Associateship of King's College

The Associateship or Associate of King's College (AKC) award was the degree-equivalent qualification of King's College London from 1833. It is the original qualification that King's awarded to its students.[1] In current practice, it is an optional award, unique to King's College London, that students can study in addition to their degree proper. After successfully completing the AKC course, participants may apply to be elected by the Academic Board of King's College London as an 'Associate of King's College' (AKC). Once their election has been ratified, they are permitted to use the post-nominal letters AKC along with their main qualification.

An AKC epitoge accompanying an academic dress of King's College London.

Since 1909, only students registered for a University of London degree at King's have normally been allowed to study for the associateship. The three-year course involves weekly lectures concerning theology, ethics and philosophy. At the discretion of the Dean, some postgraduates, and medical/dental students who do not intercalate, are allowed to compress the programme into two years. All members of staff at King's may study for the AKC as a free-standing qualification. From 2015, King's alumni—who in their student days opted out of the AKC study—can now study for the programme via distance learning.[2]

The AKC is not a quantified award, and students who meet the requirements of a pass achieve a 'pass'. Students who submit a good optional essay, or who complete over 8/9 quizzes in any semester are awarded a Dean's Commendation in recognition of outstanding commitment to the course. These students still achieve a 'pass' mark overall, but will have their Dean's Commendation recognised on their record. And, each student from various faculties at King's is awarded Hanson Prize for their meritorious performance in AKC Essays.[3]

The 21st-century AKC offers a programme or inclusive, research-led lectures which allows students to explore diverse religious and cultural perspectives. The AKC is at the heart of the College’s commitment to an international, interdisciplinary, and innovative curriculum: it seeks to foster an understanding of different beliefs and cultures that can be taken into wider society.[4]

Assessment Methods

The AKC programme is assessed by lecture attendance. Lecture attendance is demonstrated by a student's successful completion of a short, online, qualitative quiz after each lecture. Students must demonstrate attendance at 4/9 lectures during each series (semester) to gain a 'pass' mark.[5] Gaining a 'pass' for all six series taken over the course of three years (subject to specific exceptions e.g. students studying abroad for part of their degree programme) will entitle the students to wear an epitoge on their academic dress during their graduation exercises.[6] After graduating from King's, students/alumni who succeed in the AKC exams will be eligible to be elected as Associates of King's College by the Academic Board of King's College London.[7] Staff who also succeed in the AKC will likewise be eligible for election.

Previous Assessment Methods

The AKC has been assessed via weekly qualitative quizzes since the academic year 2019/0. Up until the academic year 2019/0, students were assessed by an annual exam which included three equally weighted questions. Students were allowed to pick two questions from one semester, and one question from the other semester. Each question was based on a lecture that had taken place that academic year.

Students who successfully completed the AKC achieved a 'pass' for the award overall. For each academic year, however, they will have achieved an assessment result that was given as a Pass (40-59), Pass with Merit (60-69) or Pass with Distinction (70+) depending on their average grade for the assessment that year.

Theological AKC

From 1848 to 1972, the Theological Department of King's College London (a distinct institution from King's College London and not to be confused with the latter's Faculty of Theology) awarded the Theological AKC.[8][9] This was an ordination qualification in the Church of England and was a three-year, full-time course of studies. Some ordination candidates read the AKC only and some read the combined BD/AKC course, receiving both qualifications at the end of the three years. The Theological AKC was equivalent to a BA pass degree in theology. It was awarded in three classes with an undivided second class. Holders were entitled to wear distinctive academic dress by a grant of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The hood is of the "Cambridge shape" (MA), made of black poplin and edged, inside and out, with "one inch of mauve silk". The gown resembles the classic MA design of the ancient universities with a few exceptions (e.g. it had a black button and cord at the back of the yoke). Also, its sleeves are cut square, that is, without the "crescent" shaping of the other universities.

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References
  1. "King's College London: Associate of King's College (AKC) Prize Lists". King's College London. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. "AKC for Alumni". King's College London. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. "King's College London - Attendance". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  4. "King's College London - Values and Purpose". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  5. "King's College London - Attendance". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  6. "AKC Handbook - Graduations". King's College London. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  7. "King's College London - How to become an AKC". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  8. Dowland, David (1997). "Chapter 3: King's College London: The Premier College". Nineteenth-century Anglican Theological Training: The Redbrick Challenge. Clarendon Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-19-826929-3.
  9. Groves, Nicholas, ed. (2014). Shaw's Academical Dress of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 (3 ed.). The Burgon Society. p. 110. ISBN 978-099287400-1.
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