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Kensington College of Business

Kensington College of Business is an independent higher education institution in London offering business, law, IT, and professional qualifications in partnership with UK universities.
Kensington College of Business
Academic staff
100 - 500
Students
3450
Locations
Oxford Circus, London, United Kingdom
Established
1982
Afiliations
QAA, CGIUKI, ASIC
Address
28 Portland Pl, London W1B 1LY, UK
Social Media
Summary

Kensington College of Business (KCB) is an independent higher education institution established in 1982 in London, England. Originally located in Kensington, the College moved to central London in 1992 to better serve its growing number of part-time and professional students. Despite the relocation, it retained its original name due to its established reputation.

 

KCB specialises in Business and Information Technology education, offering a range of programmes from pre-university to postgraduate levels. It also provides training for corporate clients and prepares students for professional qualifications from bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA).

 

The College delivers validated undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in collaboration with UK universities including the University of Chester, University of Wales, University of London, University of South Wales, and others. Courses include BA, BSc, MBA, MSc, and LLB degrees, covering subjects such as Business Studies, Marketing, Finance, IT, Law, and Management.

 

KCB is recognised by the UK Government and has been listed as a degree teaching institution. It holds accreditation from the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and ASIC with Premier Status. The College also offers BTEC HNC and HND courses from Pearson.

 

In 2003, KCB established a sister institution, the Laksamana College of Business in Brunei, to offer foundation degrees and pathways to complete degrees in London.

 

Located in Oxford Circus, London, KCB benefits from proximity to legal and business institutions. It hosts a diverse international student body and maintains strong links with industry through guest lectures and partnerships. The College provides online and onsite learning resources, including library access and computer labs. KCB continues to deliver professionally relevant education with a focus on both academic and workplace outcomes.

History

Kensington College of Business (KCB) was established in 1982 in the Kensington area of London. The institution was founded in response to the need for high-quality professional training in Business Management, which at the time was not as well served as the traditional professions of Law and Accountancy. The founders of KCB recognised the importance of providing structured, recognised training and qualifications in business education and created programmes aligned with professional standards and workplace requirements.

 

Initially, KCB offered training courses aligned with external qualifications from recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the Association of Business Executives (ABE), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), and the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB). These courses were available on both full-time and part-time bases. The College also provided its own diplomas and educational content to complement these professional certifications.

 

The reputation of KCB grew steadily during the 1980s, and the College gained recognition for its focus on practical and career-oriented business education. By the early 1990s, an increasing number of leading companies began sponsoring their employees to study at KCB. As a result of growing demand and a student base that included many part-time professionals, KCB relocated its main campus to Holborn in central London in 1992, while retaining its original name due to the brand recognition it had developed.

 

In 1992, KCB began offering university degree programmes. True to its founding principles, the College worked to establish pathways between professional bodies and universities. It became one of the early independent institutions to deliver degree-level education and supported students in obtaining academically rigorous qualifications with practical relevance.

 

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, KCB expanded its academic partnerships and began offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in collaboration with various UK universities. These included institutions such as the University of Wales, University of Hertfordshire, University of South Wales, University of Portsmouth, University of London, and University of Chester. These collaborations enabled KCB to offer validated programmes in areas such as Business Studies, Marketing, Finance, Information Technology, and Law.

 

The College was recognised by the UK Government as a degree teaching institution and listed under the Listed Bodies Act by Act of Parliament in 1998. It was one of the first independent colleges to receive this recognition. KCB was also approved by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), receiving the highest judgement of “confidence” for its educational quality and teaching standards.

 

In 2003, KCB expanded internationally by establishing a sister institution, the Laksamana College of Business (LCB), in Brunei. LCB offers foundation degree programmes accredited by KCB and provides students with the opportunity to complete their education in London at KCB. LCB has since become one of the leading higher education institutions in Brunei.

