Start Strong Guide - Digital Futures MA

Start Strong Guide Digital Futures MA Welcome to the Digital Futures MA at King’s College London! This guide provides essential information and practical tips to prepare you for your studies.

Contents A message from your Programme Director .............. 2

Student support and community ........ 15

A message from the Director of Student Success .... 3

Essential contact points ................................. 16 - 17 Student voice at King’s .......................................... 18

Getting started with online study ......... 4

Wellbeing and services at King’s ................... 19 - 20

Demands of online distance learning ............... 5 - 6 Your actions checklist ............................................. 7

Fees and finances ........................................... 21

Our top tips for starting strong at King’s ....... 8 - 10

Course payment ..................................................... 22 Managing your tuition fee payments ............ 23 - 24

Study tools and learning support ........ 11 KEATS: Your virtual learning environment ... 12 - 13 Elevate programme ................................................ 14

Graduation ................................................................. 25

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A message from your Programme Director Congratulations! We are delighted that you will be taking this next step in your academic and professional journey with us.

As you look ahead to the start of your studies, we wanted to share a sense of what makes our programmes at King’s distinctive, and what you can look forward to as part of our community.

You’ll gain the opportunity to learn from experts whose research is not only altering our understanding of the digital realm but also driving real-world impact.

The King’s Digital Futures Institute continues to hold agenda‑setting conversations, cementing KCL’s status as a hub for thinking about the digital world of tomorrow, with upcoming online events on mixed reality interfaces, digital health, and the future of education. Our programme has also strong links

with the Centre for Digital Culture and the King’s Institute of Artificial Intelligence.

Our current students are also preparing to showcase what they’ve learned via reports on AI and sustainability, essays about algorithmic culture, social media marketing audits, and analyses of trends in the gaming industries. If you’d like to hear their perspectives on the programme, you can listen to the DigiTalk podcast and get a glimpse of what a day in the life of a Digital Futures student looks like.

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“Across our departments and faculty, students benefit from a rich blend of academic excellence, real-world engagement, and opportunities to contribute to leading‑edge work in their field.”

We are excited to welcome you to King’s, and we look forward to having you as part of our Digital Futures community.

Kind regards, Giota Alevizou and Robert Gallagher Programme Directors

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A message from the Director of Student Success Welcome to your master’s programme at King’s College London.

Whether you’re joining us from the UK or from anywhere in the world, I’m delighted to welcome you into King’s online learning community. You are very welcome here.

Studying at master’s level across time zones and cultures while balancing work, family, and life commitments is an ambitious and deeply meaningful undertaking.

You bring with you a wealth of professional experience, global perspectives, and personal motivations, and as you’ll soon see, these enrich our entire King’s Digital community. Our role in Student Success is to ensure that you feel supported, connected, and confident from the moment you begin your studies.

This guide has been designed to help you navigate your first few weeks: understanding what to expect, how to make the most of your learning, your route in if

you have questions, and where to find the right support at the right time. You are not studying alone.

You’ll find a network of advisors, academics, and fellow students ready to help you succeed, and your Student Success Advisor will be with you throughout your time with us.

We’re excited to walk alongside you as you begin this journey. I wish you a purposeful, inspiring, and successful start to your master’s programme, and I look forward to seeing what you achieve up to and beyond your graduation from King’s.

Alice Ludgate Director of Student Success, King’s Digital

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“Our role in Student Success is to ensure that you feel supported, connected, and confident from the moment you begin your studies.”

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Getting started with online study 4

Demands of online distance learning Master’s level study will help you develop into an independent, critical and self-directed learner. While your programme at King’s is structured, featuring guidance and support, you will be expected to take greater responsibility for your learning and time management.

• Understanding the requirements of master’s-level study • Recognising that you need to invest time to succeed • Actively participating in your own learning • Critically reflecting on your own understanding and applying your own critical thinking • Demonstrating academic integrity • Being self-directed, rigorous and professional • Seeking out answers before asking questions

Compared to undergraduate study, postgraduate study requires a bigger investment. You should expect: • An increased workload and intensity of study • A different relationship with academics • To conduct research independently Find out more about online learning on the online student blog: Explore the blog

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Getting started with online study

Expectations of you include:

Demands of online distance learning

Greater independence in your studies

Greater resilience when facing challenges

Proactive approach to seeking support

Stronger time management with commitments

Developing these faculties will both contribute to your academic success and help you build skills for a successful career.

