Royal College of Art

Key Highlights

• Postgraduate specialist offering taught master's, MPhil and PhD degrees
• Founded in 1837 and granted university status and degree-awarding powers in 1967
• Regulated by the Office for Students as an exempt charity
• Operating across three London campuses in 2026/27, with White City scheduled to close after that academic year

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across the RCA's specialist campuses rather than centred on a single residential estate. During 2026/27, programmes operate in Kensington, Battersea and White City, with teaching, workshop and studio arrangements varying by course. Students should check their programme's location because it affects commuting, access to facilities and where day-to-day peer networks form. The Students' Union represents students through elected officers, programme representatives, assemblies and participation in College committees. It also organizes social and cultural events and supports student-led societies. Students can propose a funded society by gathering the required signatories and applying through the Union. The ArtBar in Kensington functions as a principal social venue, while Union advice covers institutional processes and signposting, including cost-of-living support. RCA students generally arrange their own London accommodation. The College provides guidance rather than a guaranteed institutional room and subscribes to University of London Housing Services, through which students can access private-housing information, events and support. This makes an early housing search important, particularly for international students unfamiliar with London contracts and commuting patterns. Student Success services can help with accommodation questions and other aspects of transition. Applicants should still evaluate how a multi-site, postgraduate community compares with the more residential experience offered by some universities. The planned departure from White City after 2026/27 may also change where some cohorts study later in their programme.

Location & Surroundings

The RCA operates in central and west London, with 2026/27 activity divided among Kensington, Battersea and White City. Kensington is the College's registered address and is close to major cultural institutions in South Kensington. Battersea places students south of the Thames, while White City is in west London within the BBC Media Village. The campus assigned to a programme should be checked before choosing housing. London offers access to galleries, museums, studios, cultural organizations and creative businesses, but the practical trade-off is a high cost of living and potentially substantial commuting. The College advises students to consider budget, bills and transport when comparing neighbourhoods. Areas commonly considered by RCA students include Battersea and Clapham, Shepherd's Bush and White City, Hammersmith, Fulham, Earl's Court and west London districts, although price and journey time vary considerably. The campus configuration is changing. White City continues to host specified programmes during 2026/27, including Animation MA, Communication MFA, Digital Direction MA, the Graduate Diploma Art & Design, Information Experience Design MA and Visual Communication MA. The College expects to leave White City in August 2027 and become a two-campus institution based in Kensington and Battersea, with affected programmes relocating.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition varies by programme and fee status, so there is no single College-wide figure that safely represents every student. Applicants should use the 2026-entry fee shown on their chosen programme page and distinguish Home from Overseas or EU status. One example, Architecture MA, lists 2026 annual fees of £9,525 for Home students and £29,000 for Overseas and EU students; these figures should not be generalized to other programmes. For 2026/27, accepting an offer normally requires a non-refundable deposit within three weeks. The listed deposit is £1,000 for Home students and £2,000 for Overseas and EU students on MA, MArch, MDes, MEd, MFA, MRes, MPhil and PhD programmes. The deposit is credited against tuition. Eligible self-funding master's and research students may pay in full or in two instalments, with at least 50% due before enrolment. Scholarship support can take the form of full fees and maintenance, full fees, fee discounts or maintenance contributions, but availability and eligibility vary. The RCA's July 2026 living-cost guidance estimates a broad London student budget of £1,237 to £2,500 per month. Housing, transport, materials, printing and programme-related travel can materially affect the total, so applicants should build a personal budget rather than treat tuition as the full cost. As of June 2026, the RCA partners with the University of London Careers Service rather than operating an in-house careers service. Students can access individual guidance and workshops, while many programmes incorporate business or creative-career development. InnovationRCA provides entrepreneurship support for students and graduates interested in developing ventures.