What does AKC mean in Academic Degrees?

Associate of King's College

The original degree offered by King's College London upon its Foundation in 1829 was the Associateship (awarded from 1831). When degrees from the University of London e.g. BA Hons (Lond) were awarded from 1836, the AKC was preserved and subsequently became an additional qualification (largely) in Theology. Until 1978, the AKC could still be studied for as a stand-alone qualification; these days it is a parallel qualification which can only be awarded if the candidates passes examinations both for their undergraduate Bachelors degree and the AKC. So alumni of King's may always be spotted by the distinctive use of the letters AKC after their other degree: BA AKC, BD AKC, BSc AKC, LLB AKC etc and, recently, as the course was extended to postgraduates by remote learning even MA AKC, PhD AKC etc. The AKC remains distinctive as being the only institution-specific academic award in the UK which is achieved only by academic examination rather than honorifically (as with MAs at Oxford and Cambridge and customarily the DIC at Imperial College). The academic dress (not often worn, but coming back into fashion) is a black unlined hood in silk poplin edged 1' either side of both cape and cowl portion in pale lilac silk or art silk ribbon. The gown is a black 'clerical style (i.e. with a gathered yoke) with gloved sleeves similar to an MA gown but with the ends squared with no curve cut out. The gown may be faced in black velvet with black velvet trim to 1'around the armholes.

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