University of Kent
The University of Kent is a public university founded by royal charter in 1965, among the campus universities opened in England in the 1960s. It places students in colleges and teaches at Canterbury and Medway.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University of Kent is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is University of Kent?
University of Kent is a public university in Canterbury, founded in 1965 by royal charter, among the campus universities opened in England in the 1960s. It places students in colleges — Eliot, Rutherford, Keynes and Darwin — which gather accommodation, social life and academic support.
The academic structure is organised under divisions rather than faculties, with Kent Business School and Kent Law School among them. Teaching runs at Canterbury and at Medway.
02
Which subjects stand out at University of Kent?
The subjects University of Kent is known for are law, business, actuarial science and mathematics, computing, arts and humanities and social sciences. Actuarial science is a heading few other UK institutions teach at undergraduate level.
law
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Kent Law School
business
business, finance and management in Kent Business School
actuarial science and mathematics
with statistics, a distinctive heading for the institution
computing
computer science and cyber security
arts and humanities
history, English and drama
social sciences
politics, sociology and anthropology
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at University of Kent?
University of Kent admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at University of Kent?
University of Kent publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Canterbury?
The Canterbury campus stands three kilometres from the city centre on a green hill, with the library, the laboratories and the Gulbenkian arts centre on it. Canterbury is a cathedral city on the UNESCO list.
Kent Union gathers the clubs and societies, and the sports facilities run on campus as Kent Sport. The Medway campus sits at Chatham Maritime, shared with the University of Greenwich.
06
How is an application to University of Kent made?
Undergraduate applications to University of Kent go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to University of Kent directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does University of Kent issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. University of Kent appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- University of Kent — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- University of Kent — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