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“I specifically sought out an online programme because I knew I didn’t have time to commute. The flexibility was a massive plus, and I found it to be much more inclusive in many ways.”

- King’s online student

Getting started with online study

Online distance learning offers flexibility to study from anywhere in the world, but also brings its own challenges. Studying remotely requires:

Your actions checklist date. Approximately 2–3 weeks before your course start date, you will be emailed regarding the following:

• How to set up and activate your King’s IT account • How to complete your enrolment by accessing Student Records • How to upload a photo if you’d like to visit campus and request a Student ID card (not required and not available without visiting campus) • How to access and explore your virtual learning environment (KEATS) • Visiting the King’s Online Student Hub on KEATS • Registering for the upcoming Welcome Webinar Once set up, you may wish to consider adding your King’s email to your phone or device using the official Microsoft Outlook app or similar. For more information, click here.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of these actions, please contact us at StudyOnline@kcl.ac.uk 7

Getting started with online study

We want to ensure you have a smooth transition to studying at King’s. To do so, we’ve prepared an actions checklist for you to complete to get ready for your course start

Logging in

Welcome

Within 4 weeks of your course start date, you will be contacted by ‘NoReply@kcl.ac.uk’ with an invitation to set up your King’s IT account and @kcl.ac.uk email address.

You will be invited to a Welcome Call with your Student Success Advisor. Before the call, think about what support you might need and any questions you have; consider what you would like to achieve during your time at King’s too, as your Advisor will discuss this with you and carry out coaching conversations to help make your goals a reality.

Once set up, visit the Digital Skills Hub and Essential Digital Skills Programme via KEATS to ensure you’re ready to use King’s systems.

Consider downloading the Microsoft Outlook app and enable notifications to avoid missing important College updates.

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Make sure to join your Welcome Webinar for key information about your programme, the support available, and where to find help.

You will receive an email invitation from Student Success; make sure to register for the event to receive a meeting link.

If you can, download the King’s Student App which provides essential information for students.

More information on useful apps whilst studying at King’s can be found here.

Getting started with online study

Our top tips for starting strong at King’s

Our top tips for starting strong at King’s Resources

Find out how Libraries & Collections can support you throughout your studies by clicking here.

Consider exploring Academic Skills for Learning to build strong study skills and habits.

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The Careers & Employability team offers resources, workshops, appointments and programmes such as mentoring, networking and skills development to help you in progressing your career. Explore opportunities designed to develop your employability skills, and enrich your life at King’s, through King’s Edge, too.

Getting started with online study

You will have access to King’s extensive digital library, including e-books, journals and databases.

Learn how to access library resources for your subject with Library Guides.

Planning your time

Wellbeing

Use your calendar to plan study time; add deadlines, key dates and calls with your Advisor to stay organised.

Your wellbeing is a priority, so make sure to look after yourself whilst studying. King’s offers wellbeing support including mental health resources, self-help tools, and advice services.

Consider a study routine that balances learning with your other commitments. Prioritise tasks and reach out to your Student Success Advisor if you need help.

Remember to take breaks, ask for help when you need it, build healthy study habits and connect with others in your global community.

Should you feel overwhelmed, contact your Student Success Advisor.

Perhaps most importantly, enjoy your time at King’s and make the most of your experience!

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Getting started with online study

Our top tips for starting strong at King’s

Study tools and learning support 11

KEATS: Your virtual learning environment KEATS, your virtual learning environment, stands for King’s E-Learning and Teaching Service.

This platform hosts the learning materials and activities you are expected to engage with during your studies, which will be available from your programme start date.

Approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your course start date, you will be emailed regarding the setup and access to your King’s IT account.

Using your King’s username provided (the letter ‘K’ followed by numbers) and password, you will be able to access KEATS.

Having logged in, you will be able to view your dashboard. At the top, you can access Essential Links, Support Services, and Student Guidance from the drop-down menus.

Scrolling down, you will also be able to access the King’s Digital Student Hub via self-enrolment. Here, you can find helpful resources to refer to during your time at King’s, including: study skills resources; important contacts; academic expectations; support & wellbeing; and more.

Note: your timetable will become available within the KEATS module page from your course start date.

Having problems?

If you’re experiencing problems navigating KEATS, you can contact your Student Success Advisor for support.

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“KEATS is really good and well-organised... I like the course structure, it suits my working life much better.”

