Skip to main content
Shitij Kapur

Professor Shitij Kapur

Vice-Chancellor & President of King's College London

Biography

Professor Shitij Kapur is the Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London. He returned to lead King’s in June 2021, following more than four years at the University of Melbourne, where he was Dean and Assistant Vice Chancellor (Health) for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and interim Deputy Vice Chancellor (International).

Professor Kapur is well known at King’s having previously served, between 2007 to 2016, as Assistant Principal (Academic Performance), Dean and Head of School for the Institute of Psychiatry and the founding Executive Dean of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).

Professor Kapur is a member of the College Council and also serves on the Governance and Nominations Committee, the Estates Strategy Committee, the Finance Committee, the Investment Subcommittee, the Governance & Nominations Committee, the Chairs' Committee and the Fellowships & Honorary Degrees Committee.

During his time in Melbourne, Professor Kapur significantly increased the educational footprint of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, introducing innovative models of learning, increasing both research income and impact, while doubling philanthropic support. In collaboration with colleagues across the university and medical research Institutes he was involved in creating the Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health and establishing the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery. He Co-Chaired the Australian Million Minds Mission and during the Covid pandemic took a lead role in bringing together scholars from the Group of Eight Universities to deliver the ‘Roadmap to Recovery – a Report for the Nation’.

Professor Kapur graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1988. He went on to complete his residency training in Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Fellowship in Schizophrenia and a PhD in Neuroscience from the Institute of Medical Science, both at the University of Toronto.

Professor Kapur is recognised worldwide for his own research on understanding psychosis and antipsychotic treatment – with over 300 papers, numerous presentations and an H-index of over a hundred. While at King’s he led NEWMEDS, an international consortium of scientists from 19 institutions from nine EU countries, which was one of the largest academic-industry research collaboration projects in its time.

He has received many awards and honorary fellowships including the honours of Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), Fellow of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (Australia) and Fellow of King's College London. He has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Copenhagen.

News

King's in top one per cent of universities in the world for sustainability

King’s has been recognised as 8th in Europe and 14th globally in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2025 which measure how organisations are...

Guy's campus with trees in the foreground and the Shard in the background

Former French President warns 'we must be prepared' for US reduction of military support in Europe

Former French President François Hollande has urged European nations to be prepared for the possibility of a reduction in US military support, cautioning that...

Close-up of President François Hollande

King's hosts Circle U. General Assembly

The meeting saw the launch of a new Knowledge Hub on Artificial Intelligence

A group of people pictured on the steps of King's Building, looking to camera

Celebrating long serving members of the King's community

King’s Long Service Awards 2024 recognise academic and professional services colleagues who have achieved 25 or 40 years of service.

Group photo with awardees gathered on Bush House stairs

King's launches MSc in Digital Economies in Indonesia

The new site in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone has taken on its first cohort studying the Master’s programme delivered by the Department of Digital...

Left to right: Ivy Kamadjaja (British Honorary Consul for East Java), Summer Xia (British Council Country Director Indonesia), Professor Dyah Sawitri (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research & Technology), Professor Hugh Bowden (King’s College London Academic Lead for Indonesia), Bambang Wijanarko (Secretary General of the National Council for Special Economic Zones), Professor Djwantoro Hardjito (Rector, Petra Christian University, Surabaya).

Sadiq Khan: 'Congregation has never been more needed than at this time'

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, shares the power of art and the importance of personal stories of refuge at the launch of Es Devlin’s ‘Congregation’, part of...

The Congregation participants stood in front of the the artwork

King's strengthens partnerships and explores future opportunities in Asia

Led by Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij Kapur, the King’s delegation visited Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to meet partner universities,...

The inaugural class of the SUSTech-King's School of Medicine at their enrolment ceremony in Shenzhen.

Afe Babalola Centre celebrates first London residential

Teachers visited King’s and TEDI-London to co-develop a training programme for educators across Africa

Afe Babalola Reception Summer 2024 (1)

TEDI-London celebrates inaugural graduation

The Engineering & Design Institute London (TEDI-London), the new trailblazing higher education institution founded by King's, Arizona State University and...

TEDI Graduation 2024

King's welcomes Education Secretary to Education Embassy Conference

Ministers, diplomats, senior policy makers and representatives from across the higher education sector gathered at King's for the 12th Education Embassy...

Education Secretary at King's College London

Events

08Jan

Research Culture symposium 2025

Drawing on the strength of the sector at King's first annual Research Culture Symposium.

29Aug

King's Alumni Reception - Shanghai

Catch up with old friends and new, grow your network and gain valuable insights from your fellow alumni - all at our exclusive alumni events in China.

Please note: this event has passed.

28Aug

King's Alumni Reception - Beijing

Catch up with old friends and new, grow your network and gain valuable insights from your fellow alumni - all at our exclusive alumni events in China.

Please note: this event has passed.

21Mar

The future of higher education: in conversation with Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke will join Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London discuss what needs to change in higher education and...

Please note: this event has passed.

16Jan

Living well with technology: AI and the future

Amidst the rapid changes affecting all industries, how do we navigate the AI revolution?

Please note: this event has passed.

27Nov

Principles for reimagining academic freedom

This is the fourth and last event of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom: Charting a course.

