The RCA offers a wide range of scholarships and bursary schemes, open to UK and International students, and across our full range of courses. Visit our website for more information about our schemes and how to apply for them. There are also government-funded options for both our Master's degrees and for our doctoral research Programmes (for UK students).
Royal College of Art
About
Ranked for eleven consecutive years as the world’s number 1 art & design university*, the Royal College of Art’s postgraduate programmes enable you to tackle complex issues, push the boundaries of your practice, build your networks and find your voice as a creative professional.
Ranked for eleven consecutive years as the world’s number 1 art & design university*, the Royal College of Art’s postgraduate programmes enable you to tackle complex issues, push the boundaries of your practice, build your networks and find your voice as a creative professional.
Committed to creating the next generation of artists, designers, architects, communicators, researchers, creators and innovators, the RCA’s world-leading academic staff will guide and challenge you to push the boundaries of your practice. As the world’s largest community of postgraduate-only art and design students, you will be part of a collective of inspirational creative peers opening up opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The broad range of disciplines on offer is based on a strong foundation of practice-based research and integrates STEAM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - providing a unique and transformative experience.
*QS World University subject rankings (2015-2025).
About Royal College of Art
The RCA was all about brain expansion and being exposed to things that I had never considered or thought of or had to deal with within my work. It very much felt like breaking down everything I already knew. Being able to learn in such an environment with such an amazing range of academic and technical staff, and the fact that everyone kind of came from a different background made it so much more of, so much of a richer experience.
Lucy Hardcastle, Information Experience Design MA
Whatever your creative career aspirations, the RCA can help you realise them. A qualification from the world’s number one ranked university for Art & Design has proven invaluable to the careers and practice of thousands of graduates. You too could be part of our international network of creative individuals who have shaped, and continue to shape, the world surrounding us, and address some of the biggest global challenges of our time.
We attract the most talented students who come to us as the world’s most influential postgraduate art and design school to have access to leading faculty and push the boundaries of their fields.
I learned how to work with people and with communities, just understanding different points of view and bringing that together. Coming to RCA with the idea of: ‘What are the things I could make?’ has completely shifted to: ‘How can we get together and make things?’
- Rashmi Bidasaria, Design Products MA
- 90% of graduates say studying at the RCA has had a positive impact on their career (RCA Alumni Survey 2019)
- 95% of graduates say their current role is linked to their RCA degree (RCA Alumni Survey 2019)
- 85% employer reputation score (2024 QS Subject Rankings - Art & Design)
- 81 start-ups successfully launched through our business incubator programme, InnovationRCA
The RCA has consistently produced world leaders in the fields of creative endeavour – acting as a launchpad for the careers of major international figures.
Our alumni shape the world – whether founding their own studios and brands, pushing the boundaries of possibility through their start-ups or taking on impressive roles with global companies across a wide range of disciplines.
Our creative students have ambitions of being their own boss and making their own decisions, so launch their own enterprises or studios either soon after graduating or any some time employed in industry. Many did not intend to start their studies considering themselves entrepreneurs but discovered an idea during their studies with their fellow students that they believe would make a successful business. InnovationRCA – the College’s centre for student and graduate enterprise and entrepreneurship – supports students and recent graduates to transform compelling ideas into successful businesses, providing incubation, intellectual property and commercialisation support.
The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading art and design university, having been ranked for ten consecutive years as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2024).
Shawn Adams (Architecture MA, 2020), architect, writer, lecturer, co-founder of POoR Collective
“Every day is different. I teach undergraduate architecture. I co-run a design studio. I do a lot of architectural writing, and I run my own design practice. I’ve got lots of different roles. I do think my work is part of who I am. Everyone who knows me knows that architecture is my passion, and I feel lucky to be paid to do something I love.”
Yussef Agbo-Ola (Environmental Architecture MA, 2019)
“The RCA is a super-dynamic environment. It’s a multidisciplinary, multicultural environment that fosters amazing creativity with teaching, rigour and experimental ways of thinking. It fostered an environment where I could expand my ideology, my understanding about art and design and architecture while giving me the space to think about scale in a totally different way.”
Chloe Abrahams (Contemporary Art Practice MA, 2022)
“I had been working in documentary film distribution for a few years. It was very focused on the market and sales aspect of filmmaking, which left me wanting to experiment and make things without thinking of the commercial implications. I wanted to spend time making for the sake of making. I knew my film would suffer if I didn't do that.”
Ken Nwadiogbu (Painting MA. 2023)
“The RCA introduced me to other artists and provided a safe space for exploration. Connecting with fellow artists opened up meaningful dialogues and gave me the support and inspiration I needed to develop my work further. Having the space for exploration was important. It allowed me to step back and immerse myself in learning, thinking, and experimenting, which ultimately enriched my painting.”
Tere Chad (Sculpture MA, 2020), artist
“My post-RCA career has been a dynamic fusion of art and advocacy. With a deep-seated passion to give back, sustainability stands at the core of my artistic endeavours. I work to raise awareness about climate and social change through the powerful medium of art. I’m passionate about safeguarding artists in vulnerable situations. My RCA degree equipped me with the skills to contribute to international social change projects.”
Facilities
Our facilities and technical equipment are amongst the best of their kind in the world and support students in their explorations of the creative possibilities of both the new and innovative and traditional craft skills.
Student life at Royal College of Art
Our Global Creative Community
Students come to the College from across the globe and bring with them a wide range of backgrounds, educational approaches and experiences - due to the cross-disciplinary nature of our work, and our growing range of courses, nearly 25% of students now come to the RCA with a Bachelor's degree in a subject other than art and design. Studying here means you'll be part of a network of inspiring students in a city known for creative culture, and part of the RCA’s rich history since its formation in 1837. Both the RCA and London as a whole are hubs of activity; full of places where you can socialise, explore and make new discoveries.
Our London campus is spread throughout the heart of one of the world’s most creative cities, with sites in the historic surroundings of Kensington, the future-thinking hub of White City, and the cultural quarter in Battersea.
“I think it's a pretty magical space, with this energy that you most likely don't get again in life. You work next to like-minded people and you can immediately talk about things, exchange thoughts, and push your practice further. It's motivating to come back every day and see everyone. It’s different from having a studio by yourself.”
- Theresa Weber, Sculpture MA
