Features editor Reina Kawabata and Editor-in-Chief Grace Holloway explore the various underused services available for students at King’s to elevate their student experience.
King’s College London (KCL) offers a range of services for students, including discounts on apps and academic support, designed to enhance the student experience. Roar has found, however, that more than 70% of students are not familiar with these services.
Moves+ App
KCL pays an annual license fee to the Moves Plus app, which is available to both students and staff. Following a Freedom of Information Request, Roar discovered this app is only used by 10% of students and around 33% of staff.
The app allows users to connect to a health app or wearable device that monitors their steps and physical activity. Steps and activity are then converted into points, which can be redeemed for rewards at KCL Cafes or the KCL Shop.
In 2024/25, only 4,106 students, out of 38,603 undergraduate and postgraduate students, held an ‘active’ status on the app. The uptake is much higher for staff, with 3,127 out of 9,500 staff members using the app.
Across 2024/25, a total of 7,233 students and staff used the app, representing a 233% increase since 2020/21.
Points are calculated based on steps, swimming, running or cycling activities. 100 steps is equal to one point, while a 100-meter swim is equal to 20 points, a 1-mile run is 45 points, and a 1-mile cycle is 15 points.
The easiest reward to earn is a free Hot drink from a King’s Food outlet, which costs 2,500 points, although there is a 30p cup charge if you do not bring a reusable cup. Additionally, you can grab a free cake or pastry from King’s Food for 3,000 points.
Beyond food and drink, you can earn a free guest pass to King’s Strand or London Bridge gyms for 2,000 points. For those who participate in lots of sporting activities, you can earn a Yoga Mat, King’s Move t-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 points.
Career support at King’s
As university students, we find ourselves in the stressful mud of future employment. For what we had considered eternal, the student life is put to an end with the start of our careers.
King’s offers various support through King’s Careers & Employability to help prepare you. When asked by Roar, 69% of students reported not using any King’s Career & Employability services, especially the King’s Connect platform that helps connect students with job opportunities.
Students unsure of prospects or in need of support with their CV can book appointments for career coaching & planning. Besides their coaching and planning appointments, King’s Business School career services offers support for practice interviews. All appointments can be booked through the online platform, King’s Connect, run by King’s Careers & Employability.
The platform offers opportunities for students to network with King’s alumni and access mentorship opportunities as well. Students may also discover career opportunities for graduate jobs, international jobs, and part-time jobs through the portal. Through signing up to King’s Connect, students are eligible to enjoy their services for up to two years after graduation. With a low student user base, many may be missing out on potential opportunities to expand your CVs and access employment opportunities.
Academic support services
Constantly exposed to new knowledge, students often overlook the need to build on their essential academic skills. To address this, King’s provides services to support students in continuing to grow their academic skills as learners. However, a Roar survey found, 94% of students surveyed have not utilised such services.
King’s Academic Skills for Learning (KASL) is an example of such support. KASL is a support programme accessible through KEATS, allowing students to access academic skill workshops alongside one-to-one sessions. Skills, including academic writing, reading and presentations, can be developed through these workshops. KASL also offers support for those enthusiastic about building on their planning and time management skills.
Another development of skills disregarded is digital literacy. King’s offers an Essential Digital Skills programme, through KEATS, with a 30-hour online course. The program provides additional skills and allows students to obtain a certificate from King’s College London alongside a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). However, 89% of students surveyed by Roar had not enrolled in the program.
International Support
Moving to a new country to study is very challenging for many students, especially with frequently changing legislation on visa restrictions and legal compliance. King’s offers a Visa & International Student Advice service, but only 11% of students spoken to by Roar had utilised these services.
The services with applications and re-applying for a visa, working in the UK, short-term studies and bringing dependents into the country. Current or prospective King’s students can access support through their email, phone contact, or through their drop-in sessions and workshops.
Authors