Please note: this event has passed.

25May

Is a global common reference for academic freedom desirable? Is it possible?

This event is part of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom: charting a course.

Please note: this event has passed.

27Apr

Discovering our Digital Futures and exploring our Global Cultures

King's is pleased to launch the new Digital Futures Institute and Global Cultures Institute.

Please note: this event has passed.

09Feb

India’s Foreign Policy and Trade Relations

King’s India Institute will host India’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram K Doraiswami for a lecture.

Please note: this event has passed.

16Nov

King's South East Asia Tour 2022 - Hong Kong (Online)

Although we cannot travel to Hong Kong this year, we will be livestreaming the event from the Singapore venue, The Fullerton, and inviting alumni in Hong Kong...

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

Why universities must lead the conversation on redefining academic freedom

The concept of academic freedom, which arose to protect academics and allow them to research and teach in areas where they have scholarly expertise, now needs...

Audience clapping - 1903x558

News

King's in top one per cent of universities in the world for sustainability

King’s has been recognised as 8th in Europe and 14th globally in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2025 which measure how organisations are...

Guy's campus with trees in the foreground and the Shard in the background

Former French President warns 'we must be prepared' for US reduction of military support in Europe

Former French President François Hollande has urged European nations to be prepared for the possibility of a reduction in US military support, cautioning that...

Close-up of President François Hollande

King's hosts Circle U. General Assembly

The meeting saw the launch of a new Knowledge Hub on Artificial Intelligence

A group of people pictured on the steps of King's Building, looking to camera

Celebrating long serving members of the King's community

King’s Long Service Awards 2024 recognise academic and professional services colleagues who have achieved 25 or 40 years of service.

Group photo with awardees gathered on Bush House stairs

King's launches MSc in Digital Economies in Indonesia

The new site in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone has taken on its first cohort studying the Master’s programme delivered by the Department of Digital...

Left to right: Ivy Kamadjaja (British Honorary Consul for East Java), Summer Xia (British Council Country Director Indonesia), Professor Dyah Sawitri (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research & Technology), Professor Hugh Bowden (King’s College London Academic Lead for Indonesia), Bambang Wijanarko (Secretary General of the National Council for Special Economic Zones), Professor Djwantoro Hardjito (Rector, Petra Christian University, Surabaya).

Sadiq Khan: 'Congregation has never been more needed than at this time'

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, shares the power of art and the importance of personal stories of refuge at the launch of Es Devlin’s ‘Congregation’, part of...

The Congregation participants stood in front of the the artwork

King's strengthens partnerships and explores future opportunities in Asia

Led by Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij Kapur, the King’s delegation visited Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to meet partner universities,...

The inaugural class of the SUSTech-King's School of Medicine at their enrolment ceremony in Shenzhen.

Afe Babalola Centre celebrates first London residential

Teachers visited King’s and TEDI-London to co-develop a training programme for educators across Africa

Afe Babalola Reception Summer 2024 (1)

TEDI-London celebrates inaugural graduation

The Engineering & Design Institute London (TEDI-London), the new trailblazing higher education institution founded by King's, Arizona State University and...

TEDI Graduation 2024

King's welcomes Education Secretary to Education Embassy Conference

Ministers, diplomats, senior policy makers and representatives from across the higher education sector gathered at King's for the 12th Education Embassy...

Education Secretary at King's College London

Events

08Jan

Research Culture symposium 2025

Drawing on the strength of the sector at King's first annual Research Culture Symposium.

29Aug

King's Alumni Reception - Shanghai

Catch up with old friends and new, grow your network and gain valuable insights from your fellow alumni - all at our exclusive alumni events in China.

Please note: this event has passed.

28Aug

King's Alumni Reception - Beijing

Catch up with old friends and new, grow your network and gain valuable insights from your fellow alumni - all at our exclusive alumni events in China.

Please note: this event has passed.

21Mar

The future of higher education: in conversation with Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke will join Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London discuss what needs to change in higher education and...

Please note: this event has passed.

16Jan

Living well with technology: AI and the future

Amidst the rapid changes affecting all industries, how do we navigate the AI revolution?

Please note: this event has passed.

27Nov

Principles for reimagining academic freedom

This is the fourth and last event of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom: Charting a course.

Please note: this event has passed.

25May

Is a global common reference for academic freedom desirable? Is it possible?

This event is part of the King's Presidential Series on Academic Freedom: charting a course.

Please note: this event has passed.

27Apr

Discovering our Digital Futures and exploring our Global Cultures

King's is pleased to launch the new Digital Futures Institute and Global Cultures Institute.

Please note: this event has passed.

09Feb

India’s Foreign Policy and Trade Relations

King’s India Institute will host India’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram K Doraiswami for a lecture.

Please note: this event has passed.

16Nov

King's South East Asia Tour 2022 - Hong Kong (Online)

Although we cannot travel to Hong Kong this year, we will be livestreaming the event from the Singapore venue, The Fullerton, and inviting alumni in Hong Kong...

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

Why universities must lead the conversation on redefining academic freedom

The concept of academic freedom, which arose to protect academics and allow them to research and teach in areas where they have scholarly expertise, now needs...

Audience clapping - 1903x558