Royal College of Art

• Location: London, England,
• Founded in: 1837,
• Number of students: about 2980,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) is the only public art university in the UK offering educational programs at the master's and doctoral levels. The institutional infrastructure consists of three educational campuses in the capital of England.

The history of RCA began in 1837 with the founding of the Government School of Design at Somerset House. Almost 60 years later, in 1896, the educational institution received a well-known name and since then has been keeping a strict focus on practice in the field of arts. Today, The Royal College of Art is considered one of the most sought-after institutions in this academic field. About 2980 students from more than 60 countries join educational programs annually.

The Royal College of Art has earned international recognition, the trust of thousands of foreign and local students, and high ratings from professional agencies. Preserving historical traditions, RCA takes modern innovations in the field of education seriously, providing the best conditions for obtaining theoretical knowledge and practical skills in specialized studios, workshops, laboratories.

Under the guidance of qualified faculty, most of whom have advanced scientific degrees, students not only move towards a degree, but also gain extensive career opportunities in the future. The most important aspect in every academic program is practice – many hours of on-campus and off-campus classes will give students a complete understanding of the field being studied. Thanks to partnerships with local and foreign companies, educational institutions and organizations, the college provides its students with internships, additional opportunities for obtaining applied skills when participating in exhibitions and cultural events.

• The unique AcrossRCA block offered within the Master's programs gives staff and students the chance to work together in a series of interdisciplinary projects that explore new ideas, approaches, and skills,
• Students develop confidence in solving global problems through experiential learning in practice. Many dedicated campus spaces, such as the Terra Carta Design Lab or the Grand Challenge, give students the opportunity to apply knowledge to real-life problems, from environmental sustainability and plastic pollution to marine habitat loss and new ocean-related economies,
• A professional support team offers career counselling during and after your studies. Each student is assigned a personal consultant who conducts individual sessions both online and in person,
• The InnovationRCA Center for Entrepreneurship helps students transform their exciting ideas into successful businesses by providing platforms for project implementation, legal control over intellectual property, and commercialization support. InnovationRCA has already supported 120 graduates in launching 84 start-ups, providing them with £145 million in investment.

The Royal College of Art has four specialized schools, representing the following areas:

• Architecture,
• Arts, Humanities,
• Communication,
• Design.

Under the management of the Royal College of Art, there are several research centers, whose employees annually work on projects in such areas as:

• Design,
• Intelligent mobility design,
• Materials Science,
• Computer Research,
• Robotics.

The Student Support Team can help you find accommodation in or around London and provide answers to general questions about private accommodation. RCA cooperates with the University of London Housing Service (UoLHS), thanks to which foreign students receive contracts for living in comfortable residences, townhouses, apartments.

Despite the college's compact size, its three campuses have several cafeterias and dining rooms where staff and students can grab a bite to eat, have a full lunch, and relax between classes. The establishments regularly change the menu, which includes a variety of options: from sandwiches, salads and hot drinks to hearty business lunches with soups and hot dishes, cocktails, pizza. 

The main community that represents the views of all students, runs themed clubs, and organizes many campus events is the Student Union. It annually includes students of various specialties and of different ages, which allows us to cover the interests of all pupils. Under the leadership of the Students' Union there are societies that reflect a variety of hobbies, interests and goals of students:

• Dancing,
• Artificial intelligence,
• Experimental animation,
• Cinema,
• Drawing from nature,
• Globetrotting,
• Meditation,
• Photography,
• Horticulture.

Among the communities there are additional circles of interests aimed at supporting an active lifestyle and offering regular training, participation in sports competitions, and entertainment activities:

• Tennis,
• Running,
• Soccer,
• Hiking,
• Rock climbing.

Every year, the Student Union holds a series of exhibitions, curated by the students themselves. Exhibitions are not part of any academic program, but they do help students gain hands-on experience curating and presenting their work, meeting and working with art experts.

• No2 in the world of art for ten years in a row in the QS World University Rankings,
• 80% of graduates will continue to work in their specialty (according to the RICS report for 2024),
• Extensive network of cooperation with international and national organizations based on knowledge sharing, internships, research,
• Qualified educational staff, represented by leading specialists in the fields of art, conducts active research activities. 100% of teachers are included in the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) application,
• A multinational student community with representatives from more than 60 countries,
• Three academic campuses in London offering state-of-the-art facilities and technology to gain practical skills.

The campuses of the Royal College of Art are located in three boroughs of London: White City, Kensington and Battersea.

