King’s College London has been ranked as the 10th best university in the UK in the Daily Mail’s 2027 university rankings, marking its highest finish since the Guide’s inception in 2023.
In the latest edition of the Daily Mail’s annual university league table King’s has been named as the University of the Year for Social Inclusion, with the newspaper noting the university’s “outstandingly diverse intake”.
“The student population [of King’s] is among the most socially and ethnically diverse in the Russell Group of research-led universities.”
Daily Mail University Rankings 2027
King’s was ranked as 4th best in London and 10th out of 128 universities judged across the UK. Compared to last year, King’s has climbed by one place and is up three places since 2025.
The university achieved a rating of 86.4% for research quality, placing itself fourth countrywide and drew with Oxford and Cambridge regarding graduate salaries, placing eighth worldwide. King’s scored more poorly on student support, being ranked 123rd out of 128.
Student Support at King’s
King’s supports disadvantaged students or those from minorities through several schemes, according to its website. In particular, the guide noted the King’s Living Bursary and King’s Affordable Accommodation Scheme (KAAS), though both have seen criticism for their restrictive terms and eligiblity rates.
Nationally, King’s ranked first in the country for Genetics, third for Social Policy and fifth for Chemistry. Other subjects taught at King’s in the top fifteen include History, Economics, Philosophy and Classics.
Unlike King’s, other London universities saw little movement this year. The guide ranked King’s fourth within London, behind Imperial (first countrywide), LSE (fourth countrywide) and bitter rivals UCL (fifth countrywide). Queen Mary and City St George ranked 18th and 29th, respectively.
In the comparable QS World Rankings released earlier this year, King’s came 7th in the UK and 37th worldwide, a steady rise from previous years – the 2024 rankings placed it at 10th in the UK.
Explaining their rankings, Alastair McCall, Editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said that:
“King’s College London proves that it is possible to be both a top 10 university and to have a socially inclusive student population. To achieve this feat and be academically highly selective puts King’s into a very exclusive club.”
He also noted King’s “takes its commitment to fair access seriously,” with more than a third of admissions in September 2025 gaining their place through contextual offers that account for social, economic or educational disadvantage.
In a statement on King’s website following the announcement of the prize, Professor Kim Piper, King’s Academic Director for Student Success, said:
“Universities have an important role to play in breaking down barriers for underrepresented students, empowering them to access and succeed in higher education.
“At King’s, we are committed to playing our part.”
About the author
