Kingston University London

In the community

Welcome to the community information website. With an annual budget of almost £205 million and more than 2,500 staff, Kingston University is one of the town's largest employers, contributing significantly to the local economy (£500m annually).

Our academics and researchers provide knowledge and expertise to local organisations such as Hampton Court Palace and the Metropolitan Police to help them innovate and become more competitive. The University provides a higher education to many local young people (nearly half our 25,430 students come from within a 10-mile radius of Kingston), as well as offering older residents an opportunity to further their studies. Every year more than 6,000 students graduate from the University, providing a much needed skilled workforce for the region.

The University contributes hugely to the region's cultural, educational and social life both through public lectures, exhibitions and performances and by opening up its sporting, health, conference and other facilities to local residents, businesses, and community organisations. The University was instrumental in bringing the Rose Theatre to Kingston, and continues to offer it financial and artistic support. For more information read our cultural strategy (PDF).

Our staff and students are active in the local community, offering 3,500 hours of service to good causes each year through our award-winning volunteering scheme. We also have an extensive school visiting programme, offering educational support and encouraging local children to aim for university, particularly those whose family have no previous experience of higher education.

We are continually upgrading our estate and have a £100 million development programme to improve the quality of the environment for students, staff and visitors.

The University is committed to sustainable development, coming near the top of the People and Planet's Green League Table. We are breaking new ground both in terms of our own behaviour and the research projects we carry out, covering everything from design to engineering, aimed at reducing the wasteful use of the earth's resources. We work with the local community on many environmental projects, such as cleaning up the Hogsmill River or recycling furniture. For more information visit our sustainability pages.

We are aware that the influx of more than 25,000 students, many of them away from home for the first time, can cause problems for the local community, especially at key times such as the start or end of term. We have a range of guidance that makes clear to our students that we expect them to be good neighbours.

Kingston community enquiries and complaints

The University has a central point for all community enquiries and complaints. If you have any queries about a community matter, or would like to discuss logging a community complaint, please email the community enquiries and complaints officer, Hema Kukadia, using our online form.

Alternatively, you can log your complaint via the dedicated answerphone on 020 8417 3662 where you can leave all of your enquiry details, including your email address and/or telephone number, and we will contact you.

If you have an urgent enquiry you can contact Hema on her mobile on 07748 650330 (please note that normal mobile phone charges – depending on your provider – will apply).