King's Business School

King's Business School
Name	King's Business School
Established	1989
Type	Public business school
Parent	King's College London
Dean	Stephen Bach
Location	London, United Kingdom
Campus	Bush House, Strand
Website	https://www.kcl.ac.uk/business

King's Business School is the business school of King's College London, a constituent college of the University of London and a member of the Russell Group. Established in 1989, it is located in the historic Bush House on the Strand in central London. The school offers a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programmes, with a research focus on responsible leadership and the role of business in society.

History

The school traces its origins to the Department of Management established within King's College London in 1989, marking the university's formal entry into business education. Its development was significantly accelerated by a landmark £20 million donation in 2016 from Sir John Cass's Foundation, one of the largest ever gifts to a UK business school, which led to its renaming as King's Business School. This transformative gift facilitated a major expansion, including the move to its prominent headquarters in the iconic Bush House, formerly the home of the BBC World Service. The school has since grown its faculty, student body, and research portfolio, establishing itself as a significant player within the global landscape of business education, while maintaining deep connections to the university's heritage in the social sciences and humanities.

Academic programmes

The school delivers a range of programmes across multiple levels of study. At the undergraduate level, it offers degrees such as the BSc in Business Management and the BSc in International Management, which often include a professional placement year. Postgraduate offerings include a suite of specialised MSc programmes in areas like Finance, Marketing, and Human Resource Management, alongside a full-time MBA and an Executive MBA. The school also provides a comprehensive PhD programme for research students and a portfolio of executive education short courses designed for senior professionals. Teaching is closely integrated with the school's research strengths and emphasises a critical, analytical approach to contemporary business challenges.

Research and centres

Research at the school is organised around interdisciplinary themes addressing the grand challenges facing business and society, including sustainability, the future of work, and digital transformation. It hosts several dedicated research centres that drive this agenda, such as the Leadership and Corporate Accountability Hub and the Centre for Sustainable Business. Faculty research is published in leading international journals including the Academy of Management Journal, the Strategic Management Journal, and the Journal of Marketing. The school actively engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society through its research outputs, hosting events like the annual King's Business School Global Summit and contributing to debates at forums such as the World Economic Forum.

Campus and facilities

The school's primary home is within the Grade II listed Bush House on the Aldwych, part of the university's Strand Campus. This location places it at the heart of London's legal, political, and media districts, near institutions like the Royal Courts of Justice and Somerset House. The building features state-of-the-art lecture theatres, collaborative breakout spaces, a dedicated executive education suite, and the Business School Library. Students also have access to the wider facilities of King's College London, including the Maughan Library and the Strand Campus Student Union. The central location provides unparalleled opportunities for networking with leading firms in The City and Canary Wharf.

Rankings and reputation

King's Business School is consistently ranked among the leading business schools in the United Kingdom and globally. Its programmes are regularly featured in the listings of the Financial Times, the QS World University Rankings, and The Economist. The school holds triple accreditation from the three major international bodies: the AACSB, the AMBA, and the EQUIS, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide. It is particularly recognised for the employability of its graduates, who secure roles at major organisations like PwC, Google, the Bank of England, and the National Health Service.

Notable people

The school's community includes distinguished academics, influential business leaders, and prominent alumni. Notable faculty members have included economists and policy advisors such as Jonathan Portes and organisational theorists like David Guest. Its dean, Stephen Bach, is a recognised expert in employment relations. The school's advisory board features senior figures from industry, including executives from Unilever and HSBC. Alumni, known as King's Business School graduates, have achieved success in diverse fields, holding leadership positions in multinational corporations, founding successful startups, and serving in senior roles within the UK Civil Service and international organisations like the United Nations.

Category:King's College London Category:Business schools in London Category:Educational institutions established in 1989 Category:1989 establishments in the United Kingdom