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School of Architecture

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The School of Architecture offers an unparalleled interdisciplinary context to pursue design research in the spatial disciplines.

Electronic Tapestry - Retired objects

Located in Kensington, the School of Architecture provides a stimulating and vibrant cultural context for study in one of the world’s leading cities. Realise live projects and work alongside leading designers and artists in a postgraduate-only environment.

Key details

Dean

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What makes us different

Emily Wickham

Creative partnerships that last a lifetime

This context allows students to push their material, conceptual and technical skills beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries – expanding the potential of future practice while forming friendships.
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How we work across the School

The studio-based learning environment is supported by historical, theoretical, media and technical seminars where students are introduced to a wide range of design research methods and approaches. Within each Programme, opportunities for live projects and fieldwork are provided in line with the pedagogical ambitions of studio leaders.
Students

A hands on experience

Practice mentor schemes across all programmes pair students with practices and help expand professional networks.

Organisations we've worked with

What's happening at the School

News

Royal College of Art announces global winners of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Design Lab 2024

9 December 2024
News

RCA superFUTURES collaboration announced with international design agency

26 November 2024
Event

Panel event with the Royal College of Art & alumni in Accra

3 January 2025
See all news & events

Student stories

Additional links

Explore graduate work at RCA2024
Explore previous graduate exhibitions

Our research

In keeping with an institution that highly values innovative practice and academic research, design-led research in the School of Architecture is integrated with more conventional text-based enquiry. We especially support practice-led and interdisciplinary design research with tangible public and social impact.

Featured projects

Research collaborators

Additional links

Current research students
RCA research repository
Postgraduate research
Laboratory for Design & Machine Learning

Reimagining foodways for drylands and wetlands in the climate crisis

CLIMAVORE x Jameel at RCA is a research initiative that reimagines foodways for drylands and wetlands.

CLIMAVORE x Jameel at RCA

Our programmes

Our MA, MRes, MArch, MPhil and PhD degrees allow you to build expertise in your chosen discipline.

Architecture

MPhil/PhD

The Architecture research programme focuses on practice-led and interdisciplinary research with tangible public and social impact.

Visualising Practice: Still From Simulated Dataflow in Processing, Digital HD, Paul Priest, 2018

Architecture

MA Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

An ambitious re-imagining of architectural practices.

ADS4 field trip to Iceland, 2016

Art & Design

Graduate Diploma

Join a global cohort preparing for Master’s study

Johann Spindler

City Design

MA

Embrace an interdisciplinary approach to creating new spaces

Material Memories

Creative Education

MEd

Design and deliver creative education with a difference

Seminar at the RCA

Design Practice

MArch

Engaging with the built environment in a sustainable way

Campus in a Forest

Environmental Architecture

MA

The future of landscapes, environments and ecosystems

The Desert as Pedagogical Platform

Interior Design

MA

Explore interior design from the room to the city

Workshop at Charleston Assembly

Master of Research RCA

MRes

Transform your research and practice in architecture, communication, design, fine art or the experimental humanities

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Browse all RCA programmes

Our short courses

We run short courses, lasting from one day to three weeks, for creatives and prospective students.

Architecture Summer School

14 July 2025

An intense and immersive architecture summer school offering a challenging and engaging programme of design studio experience, visits, expert talks and portfolio making.

ADS7 2023/24: Being WIth In, Work-in-progress Show

Interior Design: Retail Futures

Bookings not yet open

An interior design short course exploring the forces shaping future retail environments.

Dichronic Tunnel at SKP-S
Browse all RCA short courses

Additional links

How to apply
School of Architecture Media Studies

Custom executive education

We deliver senior-level custom executive education programmes for business, government, the public sector and universities globally.

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Key staff

Find out more about our academic staff.
Dr Adrian Lahoud

Professor Adrian Lahoud

Dean

Professor Adrian Lahoud is Dean, School of Architecture and Fellow at the Royal College of Art.

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Sandra Denicke-Polcher

Sandra Denicke-Polcher

Associate Dean (Education)

Sandra is an architect and National Teaching Fellow. Her research addresses the complex relationship between architectural practice and education.

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Beth Hughes

Beth Hughes

Head of Programme

Director of her own practice, Beth has worked on projects of all scales, public and private, around the world.

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Godofredo Pereira

Godofredo Enes Pereira

Head of Programme

Godofredo Enes Pereira is an architect and researcher. He is the Head of Programme for the MA Environmental Architecture.

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Professor Graeme Brooker

Professor Graeme Brooker

Head of Programme

Graeme Brooker is an interior designer with extensive experience in practice, education and research.

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Ines Weizman

Professor Ines Weizman

Professor of History and Theory of Architecture

Ines Weizman is Professor of History and Theory of Architecture at the School of Architecture at the RCA and directs our Architecture PhD. She is the founding director of the Centre for Documentary Architecture (CDA), an interdisciplinary research collective comprised of architectural historians, filmmakers and digital technologists.

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Dubravka Sekulić by Andrea Steves

Dubravka Sekulić

Head of Programme

Dubravka Sekulić is an architect, theorist and educator.

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Dr Sam Jacoby

Professor Sam Jacoby

Professor of Architectural and Urban Design Research

Sam is an architect, design researcher and historian with a diverse research portfolio and interdisciplinary practice.

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Browse all School staff

Meet the RCA

Meet Dr Godofredo Pereira, Head of Programme for MA Environmental Architecture & MA City Design.

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Ask a question

Get in touch if you'd like to find out more about studying at the RCA the School of Architecture.

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