Royal College of Art

About Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art is an independent, specialist postgraduate institution regulated by the Office for Students. Its legal name remains Royal College of Art, and it operates as an exempt charity. The College traces its origin to the Government School of Design, founded at Somerset House in 1837. It adopted its present name in 1896 and received a Royal Charter, university status and its own degree-awarding powers in 1967. The institution is designed for students who already have substantial undergraduate education or equivalent preparation and want advanced study in creative practice, research or professionally connected design fields. This distinguishes it from a general university: the official programme finder lists postgraduate diplomas, taught master's awards, MPhil and PhD degrees, but no current bachelor's provision. Prospective students should therefore assess the fit of a particular programme, school and research area rather than expect a broad undergraduate campus curriculum. For 2026/27, teaching and research operate across Kensington, Battersea and White City. The College expects to end its White City lease in August 2027 and consolidate into Kensington and Battersea. Students entering programmes currently based at White City should consider that planned relocation when assessing facilities and travel beyond 2026/27. The current programme specifications and active offer-holder information demonstrate that the institution remains operational and enrolling postgraduate students.

Admissions are programme-specific and postgraduate. For taught master's awards, applicants select a programme, review its entrance and portfolio requirements, create an Applicant Portal account, and upload the required application materials. A portfolio is an important component for relevant programmes, but its content and format must follow the instructions on the individual programme page. Applicants may submit applications to no more than two different programmes in the 2027 admissions year and may not apply twice to the same programme in that cycle. Research applicants first identify the school or centre that best matches their proposed work. The application asks them to indicate the relevant research area in their proposal. Outcomes can include an offer, a waiting-list decision, an alternative MRes offer or an unsuccessful decision. Applicants should assess supervisory and research-area fit rather than relying only on a broad disciplinary label. As of 20 August 2026, master's and MPhil/PhD applications are closed and are expected to reopen in autumn for September 2027 entry; detailed 2027 dates had not yet been published on the cited application pages. Applicants should register for official updates and avoid using expired 2026 deadlines. Applicants who are not nationals of a recognized majority-English-speaking country normally must demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted test or qualifying previous study. Required scores vary by programme and should be checked on the relevant course page. English evidence is not required before applying, but visa applicants must meet the requirement before the College can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

The RCA's 2026/27 academic portfolio spans architecture, arts and humanities, communication, design, and interdisciplinary creative education and research. Current specifications include programmes such as Architecture MA, Contemporary Art Practice MA, Curating Contemporary Art MA, Fashion MA, Service Design MA, Visual Communication MA, Design Futures MDes, Creative Education MEd, Communication MFA and the Master of Research RCA. The Art & Design Graduate Diploma provides postgraduate preparatory study but is not a bachelor's degree. Award structures vary, so applicants should consult the individual programme page and specification rather than assume that all courses follow the same duration, curriculum or assessment model. Programme specifications describe educational aims, intended learning outcomes and award requirements for the applicable academic year. Many areas combine studio or practice-based development with contextual, critical and research work, while the exact balance is programme-specific. Research applicants can pursue either an MPhil or PhD. RCA research degrees may be completed through a written thesis or a thesis accompanied by practice-based output. Applicants identify the school or centre best aligned with their proposal, and research fit is therefore an important part of selecting where to apply. Doctoral opportunities cover multiple art and design disciplines, with individual research areas determining available supervision. The database record's bachelor's label should not guide programme searches. The current official catalogue identifies the RCA as postgraduate and lists master's-level and research awards, with no active bachelor's degree provision. Prospective students seeking first-degree study should look elsewhere; those considering the RCA should compare portfolio expectations, facilities, campus location and course-specific outcomes across the relevant postgraduate options.

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.