Associate of King's College
Encyclopedia
The Associateship or Associate of King's College (AKC) award has been the degree-equivalent qualification of King's College London
since 1833. It is the original qualification that the College awarded to its students since, not being a university, it could not award a degree.
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. There is also a special arrangement for members of staff of the College who already hold a degree to apply for permission to study for the AKC as a free-standing qualification.
Students take an annual examination. After graduating from King's, students who succeed in the AKC exams will be eligible to be elected as Associates of King's College. Associates use the post-nominal letters
AKC along with their main qualification.
Until 1976 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. 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 except that, like the Durham
MA, 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.
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
since 1833. It is the original qualification that the College awarded to its students since, not being a university, it could not award a degree.
Since 1909, only students registered for a University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
degree at King's have normally been allowed to study for the associateship. The three-year course involves weekly lectures concerning theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. 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. There is also a special arrangement for members of staff of the College who already hold a degree to apply for permission to study for the AKC as a free-standing qualification.
Students take an annual examination. After graduating from King's, students who succeed in the AKC exams will be eligible to be elected as Associates of King's College. Associates use the post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
AKC along with their main qualification.
Until 1976 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. This was an ordination qualification in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and was a three-year, full-time course of studies. Some ordination candidates read the AKC only and some read the combined BD
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
/AKC course, receiving both qualifications at the end of the three years. The Theological AKC was equivalent to a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
pass degree in theology. It was awarded in three classes with an undivided second class
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
. Holders were entitled to wear distinctive academic dress by a grant of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
. 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 except that, like the Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
MA, 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.