Study tools and learning support

- King’s online student

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Elevate programme

As an online student at King’s, you have unique access to the Elevate Programme, a global, studentcentred platform designed to bulid belonging and community amongst students across all of our programmes. Through tailored events, initiatives, storytelling, and collaboration with you, Elevate brings together the vibrant global community of King’s online postgraduate students and alumni.

The programme ranges from online writing retreats, a digital pen pals scheme and academic skills workshops (great for those returning to study and looking to build study groups!), to opportunities for creative collaboration (like the King’s Online Students Tapestry project and student co-created online events), 14

as well as workshops on time management, mentoring skills, networking and much more.

You will also have the opportunity to join events in conversation with King’s online alumni and PhD students, to make new connections and gain insight into the opportunities available to you after your degree.

The Elevate mission is to enrich your online postgraduate journey by amplifying your voices, celebrating your diverse experiences, and helping you cultivate meaningful connections that transcend geographical distance and continue long after graduation.

Once you join King’s, you will receive access to all the Elevate resources in your induction and monthly updates on new opportunities through the online students newsletter.

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“I attended the Writing Retreat and it really gave me a lot. It holds me accountable and helps me focus on my reading and weekly tasks... Will attend again.”

- King’s online student

Study tools and learning support

Studying online doesn’t have to mean studying alone.

Student support and community 15

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Essential contact points The Student Success team Student Success provides nonacademic support throughout your student journey: from welcome to proud graduation. You will be allocated a dedicated Student

Success Advisor, who will introduce themselves via email and provide essential information before your course starts.

Student support and community Study tools and learning support

Student Success Advisors use a coaching approach to help students manage study alongside their other commitments, and can help with topics such as: • A Welcome Call and Welcome Webinar to get you started at King’s • Enrolment support to ensure a smooth start • Friendly, proactive check-ins at useful study milestones • Guidance and signposting to helpful resources • Advising on progression-related matters, such as course Interruptions

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“I enjoy calls from Student Success... They help me to reflect on my time on the course, how I’m feeling about each module and how I can move forward with the course as a whole.”

The Student Success team is available 7AM – 7PM (UK time) 7 days a week.

- King’s online student 16

Essential contact points Your Faculty/School/Department

including a programme homepage containing contact information for relevant staff. You will find a shared inbox for programme teamrelated enquiries, and contact details for relevant academics.

They can help with:

If you aren’t sure who you should speak to, contact Student Success in the first instance as they will be able to put you in touch with the right team or staff member.

Subject-specific academic questions

Understanding challenging topics

Access to learning resources

Assessment-related questions

Module access

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Student support and community

Studying at King’s, you will belong to a faculty, school or department; this refers to the teaching and research division to which your course belongs. On your course start date, you will gain access to your module pages in KEATS,

Student voice at King’s At King’s, your voice shapes the learning experience.

Surveys

The Student Success Team

Student Representatives

During your studies, you will be invited to participate in surveys that help the University understand what’s working well and where it can develop. These include universitywide surveys such as the annual Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) and module-level surveys for more frequent, ongoing feedback. Keep an eye on your @ kcl email account, once set up, for these opportunities.

The Student Success team takes a proactive approach in gathering and reviewing student feedback.

Advisors regularly collect insights shared during everyday interactions with students, such as phone calls, emails, and other channels, and record them for review. All feedback is anonymised to ensure confidentiality. These insights help inform service improvements, enhance the student experience, and guide the continuous development of online learning at King’s.

Student Representatives are key in ensuring students have a platform to share feedback and ideas with their faculty. By engaging with peers to gather their thoughts and feedback, Representatives make positive, student-led changes by attending faculty meetings such as Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) meetings. To find out more, contact your faculty programme team.

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Student support and community

As an online distance learner, you’re an essential part of our community, and there are meaningful ways to share your insights, influence developments, and help us to continually improve our programmes and services.

Wellbeing and services at King’s

Student Wellbeing Team

Student Services Online will help you find answers to commonly asked questions. It provides comprehensive guidance on academic, wellbeing, financial and practical support. Access it here: https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/

The Student Wellbeing Team are available to support students’ wellbeing needs. Advisors work with students to identify their challenges and find the best routes through these. Some examples of wellbeing areas the team can help with are: • Feelings of loneliness, or not fitting in at King’s • Challenges around overwhelm, procrastination and perfectionism • Prioritising competing pressures For more information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/student-life/ wellbeing

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Disability Support & Inclusion (DS&I) The Disability Support & Inclusion Team offers information, advice and guidance to prospective and current disabled students. When referring to the term ‘disability’, they also include long-term medical or mental health conditions and specific learning differences (SpLDs).

