Hi, I’m looking to apply for a History and International Relations degree at King’s College London. I’m currently a junior in high school in the US.
SAT - 1350
ACT - 32
Sophomore year - 4 on APUSH
This year I’m taking AP Psych, AP Comp Gov, and AP Lang, and should get a 4 or a 5 on all.
Next year I’m taking AP Art History, AP Lit, AP French, and AP US Gov.
I can give more information if necessary. If my chances are dismal, could you recommend more good schools in London?
Thanks so much!
The History and International Relations program at King’s College London requires grades of AAA in 3 A-levels for admission, with one of them being history.
On their international credential site, they state that three scores of 5 on AP exams are considered equivalent to AAA. One of the 5s has to be from a history AP.
Alternatively, they would accept 3 SAT Subject Test scores, each with a score of 650+, with one of them in a history subject.
Seeing how you scored a 4 on APUSH, which isn’t bad but it isn’t the 5 that King’s College asks for, your best bet would be to take the SAT Subject Test in US history and get the required score there.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/search/search.aspx#/courses?term=international%20relations&level=5087
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/international.aspx
The London School of Economics requires three grades of 5s on AP exams in the general history - social science - language area, but none of them have to be in history specifically.
Other universities in the London area that offer History/International Relations programs and have slightly lower grade requirements for admission include Queen Mary University of London, SOAS University of London and Goldsmiths University of London.
The great thing about most* UK unis is that they are very clear about what they want. Meet their requirements, with a decent PS & LoR, and you are pretty sure to get in. The requirements are listed on each college/university website for each course.
KCL requires 3 relevant APs with a score of 5 or SAT subject tests with scores of 650+. As currently laid out, you won’t have that, but you could theoretically change that by adding the subject tests in US & World History.
It’s worth pointing out that unless you have enough interest in history that you do a lot of reading out of school, you will be at a disadvantage doing a history course in the UK: all of your peers will start will a materially stronger history background, having done A-level history (as one of just 3-4 classes) for the previous 2 years. The only elements of World or European history you will have done is through the lens of art history. That’s not nothing! but remember that the reason it is a 3 year course, compared to 4 years in the US, is that you are starting at the equivalent of a sophomore, with all the pre-reqs completed. Your teachers will not cut you any slack for the extra work you have to do to catch up.
*major outliers include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE & St Andrews
Okay, so that’s probably out of the question then. Would I be in the running for Queen Mary?
Don’t be discouraged. You have 5 shots at London schools and it will cost you something like $33. Nothing ventured nothing gained, just be realistic about your chances. LSE, Kings are the standouts. Consider SOAS especially if your IR interest is the Middle/Far east. UCL has an international relations course but I think it is pretty new so although the university is world class you might be a course guinea pig in which case I would stick with King’s. QMUL, Royal Holloway likely have less rigorous entry standards. Good luck.
Thank you @elguapo1, this is very reassuring 
@elguapo1, the OP doesn’t have the stats for SOAS either. Queen Mary is 5,4,4 for IR. A 5 should be do-able in Comp Gov, and would be a very useful base. It’s also 5,4,4 for History + Politics, with the 5 on a History AP.
This isn’t the question you asked, OP, but is your goal primarily to live in London? Are you open to other locations?
@collegemom3717, could you elaborate? SOAS says 5, 5, 4 for History and International Relations, which the OP could still accomplish, and an overall GPA of 3.0. Did I miss another requirement?
snap! didn’t see your post before (or after…oops) I posted mine, @“b@r!um”!
tbf, I was a little on the categorical side with the comment about SOAS, but it looks as though OP won’t have a 5 in a History- just a 4 in USHx and a predicted 5 in Art History, which I don’t think SOAS will take. I also noticed that the OP had already ruled out the suggestions in our 2 posts as being not viable.
Having (belatedly) read your post, I don’t think that the OP is a runner for LSE either- they want 5 5’s (not 3) for IR / Hx / IR + Hx. Anecdotally, they are tougher on US student offers than anybody except (arguably) Cambridge (I know successful US Oxbridge students whose LSE offers were harder than their Oxbridge offer).
@kclchances, was your interest in IR + Hx based on your desire for that combo, or was it b/c that was the only IR option at KCL? As I said earlier, unless there is more of a background in HX from someplace else, imo you are better off looking at straight IR for the UK altogether.
@kclchances What UK schools are looking for is evidence you have the academic chops to handle the rigour of the course, and with a 32 ACT and an 8 AP course load, as long as they are majority 4/5’s , then I think you cover the bases. Next up is why you want to pursue a course in History/IR so get that down in your personal statement. After that its your school recommendations and the fact that you are international fee status can only help you. Your AP selections are not ideal but they are certainly enough to work with especially with a convincing PS. LSE is a reach for everyone but it is probably a better postgrad than undergrad experience. The best of luck to you let us know how you get on.
@collegemom3717 I am mostly aiming for London because that’s where my family lives. This is reassuring though, I think I can make that.
Thanks so much everyone, this has been a big help! I’ll come back around here with updates.