 

KCB has continued to offer both academic and professional programmes. In addition to its degree courses, it provides qualifications for professional bodies such as the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA) and delivers vocational qualifications such as BTEC Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs) from Pearson in Business. KCB is the only validated centre offering the Certificate in Company Secretarial Practice awarded by the Chartered Governance Institute.

 

The College has received UK Accreditation from ASIC (Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities), achieving Premier Status for its operational standards. ASIC is recognised by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and other international quality bodies. KCB’s own Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas have also been accepted by UK universities for advanced entry into degree programmes.

 

The teaching faculty at KCB includes professionals with extensive academic and industrial experience. Many faculty members have served as examiners in other institutions and bring practical business insight into the classroom. The Principal plays an active role in overseeing student academic support and individual progress.

 

KCB offers a range of learning and teaching resources, including on-site and online libraries, computer labs, high-speed internet access through the University of London server, and access to the Perlego online library. Its location in Oxford Circus, in central London’s West End, allows easy access to legal institutions, corporate centres, and cultural experiences. The student body at KCB is international, with learners from various countries contributing to a multicultural and cosmopolitan environment.

Courses

Kensington College of Business (KCB) offers a wide range of academic and professional courses across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as vocational and chartered qualifications. These programmes are delivered in partnership with recognised UK universities and professional bodies, ensuring that students gain qualifications that are both academically credible and professionally applicable.

 

At the undergraduate level, KCB provides Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) programmes validated by the University of Wales and other academic partners. The BA courses cover Business Studies, Marketing, Business Accounting and Finance, and Information Technology. These programmes are designed to provide a solid foundation in business principles, quantitative skills, and information systems.

 

For students interested in legal studies, KCB offers the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, which is validated by the University of London. This course provides comprehensive legal training and prepares students for further legal studies or careers in the legal sector.

 

KCB also delivers a range of postgraduate programmes. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses cover various specialisations, including Health Care Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Travel Management, Information Technology Management, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, International Management, Security Management, and Management of Banks and Financial Institutions. There is also a general MBA option. These programmes are validated primarily by the University of Wales and provide a broad understanding of advanced business strategies and sector-specific management practices.

 

In addition to the MBA, KCB offers a Master of Science (MSc) in Computing, focusing on advanced topics in information technology. This course is aimed at students who wish to pursue senior roles in IT and systems management.

 

KCB is also an accredited centre for vocational qualifications from Pearson (BTEC), offering Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) in Business. These qualifications provide practical business skills and are recognised for progression to the second or third year of university degrees.

 

Alongside academic qualifications, KCB prepares students for examinations with several chartered professional bodies. These include the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA). Notably, KCB is the only validated centre offering the Certificate in Company Secretarial Practice awarded by the Chartered Governance Institute.

 

KCB also provides its own Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in business-related subjects. These qualifications have been accepted by numerous UK universities for advanced entry to their undergraduate programmes.

Global MBA rankings

KCB has been recognised by the UK Government as a degree teaching institution and was included in the Listed Bodies Act by Act of Parliament in 1998, under the Department for Education & Science. It has been approved by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), which is responsible for monitoring and advising on standards and quality in UK higher education. In its review, the QAA awarded KCB the highest judgement of “confidence” in the College’s management of academic standards and quality of learning opportunities.

 

The College also holds Premier Status from the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC), which is a globally recognised body that accredits institutions based on performance across governance, management, quality of teaching, student welfare, and resources.

Job integration rate

According to internal tracking and feedback from alumni and corporate partners, a significant proportion of KCB graduates successfully transition into employment or further study within six months of completing their programmes. Though no exact percentage has been publicly disclosed in national surveys, the College reports a high rate of job placement, especially among students who complete professional qualifications such as CIM, ICSA, and BTEC HNDs.

General information

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Kensington College of Business
Academic staff
100 - 500
Students
3450
Locations
Oxford Circus, London, United Kingdom
Established
1982
Afiliations
QAA, CGIUKI, ASIC
Address
28 Portland Pl, London W1B 1LY, UK
Social Media