King’s College London deepens India ties, records growth in student applications and enrollments

King’s Business School at King’s College London is strengthening its links with India, with student applications, enrollments, and institutional partnerships showing significant growth.

“Students from India make up 10 to 15% of our students across programmes,” said Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Vice Dean for Global Engagement at King’s Business School.

“We have observed a 48% rise in postgraduate applications from India,” she said, adding that this was accompanied by “a 70% jump in offers extended” and “a 67% growth in enrollments.”

To support this momentum, King’s is pursuing what Dr Klingler-Vidra describes as “progression agreements or accelerated admissions agreements,” designed to cut down paperwork, speed up admissions, and in some cases waive application fees.

Five Indian institutes, including OP Jindal, have already signed such agreements.

These collaborations go beyond mobility. “We have worked for years with IIM Kozhikode,” she explained, adding that effective ties are those that are “joined up,” supporting not only students but also joint research and faculty engagement.

A dedicated External Engagement Incubation Fund (EEIF) helps finance collaborative projects, turning memorandums of understanding into funded exchanges and co-authored research.

On teaching and learning, Dr Klingler-Vidra stressed that London itself is a critical part of the student experience.

“We call it London as a classroom,” she said, pointing to opportunities for internships, industry links, and cultural immersion.

At the same time, she acknowledged that education is “increasingly blended,” with online and hybrid formats complementing physical learning.

Artificial intelligence is being integrated into coursework rather than treated as a threat. “It's here, it's a tool,” she said, encouraging students to experiment with systems like Gemini and ChatGPT while learning to critically assess results.

To align with workplace needs, assessments now include more group work, presentations, and oral components.

On entrepreneurship, Dr Klingler-Vidra urged caution against equating the number of startups with progress.

“More startups doesn't necessarily solve societal challenges,” she said, calling for ventures to be measured by the problems they address and their role in the wider industrial ecosystem.

For Indian students considering London, her advice was clear. “London is a phenomenally exciting place because it has all of the heads of sort of industry and the pulse in one place,” she said.

Beyond academics, the city’s diversity, student clubs, and cultural spaces offer a holistic experience.

Scholarships with the British Council, simplified admissions pathways, and funded research links aim to make the journey more accessible.

As Dr Klingler-Vidra summed up, the approach is consistent: reduce barriers, ensure meaningful partnerships, equip students to use emerging tools wisely, and integrate learning with the city’s dynamic environment.