Kingston University's BSc (Hons) Computer Science is a BCS-accredited degree (The Chartered Institute for IT) taught across Kingston's campuses in Kingston upon Thames, a short train ride from central London. The course lets students choose a specialist pathway, Networking and Network Security, User Experience Design, Web and App Development, or Software Engineering, and runs in "state-of-the-art computer laboratories." For international students comparing a London-adjacent computer science degree against significantly more expensive or more selective UK options, Kingston's combination of professional accreditation, a moderate entry bar, and proximity to London's tech job market is worth evaluating directly.
This article covers acceptance dynamics, fees, admission requirements, how to actually get in, English-language rules, and career outcomes for this specific degree.
Acceptance Rate
Kingston does not publish a numeric acceptance rate for Computer Science or any of its individual undergraduate courses, in line with standard UK practice. The published entry bar itself is 112-128 UCAS tariff points, roughly two A-levels in the B/C grade range, or a BTEC National Extended Diploma at Distinction-Merit-Merit (DMM), with international qualifications evaluated against Kingston's own equivalency guidance. A Foundation Year route is available at a lower 64 UCAS tariff points for students who need an additional preparatory year. This sits well below the AAA-plus thresholds that Russell Group computer science departments typically require, making it a comparatively accessible route into a professionally accredited computer science degree.
Because UK admissions run against fixed course requirements rather than a comparative applicant pool, meeting the published academic and English-language bar functions as the practical equivalent of "getting in," rather than competing for a fixed number of seats the way a US-style acceptance rate implies.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Kingston's published international tuition fees for BSc (Hons) Computer Science increase each year of study:
| Academic year | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 (placement) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £19,200 | £19,900 | £20,700 | £21,500 |
| 2027/28 | £20,500 | £21,300 | £22,100 | £22,900 |
The standard course runs 3 years full-time, with a 4-year sandwich version available if you add a placement year. Kingston's own estimated living costs for international undergraduates in university-managed housing range from £1,128 to £2,962 per month depending on accommodation type, with private accommodation estimated at £1,310-£2,290/month. On top of this, budget for the one-time UK Student visa fee (£524) and the annual Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/year at the student rate).
Admission Requirements
- Completed UCAS application (or Kingston's direct international application route)
- 112-128 UCAS tariff points: two A-levels, a BTEC National Extended Diploma (DMM), or a recognized international equivalent
- Foundation Year option available at 64 UCAS tariff points
- Academic transcripts, certified and translated if not originally in English
- Evidence of English proficiency (see below), unless exempt
- No interview, entrance test, or portfolio required
- Kingston directs applicants to confirm current-cycle requirements directly with admissions, since specifics can shift between entry years
How to Get Into Kingston's Computer Science Program
-
Confirm your international qualification maps to the 112-128 UCAS points band directly with admissions, since Kingston evaluates non-UK secondary qualifications individually against its published international equivalency guidance.
-
Pick a specialist pathway (Networking and Network Security, User Experience Design, Web and App Development, or Software Engineering) with your target career in mind, rather than defaulting to the general track, since Kingston structures the degree around these guided learning journeys.
-
Clear the IELTS 6.0 minimum with margin, not exactly at the floor. Kingston's own course data shows later years weighted heavily toward coursework (Year 3 assessment is roughly 90% coursework), so strong academic writing and documentation skills matter more than the entry bar alone suggests.
-
Use the Foundation Year route if you're below the standard threshold, rather than assuming you're locked out of a BCS-accredited degree; it leads directly into the same course without a separate application later.
-
Research the balance between theory and industry-applied content in each pathway before applying, since "Computer Science BSc" programs vary meaningfully between institutions in how much weight they put on each.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Kingston's published undergraduate English-language minimums, applicable to Computer Science:
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall, no element below 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 overall (Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17) for tests through December 2025 |
| PTE Academic | 59 overall, no element below 59 |
| Duolingo English Test | Not accepted, per Kingston's published requirements at time of research |
A gap worth flagging: for TOEFL tests from January 2026 onward, Kingston's page lists an overall figure of "4" with components at "4.5" and "4," which reads like a CEFR-referenced label rather than the standard 0-120 TOEFL iBT scale. We could not verify an actual raw numeric score after a couple of attempts. If your test date falls in 2026 or later, confirm the exact required score directly with Kingston admissions before relying on the published figure.
For Kingston's full English-language policy across all programs and levels, see the Kingston University guide.
Separately, if you require a Student visa, the Home Office requires proof of English proficiency through an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, which is distinct from a standard IELTS Academic sitting at a non-approved test center. Confirm with Kingston which specific test and sitting satisfies both the course's academic entry requirement and the separate visa requirement.
Career Outcomes
Kingston's Computer Science degree is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, giving graduates a recognized professional credential that some UK computing employers and further-study routes weight directly. Kingston holds a Gold rating across all three Teaching Excellence Framework categories (2023), including "student outcomes," though we could not find a Kingston-published, course-specific employment-rate percentage or a public list of named graduate employers for this degree after a couple of genuine attempts, so treat any such figure you encounter elsewhere as an unverified third-party claim.
For international graduates, the practical post-study pathway runs through the UK's Graduate Route visa: bachelor's graduates who complete their course and apply by 31 December 2026 get 2 years of UK post-study work permission; from 1 January 2027 onward, this reduces to 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates under confirmed government reform. Software and computing roles have generally remained in strong demand in the UK labor market, and Kingston's proximity to central London gives graduates practical access to the country's largest concentration of tech employers during that post-study window.
FAQ
Does Kingston publish an acceptance rate for Computer Science? No. Like most UK universities, Kingston does not publish course-level acceptance rates. The practical entry bar is meeting its published UCAS points requirement (112-128, or 64 via the Foundation Year route) plus English proficiency.
What IELTS score do I need for Kingston's Computer Science degree? IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, with no element below 5.5. PTE Academic 59 overall (with 59 in each component) is also accepted.
What TOEFL score does Kingston require for this course? 80 overall (Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17) for test dates through December 2025. For 2026 onward, Kingston's published figure is ambiguous and reads like a CEFR-style label rather than a raw TOEFL score, so confirm directly with admissions.
How much does Computer Science cost for international students at Kingston? £19,200 in Year 1 for the 2026/27 intake, rising to £21,500 by Year 4 (or £20,500 to £22,900 for the 2027/28 intake). Living costs are separately estimated at £1,128-£2,962/month depending on accommodation type.
Is Kingston's Computer Science degree professionally accredited? Yes, it is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
What happens to my visa after I graduate? You can apply for the Graduate Route visa: 2 years of UK post-study work permission if you graduate and apply by 31 December 2026, reduced to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027 onward under confirmed UK government reform.