Contact the DS&I team via email at: disability@kcl.ac.uk For more information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/student-life/ disability/what-we-offer

Student support and community

Student Services Online (SSO)

Wellbeing and services at King’s Taking a break from your studies support that may be afforded to you, and ensure you’re familiar with the significant practical implications to consider.

Once invited to enrol, within 4 weeks of your course start date, the Student Success team will introduce themselves to you.

Before you decide to request an interruption, it’s important to talk to your Student Success Advisor about any difficulties or challenges you are facing. This is to discuss further

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“I love the support at King’s from all the teams; it’s all very good. Fast communication.

Nice and kind.”

- King’s online student

Student support and community

Things in life don’t always go to plan. If you’re struggling to engage with your course due to ill health, personal, financial or other reasons, your department may allow you to take a break; we call this an ‘interruption’. This means that you can return to your course at a later, more appropriate point.

Fees and finances

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Course payment

To request a refund within the Cooling Off period, please contact StudyOnline@kcl.ac.uk or the Student Success team, once you have been introduced.

Once your enrolment is confirmed, you will be sent an invoice for your tuition fees. Whilst the invoice will state the latest date by which you must make full payment, you are welcome to make smaller, more manageable payments towards your balance before the invoice 22

is generated or due for payment.

Please be aware that the deposit paid will be credited to your first instalment, however the invoice generated will not reflect this. You will need to log on to your Student Record to see this credit reflected on your account.

You will receive email notifications of your invoice, and they can be viewed by logging in to your Student Records Portal.

For more information on when you will be invoiced, visit: kcl.ac.uk/student-fees/when-to-paymy-fees For more information on how to pay your fees, visit: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/student-fees/ how-to-pay-my-fees

More detailed information about the Cooling Off Period and your deposit can be found in the course Terms and Conditions: • 2025/6 Starters • 2026/7 Starters

Fees and finances

You will likely have paid a deposit to accept your offer to study at King’s. This fee secures your place on your chosen course, and you have a 14 day Cooling Off Period from the point you pay your deposit to change your mind and request a full refund. After this period, your deposit becomes non-refundable.

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For each academic year of study, self-funded students are required to pay their tuition fees in two instalments. Fees must be paid by the due date stated on your invoice, and these dates will align to the payment deadlines specified in section 9.5.2 of the Terms and Conditions.

Advice and Support If you have any queries regarding the above, or concerns around how you are progressing, please contact the Student Success Team; they are ready to put you in touch with the relevant team if you have any questions or concerns about finances.

Fees are payable within 14 days from the date of the invoice, which will be delivered via email to both your King’s IT Account email and your personal email address. If you can’t find a copy, please log in to Student Records and find your invoices under My Fees > Student Fee Details.

If you have trouble managing your funds, King’s has a money advisory service that can help. For more information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/student-life

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“Staff are knowledgeable and courteous.”

- King’s online student

Fees and finances

Managing your tuition fee payments

September Starters

January Starters

You will be invoiced your tuition fees for the year at the beginning of October:

You will be invoiced your tuition fees for the year at the beginning of January:

• The first instalment is due 31 October, or 14 days from the date of the invoice (whichever is the latest) • The second instalment is due 31 January.

• The first instalment is due 31 January, or 14 days from the date of the invoice (whichever is the latest) • The second instalment is due 30 April.

April and May Starters

You can find information on the available payment options through the Global Pay for Students platform.

You will be invoiced your tuition fees for the year at the beginning of May: • The first instalment is due 31 May, or 14 days from the date of the invoice (whichever is the latest) • The second instalment is due 31 August.

Fees and finances

Managing your tuition fee payments

More detailed information about tuition fee payment deadlines can be found in the programme Terms and Conditions.

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Graduation Closer to the end of your studies, you will be invited to a graduation ceremony in July (Summer) or January (Winter). This is a great opportunity to celebrate your achievement alongside your fellow online classmates, as well as oncampus students.

For more information, please see this article on key information about graduating and attending your ceremony.

If you live overseas and plan to attend your graduation ceremony, please remember to check any visa requirements for you and any guests well in advance of booking your trip to the UK. You can contact the Visas & International Student Advice team with specific, visarelated questions.

The Student Success Team looks forward to celebrating with you at the ceremony!

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“I’m really impressed by how much King’s do for us distance learners to make us feel part of the College, even though we are not there physically.”

- King’s online student

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Find answers to many common questions at: self-service.kcl.ac.uk