienced students bring their real-world knowledge, and newer graduates often bring fresh insights and energy.
For those with less experience, I’d encourage taking time during modules to really understand the terminology and industry structure. We’re here to help with that. And the group work ensures you learn alongside peers with different strengths.
So yes, they're absolutely appropriate for early-career professionals.
Thank you to our panel for sharing their insights into online study with King's!
Find out more about what it’s like to study online at King’s College London. Explore what learning and support are like on our online programmes and see how they’re designed to help you succeed:
