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Open events for prospective students

Key details

Date

  • 12 November 2024

Read time

  • 2 minutes

* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Art & Design

Discover our programmes

The Royal College of Art offers Graduate Diploma, Master's and MPhil/PhD programmes in the arts, design, communication, architecture and the humanities. Our students also come from a broad range of backgrounds including science, technology, engineering, social sciences, business and healthcare.

Programme finder

Applications are now open for 2025 entry. The final application deadline for Master’s and MPhil/PhD programmes is 30 June 2025, 12 noon GMT.

Apply now to secure your place.

Masters Degree Portfolio Q&As (Online)

Hear from our Admissions Tutors on what we look for in a good application and portfolio. This includes a question and answer session.

Register for a Portfolio Q&A Group of architecture students in the studio

Ask us a question

If you have questions about our programmes or studying at the RCA, ask us here and our International team will reply.

Enquire here to take the next step toward your career

Student Profiles

Browse profiles of our class of 2024 on the RCA Student Profiles website.

With profiles from over 1600 postgraduate students across the RCA’s four schools – Architecture, Arts & Humanities, Communication and Design – as well as programmes run by the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre and Academic Development, discover the art and design world’s newest talent and latest innovations.

Why choose the RCA?

Teaching and research expertise

The opportunity to learn from world-leading academic staff. We’re the only specialist art and design university where all of our permanent teaching and research staff are also research active and included in the RCA’s submissions to the UK Research Excellence Framework.

Renowned alumni

Our 33,000+ alumni are leaders in their disciplines, making national and international headlines. Alumni include:

  • Hoor Al Qasimi
  • Hurvin Anderson RA
  • Christopher Bailey CBE
  • Sir Peter Blake
  • Sir Frank Bowling
  • Sir James Dyson OM
  • Dame Tracey Emin RA
  • Sir Anthony Finkelstein
  • Thomas Heatherwick RDI, CBE
  • Dame Barbara Hepworth
  • Lubaina Himid RA CBE
  • David Hockney OM
  • Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq
  • Asif Kapadia
  • Julian MacDonald OBE
  • Henry Moore OM
  • Erdem Moralioglu MBE
  • Morag Myerscough
  • Dame Magdalene Odundo
  • Chris Ofili CBE
  • Bridget Riley
  • Sir Ridley Scott
  • Philip Treacy OBE
  • Dame Zandra Rhodes

A diverse creative community

The RCA is the world’s largest postgraduate-only art and design university, representing an exciting talent base and opportunities to build your network and collaborate. An RCA student might be working in industry or the arts, a career-changer, or come straight from an undergraduate course. We typically welcome students from over 70 countries.

Interdisciplinary connections

Our College and School-wide projects, activities and challenges help our students find like-minded creatives to solve major global problems, grow their networks, or find future business partners. Find out more about AcrossRCA.

Build your career

Find out more about how the RCA can help move your career to the next level with our Graduate Careers Report.

Graduate Diploma Art & Design

Tian Gao, Graduate Diploma

Applications for the Graduate Diploma Art & Design intake in May 2025 will open in January. Register for updates and reminders about applying to the Graduate Diploma.

This pre-Master's programme is available on-campus, online or both. the Graduate Diploma is ideal for for students who feel they are not quite prepared for Master's study, are looking to move into a new creative discipline or wish to enhance their English language in an art and design context.

Watch our open event recording to find out more.

Graduate Diploma Art & Design

Life at the RCA

Over 185 years our alumni have defined the industries that they have joined, created and reshaped.

Discover where the RCA will take you

We host a range of opportunities in cities around the world for prospective RCA students to meet with staff and alumni.

Explore our global events

Get advice on sources of funding for MA, MFA, MDes, MEd and MRes students available from external bodies.

Explore funding

Our sites are located in the historic capital city of London, a vibrant cultural centre with an international outlook.

Explore our campuses

Gallery

Useful links

Find your path to joining the Royal College of Art

Application process

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Student in painting studio