Fees

How much you pay in fees depends on a number of factors, including: 

• Your fee status (Home or Overseas)
• Your programme

To find a breakdown of the fees and additional costs you can expect, see the webpage for your preferred programme of study. Visit Paying your fees to find out how and when payments are required.

The RCA is a small, entirely postgraduate institution set in the very centre of London that operates with high staffing levels, and we do everything we can to ensure that individual students have access to the academic guidance and pastoral support, equipment, materials and facilities they need to achieve their aims.

Our particular situation and educational ethos means the actual cost of the educational experience we provide is high by comparison with many other UK institutions.

In addition to your programme fees, please be aware that you may incur other additional costs associated with your study during your time at RCA. Additional costs can include purchases and services (without limitation): costs related to the purchase of books, paints, textiles, wood, metal, plastics and/or other materials in connection with your programme, services related to the use of printing and photocopying, lasercutting, 3D printing and CNC. Costs related to attending compulsory field trips, joining student and sport societies, and your Convocation (graduation) ceremony. 

If you wish to find out more about what type of additional costs you may incur while studying on your programme, please contact the Head of your Programme to discuss or ask at an online or in person at an Open Event.

We provide the RCA Shop online, and at our Kensington and Battersea Campuses – this is open to students and staff of the Royal College of Art only to provide paid for materials to support your studies. 

We also provide support to our students who require financial assistance whilst studying, including a dedicated Materials Fund.

Progression discounts on fees are available for alumni and students who have completed an RCA degree within the past ten years, and who then progress onto another RCA degree. More information on progression discounts can be found on our Paying your fees page.

The RCA receives a subsidy from the UK Government for UK, Irish, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and some EU student (with settled status), which enables us to charge a reduced fee. These students are referred to as having ‘Home’ fee status.

To qualify for the ‘Home’ rate of fees, you’ll need to meet certain conditions related to your nationality, visa status and residency.

If you hold any other citizenship, you are referred to as having ‘Overseas and EU’ fee status, which includes those EU nationals who do not have settled status in the UK.

The College is bound by the Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations 2007 when assessing students' fee status. To find out more about how fee status is assessed, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). If you do not believe the fees status listed in your offer letter is correct, you must notify the Admissions team within three weeks of your offer to request a fee status questionnaire. Detail of how to request a fee status questionnaire are included in the offer letter.

Fee status for Ukrainian students

Eligible Ukrainian students may qualify for the 'Home' fee status under a special arrangement scheme set up by the UK government. Find out more on the UKCISA website.

The RCA has two separate fee bands for MPhil/PhD students with effect from the academic year 2025/26.

For more information, visit MPhil/PhD fee bands.

A degree from the RCA is highly valued in all the professional worlds our students move into, and we offer an experience that we believe is real value for money. But studying here is a serious financial investment, so please ensure that you have adequate funding in place.

It is essential for students to think very carefully about the financial implications for themselves, and often their families, before applying for a place at the College. 

Funding your studies includes advice on options to help fund your studies. This includes RCA administered scholarships, external scholarships and other sources of funding. We encourage you to research other options too.

The Office for Students guide Steps to Postgraduate Study provides information and resources for prospective UK, EU and international students considering taught postgraduate courses. It highlights questions that students may wish to ask themselves and course providers about their study options, and provides links to where they may find answers.