King's College London

Ved Shivakumar, a History and International Relations student, participated in a project titled “Sound, Music, and Climate Change in Spiritual Communities.” Their experience highlighted how KURF offers the chance to explore unconventional research avenues while building critical skills.

Reflecting on the unique approach they brought to their application, Ved said:

"My main two things which I did is, well, A and the most important point is the passion. I think it's very easy to firstly read if someone is actually passionate about the project or not. And the second thing was don't underestimate general work, mundane experiences."

Ved highlighted how coming from a non-research background was not a limitation, but rather an opportunity to showcase the transferable skills he had gained through everyday experiences. He shared:

"I worked in a cafe, I did volunteering… general things like logistical work and time management, understanding big information. I took those simple experiences and talked about the skills I learnt from them and how they were useful for the project."

This approach demonstrated that even experiences outside formal research settings could be effectively leveraged to support his fellowship application, aligning with the skills needed for the project.

Describing their day-to-day work on the project, Ved highlighted its dynamic nature:

"It wasn’t just me sitting at a desk all day. For example, I had to go to a forest and spend the day there. It was very creative, with in-person workshops and then academic reports and visual presentations, where I edited hundreds of photos into a cohesive visual narrative."

Ved appreciated how the project pushed them to think critically and adapt:

"It blended a lot of different things. It required me to step out of my comfort zone and think critically about how research could make a real-world difference."

 

Impact of KURF Funding

The KURF fellowship allowed Ved to develop a range of essential skills that bridged their academic and professional aspirations:

• Critical Thinking and Adaptability: Engaging with creative and interdisciplinary tasks encouraged Ved to approach problems with a fresh perspective.

• Presentation and Communication Skills: Crafting academic reports and visual narratives enhanced their ability to present complex ideas effectively.

Ved highlighted how the fellowship helped them evolve both personally and professionally:

"It was really dynamic and blended different elements. Each and every single opportunity which is available contains all of those, so it’s quite cool in that sense."

 

Broader Impact

Ved’s participation in KURF empowered them to expand their research horizons while building confidence and new skills:

"One of the biggest pieces of advice I got from my professor was to actually go out for walks because it helps with creativity. So there’s that element of you don’t necessarily have to just sit it all day in your room doing that type of thing—it’s very dynamic."

By encouraging innovation, interdisciplinary exploration, and personal growth, KURF equips students like Ved Shivakumar with the tools to navigate their academic journeys and future career paths successfully.

The King’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (KURF)

KURF offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in transformative research projects led by academics and staff at King’s during the summer. Fellows receive a stipend of £1,500 and are awarded the King’s Experience Research Award, which is featured on their Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR) as formal recognition of their role as research fellows.

 

Key Features and Impact

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: KURF encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, exposing students to diverse research methodologies and fields.

• Skill Development: Participants gain essential research skills such as data collection, analysis, and critical thinking, as well as transferable skills including teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.

• Enhanced Career Prospects: Fellows frequently cite KURF as instrumental in securing postgraduate study opportunities, research roles, and careers in industry.

• Widening Participation: In the King’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (KURF), the scoring system incorporates a formula that provides WP students with an additional 20% weighting on their application mark, which is then added to the supervisor’s score. Typically, the highest-scoring candidates are either selected outright or invited to interview, where final decisions are made. This ensures that the programme supports inclusivity and targets students from underrepresented backgrounds.