Start Strong Guide
International Development MSc
Welcome to the International Development MSc at King’s College London! This guide provides essential information and practical tips to prepare you for your studies.
A message from your Programme Director
A very warm welcome to the MSc International Development.
I am Andy Sumner and am Programme Director of the MSc International Development and a Professor of International Development at King’s College London. Our programme offers a rigorous examination of the political economy of development. We examine the structural causes of global poverty and inequality through an interdisciplinary lens. You will engage with contemporary debates on economic transformation and the changing nature of global cooperation.
The curriculum provides the analytical frameworks necessary for you to understand such complex dynamics of development. We highlight the importance of applying
theoretical concepts to real-world development challenges.
King’s College London remains dedicated to research that serves society. We maintain an academic environment where empirical evidence and critical theory are always paramount. You are now part of a tradition that values intellectual inquiry and global engagement.
The university stands as a centre for debate on the most pressing issues of our time.
I wish you the very best with your studies. My colleagues and I look forward to seeing your contributions during the course. Please do not hesitate to engage fully with the materials and your fellow students.
“It is a pleasure to welcome you formally to our academic community this term. You join a cohort of students who bring diverse experiences from around the world.” “
Professor Andy Sumner Programme Director
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
“Our role in Student Success is to ensure that you feel supported, connected, and confident from the moment you begin your studies.”
Getting started with online study
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.
Expectations of you include:
• 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
Getting started with online study
Demands of online distance learning
Online distance learning offers flexibility to study from anywhere in the world, but also brings its own challenges. Studying remotely requires:
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.
“
“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
Your actions checklist
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 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
Our top tips for starting strong at King’s
Logging in
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.
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.
Welcome
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.
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.
Our
top tips for starting strong at King’s
Resources
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.
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.
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.
Our top tips for starting strong at King’s
Planning your time
Use your calendar to plan study time; add deadlines, key dates and calls with your Advisor to stay organised.
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.
Wellbeing
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.
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!
Getting started with online study
Study tools and learning support
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.”
- King’s online student
Elevate programme
Studying online doesn’t have to mean studying alone.
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),
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.
“I
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.
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.”
tools and learning support “
- King’s online student
Student support and community
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 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
““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.”
- King’s online student
The Student Success team is available 7AM – 7PM (UK time) 7 days a week.
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.
Essential contact points
Your Faculty/School/Department
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, 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:
Student voice at King’s
At King’s, your voice shapes the learning experience.
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.
Surveys
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
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
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.
Student support and community
Wellbeing and services at King’s
Student Services Online (SSO)
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/
Student Wellbeing Team
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
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
Wellbeing and services at King’s
Taking a break from your studies
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.
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
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.
“ “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
Fees and finances
Course payment
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.
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
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
Managing your tuition fee payments
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.
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.
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.
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
“ “Staff are knowledgeable and courteous.”
- King’s online student
Managing your tuition fee payments
September Starters
You will be invoiced your tuition fees for the year at the beginning of October:
• 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.
April and May Starters
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.
January Starters
You will be invoiced your tuition fees for the year at the beginning of 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.
You can find information on the available payment options through the Global Pay for Students platform.
More detailed information about tuition fee payment deadlines can be found in the programme Terms and Conditions.
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!
- King’s online student “
“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.”