RCA has had a learning area in Battersea for over 25 years, making a significant contribution to the development of this cultural quarter. In addition to the world-leading facilities and technical support that underpin academic learning, the campus boasts a rich schedule of lectures by leading artists, curators, writers, and critics, including the School of Arts and Humanities Studies' lecture series, exhibitions, and events. In 2016, RCA received funding from the UK government to build a new building and R&D centres at Battersea: the new building is STEAM-focused, offering laboratories and specialised spaces for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics:

• Four floors of studios and workshops equipped for sculpture classes and the practice of contemporary art, animation,
• Hangar is a multifunctional space with an area of 350 sq. m in the heart of the campus,
• Robotics Hangar - A small hangar and gallery that houses research, testing, and assembly areas for design, sculpture, and robotics, including air and water testing zones,
• Rausing Research and Innovation Building – eight floors of research space for areas such as materials science, soft robotics, advanced manufacturing, smart mobility, virtual reality visualization (housed in the Snap Visualization Lab),
• The Helen Hamlin Design Center – international students are engaged in research and projects in the field of design in collaboration with industry,
• InnovationRCA, located in the Clore Innovation Centre, is a hub for supporting entrepreneurship, start-ups and businesses,
• The seminar and conference room is the top floor of the Rausing Research & Innovation building, which houses the seminar and conference room.

The historic Royal College of Art campus in Kensington is located next to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Imperial College, surrounded by Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the largest green space in London. At the heart of the learning grounds is the Darwin Building, which includes an extensive library with special collections, technical resources, student support and the Student Union.

Located in the BBC Media Village, the White City campus is the newest addition to RCA's academic venues, it is equipped with state-of-the-art studios, workshops and technical facilities that have been designed to provide applied professional skills.

In all educational areas of the Royal College of Art, the following has been prepared:

• Carpentry, metalworking, plastics and production facilities, paint spraying workshops, Future workshops for mold making and injection molding. The workshops have laser cutting, CNC processing and fiber laser cutting equipment,
• Classes for hot and cold glass production, kiln forming, plaster and clay model making,
• College shops selling a variety of graphic and art supplies, fabrics and haberdashery, wood and acrylic products, stationery and paper, as well as free tool rentals,
• Fabric warehouse, specialized software, a wide range of sewing equipment for the manufacture of clothes and shoes,
• A variety of lenses for analog and digital photography, animation and filming, as well as special studios providing facilities for filming, lighting, sound recording and post-processing,
• A large workshop equipped with a variety of technologies of silk-screen printing, letterpress printing, etching, lithography, monochrome printing,
• Multiple CAT zones, which include open access areas for both Mac and PC, dedicated software training rooms.

Free shuttles run between campuses.

RCA accepts new students twice a year, so study dates may vary. Basically, the curriculum provides for study in semesters, which include session weeks, days for rest in honor of holidays, weekends, seasonal holidays. Classes are held on weekdays.

List of additional costs consists of:

• Registration fee, deposit,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Educational materials, equipment for specialized training,
• Student Club Fees,
• Additional academic opportunities not included in the curriculum,
• Compulsory live insurance,
• Personal expenses.

The admissions committee recommends applying as early as possible, even if the student has not yet completed their final year of undergraduate studies. Applicants will go through several entrance stages:

• Filling out the registration form, providing the required documents,
• Payment of the registration fee,
• Passing a possible interview (personal or online) or audition,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Arrive on campus to begin your studies.

RCA's alumni network is made up of more than 25,000 professionals who have built careers around the world and formed a unique international network of artists, designers, creators and innovators. According to the statistics of recent years:

• 80% – at least 4 out of 5 RCA alumni who are currently working in their specialty (RCA Alumni Career Report 2024),
• 90% – 9 out of 10 working graduates apply the skills and knowledge they learned in college to their work (RCA Graduate Careers Report 2024).

In 2020, RCA graduate Douglas Stewart received the Booker Prize, in 2023 Bianca Saunders received the New Establishment Menswear Designer Award at The British Fashion Awards. In 2023, the work of college students became the visual backdrop for an impressive performance at Windsor Castle to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

International applicants wishing to pursue a master's or doctoral degree at RCA must provide:

• Personal data: valid passport, health insurance, student visa or residence permit,
• IELTS language test results. Depending on the chosen program, the required level of English proficiency will vary, but the minimum required will be B2,
• Academic certificates from the previous place of study: bachelor's degree, report cards,
• Experience in the relevant field.

Also, all candidates must have a portfolio that includes:

• A 300-word written personal statement of motivation to study under the program,
• A short video of up to two minutes, in which the applicant talks about his personal creative path,
• From three to five files with works,
• Detailed information about work experience,
• Contact details of one or more referees.

The college has a financial aid fund that provides support to enrolled students with financial difficulties: unforeseen circumstances, low income. In addition, in collaboration with the Students' Union, RCA has launched a Living Costs Fund in response to the rising cost of living in the UK by providing vouchers for supermarket purchases.

More than 300 scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of academic merit, active research activities, extracurricular achievements.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision