The AKC (Associateship of King’s College) is the original award of King's, dating back to its foundation in 1829 and reflecting its first motto: sancte et sapienter, "holiness and wisdom". 

The AKC remains faithful to this commitment to taking religion seriously, and aims to promote intelligent, open-minded reflection on ethical and philosophical questions. The 21st-century AKC offers an inclusive, research-led programme of lectures that give King’s students the opportunity to explore diverse religious and cultural perspectives, alongside their main programme of study. 

AKC lectures enrich and broaden the academic curriculum at King’s in a unique way. More than 3000 members of the King’s community - undergraduates, postgraduates and staff, across all faculties and campuses as well as online - follow the AKC every year. In recent years, AKC lecture series have focused on mental health, leadership, migration, London's culture and history, and ethics in a cultural context.

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. The programme is unique to King's College London, and is the only course open to all King’s students, as well as to staff and alumni. 

We run two series of AKC lectures during each academic year. It is a two year programme, designed to run alongside students’ main programme of study.